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Thread: Zsnes Netplay Basics Tutorial PLEASE READ!!!

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    Default Zsnes Netplay Basics Tutorial PLEASE READ!!!

    WARNING!!!!!!! THIS TUTORIAL IS WRITTEN FOR NOOBS TO ZSNES NETPLAY, IF THE LANGUAGE BOTHERS YOU I'M SORRY BUT I'M TRYING TO BE CLEAR FOR ANYONE THAT HAS TROUBLE WITH THIS SUBJECT.

    Okay well i had a rough time ironing out this topic enough that i could explain how to do it but i have pretty much a solid idea now on what to do....so i thought, "What could be better than sharing this info with the rest of EP?" Answer: "Getting lots of people to connect to Zsnes Netplay and gaining some worthy opponents, thats what!!!!"

    Zsnes Netplay: The Basics


    Okay there are 3 ways to do Zsnes netplay i will put them in order to my personal preference of ease and effectiveness from least favorite to last.....or something like that.
    This is the 1st post, which covers how to connect two machines using the SAME EXACT VERSION of Zsnes. This is the basics of getting started, then you can understand how to do other easier, faster, and more secure methods of connection.
    I can't stress enough how important that the two people trying to connect are using the same version...it is a common mistake to try to connect two Zsnes's that arnt the same version and be confused about it. Because of this, I keep several versions of Zsnes available, should anyone i want to play not have the version i am using at the moment. Anyway, i will cover the other two methods in separate posts

    Method 1: Netplay Through Zsnes

    All versions of Zsnes have a netplay option on the top menu....the word on the web is that only versions BEFORE 1.4 are supposed to work (meaning 1.4, and 1.41 are not compatible with netplay feature)....However, this is somewhat untrue....other methods of connecting to netplay have been proven to work with other versions, and there is one version after 1.42 that is pretty well compatible with netplay and that is version 1.43.....but it is not written by the main authors of Zsnes, it is merely a continuation of their work in order to further the concept of Zsnes netplay....you can find the non official 1.43 at this site:

    http://zsnes.ipherswipsite.com/05/
    Special Thanks to Tosca...You Rule dude!!!!

    Now, once you have your preferred version of Zsnes (compatible with netplay), you need to connect, but before you connect you must optimize your system for Zsnes netplay. Don't worry this isn't that hard and I'll step you through it....For the purposes of this faq, i will assume that you are using either v1.36 or v1.43(non official) because they are the only versions that work without using some other Zsnes Netplay client.

    Step 1: Choose Zsnes version (either 1.36 or 1.43 unofficial release)

    Step 2: Configure Software Firewall

    Each firewall has its own preferred way of having you connect a particular program to the internet. If your software firewall has an option for port forwarding USE IT...just enter the filename of your Zsnes program file. It will save you alot of trouble when trying to connect
    Also, make sure that the program itself has full unrestricted access to the internet...one way to do this is to shut down the firewall completely, however under windows xp this is more of a pain in the ass than actually configuring the program to be allowed access anyway. I have Zone Alarm Security Suite for my firewall and in order to allow full unrestricted access to Zsnes, i have to go to Program Control->Programs->Add and give a check mark for everything (except send mail). With Zone Alarm i ALSO have to make the program "Super Trusted" (three glowing green bars) so that the program can run freely thru the internet connection without being paused, stopped, or interupted by the firewall. Like i said, each software firewall is different, make sure u kno urs well and give full unrestricted access.
    Remembering the process of approving access to your programs is a basic firewall thing, but if you've never done it then it will come in great handy for the other methods as well.

    Step 3: Port Forwarding

    This is also a crucial step in connecting Zsnes to Netplay, regardless of method. What you have to do, if you have a physical router/firewall, is assign a port for Zsnes to use when it accesses the internet, and make that port available when Zsnes goes to look for it. The actual process that happens is a tad more complex than what i just said, but don't worry about that, Port Forwarding should be a breeze if you follow these instructions. (Special thanks to Tosca for helping me with this cuz I wasn't so sure about it myself

    a)Connect to http://192.168.1.1/Forward.asp
    This webpage is a utility for Port Forwarding
    Username is Admin.....Password is Admin

    b)Underneath the main black menu click on the text "Port Range Forward" make sure the letters are white

    c)Under the column "Application", write the exact filename of your Zsnes program file. Under the column for "Start", write 7845 (this is the default port Zsnes uses to connect). Under the column for "End" write the same number (you are only forwarding this one port for Zsnes). Fill in the last few digits of your IP address (Zsnes will determine your IP for you if you click "Netplay". Or you can run from a dos prompt, the command, "IP config" and it will tell you). Check the box for "enable"

    d)Go to the bottom of the page and click "Save Settings". This should automatically configure your firewall to forward the program Zsnes to port 7845 when it is looking for internet access.

    note: I am not completely sure this Port Forwarding method will work if you don't have a Linksys Router....however i see no reason why it would not work for anyone

    Step 4: Open Zsnes and Connect

    Regardless of what version you use, Zsnes Netplay can be accessed by clicking "Netplay" from the top menu. Enter whatever nickname you'd like and decide if you're hosting or serving.
    If you're hosting, just click "Start as server" and Zsnes will use ur IP to create an accessible server for the game.
    If your'e joining a server, enter the exact IP address of the Zsnes player you want to connect to and click "Join Server".... Usually it is best to leave the UDP connection box checked, however if you're having real difficulty getting the program to connect you can try unchecking it (this will enable TCP connection instead)
    If you've done everything right, the two Zsnes's will find each other and open up a chat window. This is how you know ur two Zsnes's are connected.

    Step 5: Choose settings

    In my experience, the main factor than affects the playability of Zsnes Netplay is the internet connection between the two comps using Zsnes Netplay. Try pinging your partner....anything above 100 miliseconds is definitly going to lag...anything above 150 miliseconds is going to be hard or impossible to play (depending on your game, turn based games it might not matter so much).
    You can adjust the players in the game, the latency factor, and the save state path (whether its from the comp ur on, which is "local", and the comp your connected to, which is "remote", BE WARNE SAVE STATES ARE NOT KNOWN TO WORK WELL WITH ZSNES NETPLAY!! Sorry guys, but thats just the facts...for save intensive games like rpgs i think its better to save to the rom "cartridge" and just trade back and forth as you go.)
    The latency factor with ever so slightly increase or decrease the speed of connection with the game....low latency can lead to fast speeds with possible glitches....high latency can lead to good game performance with the possibility of desyncing, which is when the two games aren't playing the same part and the same time. In my personal experience, adjusting the latency really doesn't affect your netplay to the point where its even worth adjusting.

    Step 6: Choose a game

    Of course you want to pick a 2 player game!!! Otherwise wut's the point You must also ensure that both players are using the EXACT SAME ROM and by "exact same" i mean to say that both roms are good dumps with identical check sums (file sizes). The easiest way to do this is just send the good rom to the other guy even if he already has the game, just to ensure proper opertation by Zsnes. It helps a GREAT DEAL if both roms have the filename ending with ".smc". ".smr" is another Super Nintendo Rom file extention that works with Zsnes, however ".smc" is more typical of a good dump and is more easily recognized by Zsnes. (it's also more compressed than the .smr, which saves space). Also, both roms should be named the same...and I'm not 100% sure about this, but i think it also helps if both roms are located in relatively the same spot, although what's most important is that your Zsnes knows where the roms are in the first place.

    Now you're ready to start playing!!!! Oh joy of joys!!!!!!

    Remember, you can always hit escape if something goes wrong and the rom freezes. Also, experiment with the usual commands you use for online gaming. Press 't' to chat in the middle of a Zsnes game, etc. Zsnes is alot of fun online, and getting it to work for you can introduce you to a whole new idea in emulation!!! Have fun and enjoy your games!!!!
    Last edited by austinsanity; 30th-December-2005 at 15:52.

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