Okay, seriously...let me host--I'm not behind a firewall.

from Sins Forums
For some reason ICO keeps giving me the message "ICO has detected that most players cannot join your game this is most likely..." I know other have seen it, and host anyway, but not me! It is confirmed I CANNOT HOST. Other tell me they get an error when they try to join. But here's the thing: I'm not behind a router, and in frustration I've disabled my Windows Firewall. That's right, no router, no firewall. I'm behind a standard ethernet line in my apartment. I've never had to configure anything for any other multiplayer game before, and I host plenty in other games.

My system specs:

Intel Pentium D 2.8 Ghz Dual Core Processor
Windows XP (always keep it up-to-date via WIndows Update)
Nvidia 7600 GS 512 MB edition.
2 GB of RAM
Ethernet Line to the Internet
Disabled Windows Firewall
Umm...I have Symantec Security Anti-Virus Software and Spy Bot Search and Destroy.
technical
11,420 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
im haveing the same trouble.

directly connected. no firewall or antivirus.


all ports open.


what is going on!?!?
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I get that message too.

I'm able host fine though. Have you tried it out and see if people can connect ?

I'm not running a FW while I play but I am behind a router (no FW there either) that is redirecting all ports back to my internal IP (DMZ).
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Perhaps your ISP has blocked certain ports. You may need to ask them to open the ports required by SINS. Give them a call.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
I get that message and host fine anyways. Try hosting anyways before doing any more.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
What kind of internet access to you have- and what is the related hardware: makes and models please?
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
The message is a warning, it doesn't guarantee you won't be able to host.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

To quote myself from the stickied post:

quote:

@ EVERYONE - IMPORTANT

I have seen that message from IronClad "...Most people will not be able to join your game...." everytime I've hosted since the first 2 or three games I hosted (and I haven't changed anything on my end). The games I host are still able to be joined by EVERYONE and everything works like a charm! What this means is, that IronClad have intruduced a "connection checking" method on their end which takes into consideration WAN ping, IDENT (maybe), open ports, etc. If you fail even one of those, their message pops up. While ping and ident are an easy way to see if a host is online or not, they're not required at all for the actual "connection process".

To re-cap, seeing that message from IronClad doesn't at all mean that it won't work. Ever since they setup their "connection-testing" I've been getting that message as well. I don't allow WAN ping or IDENT so I'm assuming that's why my setup "fails". In any case, I am able (and have many times now) to HOST without any issues whatsoever!

the Monk
end quote

hope that helps...
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Well, no one every joins the games I create, lol. My ISP is provided by my University via T1. I don't think they'd block any ports. I can call and see, but I doubt it.
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
i get it to but i bet its because my router is set so it doesnt respont to ping requests
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
Well, no one every joins the games I create, lol. My ISP is provided by my University via T1. I don't think they'd block any ports. I can call and see, but I doubt it.
End of quote


Um, if its provided by the university I'm willing to be they did block ports :D
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
I'm trying to confirm if my games are just unpopular or if I really can't host. No one in the chat room seems to respond to my pleas for help.
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
Well, no one every joins the games I create, lol. My ISP is provided by my University via T1. I don't think they'd block any ports. I can call and see, but I doubt it.


Um, if its provided by the university I'm willing to be they did block ports
End of quote


Dang that would suck. Nothing like having a game you can't host for. I'm probably really dumb, but is there a way to change the ports for SOASE so I can work around it? They must've really blocked some weird ports, then. ALL and I mean ALL my other games allow me to host.
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
More woes. I looked up the file I need to change in the FAQ. I have XP, but there is no Iron Clad Games directory under any of the (default) usernames in the Document and Settings directory of my computer...and yes, I have show hidden folder on. No, I don't have multiple users. Yes this is my own computer. It's not connected to a network in any meaninful way. Just plug it into the wall and get my internet...no extra software or any of that. *sighs* I shall forever be a SOASE nomad...
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top

Well, no one every joins the games I create, lol. My ISP is provided by my University via T1. I don't think they'd block any ports. I can call and see, but I doubt it.


Um, if its provided by the university I'm willing to be they did block ports


Dang that would suck. Nothing like having a game you can't host for. I'm probably really dumb, but is there a way to change the ports for SOASE so I can work around it? They must've really blocked some weird ports, then. ALL and I mean ALL my other games allow me to host.
End of quote


They usually block standard P2P ports, I know I couldn't play any MMO's and only a select number of other online games when I was in rez.

Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top
Weird. Well, I'm paying big buck for an apartment that's owned by the university, precisely so I could avoid this crap. Five bucks says I call up the tech department and no one knows what I'm talking about. It'll take me six months to get this resolved.

If anyone knows how to access that user.settings file so I could change it to a reasonable port (if you know which one, that'd be great too)! I can play online fine, but can't host. Really stinks.
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top
Okay, the plot thickens. I did some researching and it turns out that Supreme Commander, a game that I have and play online regularly required port 6112 to be open. I don't think the problem is closed ports...I can host games just fine in Supreme Commander.
Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top
I also started to get this message, i dont have hosting problems at all, but the message comes anyways randomly :NOTSURE:
Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top
Eh...it seems it is a problem with my connection. The only thing I can do is wait to go home to my DSL.
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top
Same for me also, have yet to be able to host a game. I have been able to host EVERY other online game in the past until now....
Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top
@larryx
To quote myself regarding the "ICO-warning message" again...


@ EVERYONE - IMPORTANT

I have seen that message from IronClad "...Most people will not be able to join your game...." everytime I've hosted since the first 2 or three games I hosted (and I haven't changed anything on my end). The games I host are still able to be joined by EVERYONE and everything works like a charm! What this means is, that IronClad have intruduced a "connection checking" method on their end which takes into consideration WAN ping, IDENT (maybe), open ports, etc. If you fail even one of those, their message pops up. While ping and ident are an easy way to see if a host is online or not, they're not required at all for the actual "connection process".

To re-cap, seeing that message from IronClad doesn't at all mean that it won't work. Ever since they setup their "connection-testing" I've been getting that message as well. I don't allow WAN ping or IDENT so I'm assuming that's why my setup "fails". In any case, I am able (and have many times now) to HOST without any issues whatsoever!

the Monk
End of quote




@Kreyson

With regard to being able to Host in all other games. Even IF all the "other" games you reference had used the SAME ports that Sins uses they would have used them in a different way. Sins is peer-to-peer (unlike most other games) and due to its ability to "migrate" from a dropped host to another (correctly configured) host in-play requires TCP connections to not be broken by NAT. When you're not using a "centralized" game-server/dedicated server (and this was done for obvious reasons), the community will need to LEARN a few things.

It's not the game's or game designers fault most people today are using technology (routers, firewalls) which they barely understand. I'm guessing you have to understand and follow the "rules of the road" when you're driving your car? What's different here? Learn, and follow the "rules of internet-traffic" and like many of us you'll be able to say: "I have never, and never will have a problem hosting/playing any game ever"  :D  Why? Because I understand and follow the rules of the road. You can too.

Having said that, there is plenty of information on these forums alone to give you a nice understanding of WHAT needs to be done to have problematic-free gaming. The HOW you may need some help with. If you need help with the HOW, I'm usually available on my TS Server to talk people through it. Contact me via xfire (my information is in the sticky at the top) to set up a time to get on my TS with me.



the Monk