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Because
Outlaws uses a peer-to-peer networking model rather than
th' more common Quake-style client-server model, anyone
with a decent computer and internet connection can host
an Outlaws match. Dedicated servers aren't needed, just
players with relatively good connections to each other.
To me th' peer-to-peer model offers much better gameplay
than th' client-server model, but th' one "downside" ta
not havin' dedicated servers is that many people don't
know where ta go ta meet other Outlaws in battle.
Don't worry, there are plenty of Outlaws out there
all waitin' ta give you a hidin'. In general they
hang about in three places:
th' Kali Outlaws server,
Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone or in the "outlaws
players" IRC channel. I'm not
gonna go inta how ya kin set these things up, it'd take too damn
long. See muh links page fer links ta
each one. What i will do is discuss the relative merits of each
meetin' place, as I see 'em, keepin' in mind that the goal is be able
'ta meet Outlaws players and get into a good game as efficiently
as possible. There's also my quasi-dedicated "server,"
basically just a computer I have networked here that hosts
Outlaws games continuously. You won't always find someone there
but hey, at least there's a game running. :P
Of course ya kin also play Outlaws on a LAN. I did that once on
the 3-person setup which wuz kinda fun although we only had the
demo at the time. My advice? Go getcherself a buncha well-equipped
friends, have 'em drag all their computers over ta yer place, hook
'em all up and invite me over. Thanks.
GameSpy Arcade, a matchmaker
program for peer-to-peer multiplayer games, advertizes support for Outlaws.
I haven't used it and haven't heard much from those who have other than
that the interface for finding people to play with is pretty snazzy.
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Pale's Place
I used to host a multiplayer Outlaws
session running continuously on a Outlaws-dedicated
machine.
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DirectPlay vs Winsock
You kin play multiplayer with either DirectPlay or
regular Winsock drivers. Winsock is much less laggy.
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An Outlaws Sunday
Lookin' fer a new way ta waste away that long weekend? How
about hangin' out in two chat forums fer 14 hours an' loggin'
th' conversations? Well that's what I did one fine Sunday,
an' here are th' excitin' logs that reveal the true life
of the Outlaws player.
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Outlaws via Kali
Kali offers my favorite interface fer playin' multiplayer
Outlaws. It's full-featured an' fast -- only downside is
th' $20 registration. You don't REALLY need ta register,
but if ya spend a good deal of time in Kali you'll probably
want to. These days, however, most rogue cowpokes opt fer
th' free channels of IRC.
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Outlaws via IRC
Welcome to the wide and wacky world of Internet Relay
Chat. There are thousands of lame channels out there,
fortunately a few are home to dedicated Outlaws multiplayer
fans. Meet, exchange files and set up games with fellow
Outlaws fans all through a powerful and free interface.
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Outlaws via The Zone
In their drive to rule the gaming world Microsoft struck
a deal with Lucasarts to host LEC's games on Microsoft's
Internet Gaming Zone. Outlaws was th' first ta make it in
there an' because LEC's game documentation points ya there
you'll find th' largest concentration of Outlaws in th'
Zone. But th' Zone's crappy interface an' laggy multiplayer
gaming tend ta drive th' more informed Outlaws elsewhere.
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