| Do I need a computer connected to the net? |
Tue, 13 September 2005 18:39  |
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 mike the monk |
 | Crewman 3rd Class |
Messages: 5
Registered: September 2005
Location: Australia | |
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Hi peoples
I'm interested in playing vs others but don't have a computer avaliable that is connected to the net I can use, is there anyway around this? (Play by email or something?. Can I play my turn, save a file and email that file to the host?.
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| Re: Do I need a computer connected to the net? |
Tue, 13 September 2005 18:46  |
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| mike the monk |
| Crewman 3rd Class |
Messages: 5
Registered: September 2005
Location: Australia | |
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Oh I should say that I do have access to a computer connected to the net (How would I post this message otherwise?) but I'm not supposed to install software or play games. My home PC is not connected but has heaps of games.
[Updated on: Tue, 13 September 2005 18:47] Report message to a moderator
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| Re: Do I need a computer connected to the net? |
Tue, 13 September 2005 21:00 |
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| mlaub |
 | Lieutenant |
Messages: 744
Registered: November 2003
Location: MN, USA | |
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| mike the monk wrote on Tue, 13 September 2005 17:46 |
Oh I should say that I do have access to a computer connected to the net (How would I post this message otherwise?) but I'm not supposed to install software or play games. My home PC is not connected but has heaps of games.
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Most people play by email. You can buy a flash/jump/USB_key drive ($15 bucks? 128meg is fine and you might be able to get one for free with some deal), or a floppy, and transfer your .m and .x files onto and off of that machine and the computer you can play games on.
Example flash drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E168201612 04
A more realistic solution would be to just play Stars off the flash/jump drive after you have copied all the files to the jump drive. Install the game by doubleclicking on the stars.exe, and enter your SN#, and let the program install the stars.ini file to the computer you aren't suppose to install games on. Tecnically, you are playing the game on that computer, but you haven't *installed* it on that computer. The only residual effect is that file stars.ini in the /windows dir. The file is approx 2 kb, though, and no one will ever notice unless you have audit software on the machine. You do need to have rw permissions on that machine. So, this would all depend on your access level if the OS is XP or 2k...
I use this method if I am visiting a friend who has a computer and internet access, and I can't burrow a laptop or find a replacement. At the end of my visit, I delete the star.ini file. Might be a little too much for some people to figure out on their own, but it's really easy. Oh, and don't forget to bring the SN# with you if you decide to go this route. I just put it in a encripted file on the jump drive. 
-Matt
Global Warming - A climatic change eagerly awaited by most Minnesotans.
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| Re: Do I need a computer connected to the net? |
Tue, 13 September 2005 21:18 |
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| NingunOtro |
 | Master Chief Petty Officer |
Messages: 105
Registered: September 2005
Location: Brussels, Belgium | |
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No.
You can play much the same way you do with solo games.
Once you Save and Submit a session, a file gamename.xN is created in your playing directory, containing all the instructions you have issued for your present turn.
If it has to be processed on a remote host together with other players turn files, it is up to you -and the hosting party- to agree on the kind of transmission methods that will be used. You can put it on a floppy and mail it overseas postage-pending if you want, as long as you can expect it to arrive before the agreed deadline expires.
The host puts all gamename.xN files that arrive in time in its game hosting directory and generates the turn. This creates gamename.mN files with the results of the processed instructions for each player (the N in the filenames stands for 1 thru 16 depending on the player slot each has player has been allocated upon game setup). Once this file gets back to you by whatever means has been agreed upon, you can put it in your game directory, open it with Stars!, have a look at whatever disaster has come your way and continue issueing orders for the next turn.
Short: Save and Submit generates gamename.xN files that need to get to the host, and generation creates gamename.mN files, of which each player must get its own to proceed. It's up to the players to decide how this happens.
I do not think Ron has ever received a turn file mailed on floppies, so at some stage it has to be inserted in a mail message if it needs to arrive at autohost. Any web browser on an internet-connected unit with a floppy-disk reader will do.
If we were esteemed intelligent 'enough', they would have contacted us.
If we can not find them, either we are not smart enough, or they are smarter at hiding.Report message to a moderator
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| Re: Do I need a computer connected to the net? |
Thu, 15 September 2005 18:37 |
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| NingunOtro |
| Master Chief Petty Officer |
Messages: 105
Registered: September 2005
Location: Brussels, Belgium | |
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Ooops!
Of course!
I suppose the message was getting too long, so I compressed a bit too much between explaining general behaviour among any private hosts and players which generally rely on e-mail, without a website interface, and the scarce exception being autohost that provides a web-based and automated upload facility.
Just a matter of statistical irrelevance, in this case, considering the question asked was not strictly autohost related, but perhaps I should not have ignored that it was being voiced on autohosts forum.
 I just enlisted, gimmie a break
I know words are dangerous entities when misunderstood o badly interpreted, so please do not start a flame war whatever you wish to think about "statistical irrelevances".
That said, I think Autohost is a very valuable service and I like it even more when I see how much you care about people getting the right answers.
greetings from southern Spain.
If we were esteemed intelligent 'enough', they would have contacted us.
If we can not find them, either we are not smart enough, or they are smarter at hiding.Report message to a moderator
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