FreeSpace Multiplayer Resources
Parallax Online - The free Internet multiplayer matchup service for FreeSpace.
PXO FS Pilot Ratings - The Top 100 FreeSpace Pilots, ranked by score, kills, missions flown and flight time.
PXO FAQ - A comprehensive guide to Internet games using Parallax Online.
Multiplayer FAQ - Brief answers to many basic FreeSpace multiplayer questions, plus performance tips and etiquette.
Multiplayer Medals FAQ - A strategy guide by Victor "DrDooM" Shin on FreeSpace multiplayer missions and medals.
FreeSpace Frenzy - A FreeSpace multiplayer event, sponsored by Freespace Watch.
Volition Watch Mission Archive - This archive contains multiplayer, and single player, user-created missions.
The Official FreeSpace Webring - Links to Freespace Squads, in addition to other FreeSpace pages.
GTD Seraph FreeSpace Server - The fastest connection to PXO, the GTD Seraph plans to offer pilots a flight schedule to sign up for games.
FreeSpace Multiplayer FAQ
( Last updated on Sunday November 22, 1998 9:00 AM CST by Zarathud ).
This Multiplayer FAQ should quickly, and briefly, answer many basic FreeSpace multiplayer questions. Further information will be provided in the future as additional questions are asked and answered. Updates will undoubtedly occur as we find some of the answers to be incorrect.
How can I play FreeSpace multiplayer games?
FreeSpace will work over any network which supports TCP/IP, which includes the Internet. Several options are supported:
- Parallax Online
PXO is a free multiplayer matching service for Volition and Outrage products. PXO support is built-in to FreeSpace, and provides an interface for users to chat and form games. More support information is provided at Parallax Online in a comprehensive PXO FAQ.
- Local Area Network
LANs are supported using TCP/IP networking. Support information is contained in the FreeSpace instructions..
- Null Modem
Null modems are supported using TCP/IP networking. This Quake 2 How-to modem-to-modem guide contains a section on TCP/IP null modem connections.
- Kali
It is rumored that FreeSpace is compatible with this popular network, but I have been unable to confirm this.
What is the maximum number of players who can play?
Up to 8 players may play multiplayer games with one copy of FreeSpace (2 CDs). Each CD will permit 4 players to enter a game. Team vs. team games are limited to up to four players on each team.
Won't using Parallax Online (PXO) create latency and contribute to lag in FreeSpace games?
No. Parallax Online is merely a front-end for multiplayer games. Think of it as merely a chat server. Once a game begins, you are routed over to the "host" and lose your connection to PXO. Game performance when created using PXO is no better and no worse than any other game would be over the Internet.
I just installed FreeSpace, so why do I have problems with multiplayer games?
Several patches have greatly improved FreeSpace's multiplayer performance. Get the most recent patch of FreeSpace using the automatic update on the FreeSpace launcher or Volition's website patches section. Your FreeSpace version is shown on the main game screen (the ship's flight deck) on the lower right hand corner of the screen. Upgrade and you should see a vast improvement.
Why do I experience more lag and unreliability problems with FreeSpace than I do with other multiplayer games?
FreeSpace multiplayer games transmit incredible amounts of data between the machines, since almost every object in the game is visible. There are no walls in space, which creates a unique problem for multiplayer space simulation games. The action in FreeSpace also takes place on a "big ass battlefield," so there are usually many objects active in the game. This all translates into data that must be transmitted between all of the computers. Quite simply, FreeSpace does more in its games.
What can I do to improve the performance of FreeSpace Internet games?
There are a few things you can do to minimize the impact of lag and other multiplayer problems. I've ranked them in importance:
- Upgrade to the latest version of FreeSpace.
The PXO FAQ correctly states that the latest FreeSpace patch "dramatically increases the playability of FreeSpace over the Internet."
- Increase your bandwidth.
FreeSpace plays fine over either a high-speed Internet connection (CABLE+) or a LAN. Quite simply, LAN games of FreeSpace kick ass. We highly recommend the FreeSpace LAN party, especially since you can turn on the voice transmission.
- Lower your Object Update settings.
More economical than a new T1, use your existing bandwidth wisely. This setting is very important. A too-high object update setting will flood your modem with information it can't handle and may also flood the modem of the host and the other players.
Rules of thumb: 28.8k modems = LOW object update settings, 56k modems = MEDIUM object update settings, ISDN+ = HIGH object update settings.
- Find a high-speed host.
Servers running on a 56k or lower modem (and some ISDN modems) can only reliably host one other pilot. With all of the data, the modem simply can't transmit enough data to keep the games in sync. This makes a bad game for everyone.
- Search for a game with a better ping.
Even if you have a great connection to your Internet Provider, this does you no good if the signal gets lost or takes too long in the Internet. Pings of over 450 usually aren't any fun, and the best games have a ping of under 275.
- Play a "simpler" mission design.
Some of the multiplayer missions quite simply have too many objects in the game to run well on anything other than a high-speed connection. Many of the multiplayer missions were converted from the single-player missions and made more difficult to compensate for the skill of human pilots. Simpler mission designs will run better over the Internet. Missions with multiple capital ships (over 3 or more at one time) or with asteroid fields are notorious for slowing down Internet play. You will often find that fighting a few fighters at a time provide an immensely enjoyable experience which rivals the massive capital ship combats.
- Be friendly and a good sport.
This might not seem important to many of you, but being a fun person to play with can pay off immensely. Make friends and be cooperative with the other players. If people enjoy your company and think you're a reliable pilot, you might find yourself invited to join the private games provided by those with high-bandwidth connections.
Help ! That's a big list and I can't afford a T1! Can any regular people experience enjoyable FreeSpace games?
Yes. Zarathud plays using a 56k modem over fuzzy telephone lines which limit my connection to 40k. Using the tips above, he can usually play good games of FreeSpace when online playing games using PXO. He has even played a few reliable 8-player FreeSpace games with only one or two instances of "lagginess" (and perhaps the lagginess was due to unoptimized players attempting to join the game). But, in all honestly, your performance will vary for each day and each host. We hope that FreeSpace 2 (due next holiday season) will have better Internet multiplayer support.
Hey, what's this last point about being friendly and a good sport? I don't need no stinkin' etiquette!
The FreeSpace community has its own culture and etiquette. The FreeSpace community isn't as large as the Quake and other first person shooter communities, where there are servers almost everywhere for you to play. We're a small, friendly, and enthusiastic group of space sim fans who really enjoy FreeSpace, our missions, and would like to share them with new pilots. Just follow these rules and you should be fine:
- Don't cheat or deliberately use exploits or bugs in the game.
Perhaps the biggest sin you could commit is to cheat or gain an unfair advantage over your opponent -- especially in team vs. team games. This goes against everything that online gaming stands for and will not be tolerated by your fellow pilots. This is perhaps the quickest way to gain a bad reputation for yourself in the FreeSpace community.
- Don't deliberately and unexpectedly leave a game in progress.
At least two pilots must be active at the end of any PXO game in order for the pilot statistics to be updated on PXO. There's nothing more annoying than spending 30 minutes in one of the Gauntlet missions and then having the last other pilot leave after dying...that's 30 minutes of statistics lost forever. If you must leave, warn the other pilot first so they can end the mission and at least increase their pilot's statistics.
- Don't continuously ping every server in the PXO Games area.
Each time you "ping" a server, you take a small bit of bandwidth away from the game that is in progress. Please be respectful of those pilots trying to enjoy their games and don't constantly press to "update" the ping.
- Don't repeatedly enter and leave FreeSpace games in progress.
Every time you attempt to enter an "open" game in progress, you will slow down the game for those pilots already flying. Please accept when you are unable to join due to interrupted connections or a lack of positions for wingmen. If hosts continuously have their open games interrupted, then more games will be closed after starting.
- Don't badger other pilots when looking for a game.
Try not to sit in the main area and flood the channel with messages asking someone to start a game. You'll often find that simply striking up casual conversation will lead to games faster than jumping in and out of the main area. Remember that some people (like myself) are often in PXO to talk rather than to play games.
- Don't be rude to new or veteran pilots.
If you're a pain to other pilots, you'll often find yourself excluded from the best hosts and servers. And remember that every pilot you met in PXO just might be your wingman in a future game. If you want someone to watch your six, be polite to them!
- Refrain from the use of harsh or offensive language.
This is common, everyday courtesy. Many FreeSpace pilots are adults and just don't appreciate lots of harsh and offensive language. We don't expect people to use "shucks" and "darn," but please try to avoid making a jerk of yourself.
- Don't do other bad or "not nice" things just because they're not on this list.
No list of etiquette could ever be complete. Use your common sense and behave yourself.
Do I need special multiplayer missions?
Yes. You can save multiplayer missions in your data/missions directory or in a special data/multidata directory. This option can be changed from within the FreeSpace options. Multiplayer missions must be validated in order to gain statistics and improve your rankings on PXO. Only the server must have a copy of the multiplayer mission, it will be automatically sent to any clients who do not have the required mission file.
What are the "V" and "ST" symbols for by missions and pilots?
The "V" symbol stands for a mission which was created/validated by Volition and its statistics will be accepted when playing on PXO.
The "ST" symbol stands for Silent Threat. Next to a mission, it shows that the mission requires Silent Threat to play. Next to a pilot, it shows that the pilot has Silent Threat installed.
What is this FreeSpace Frenzy event? What do I need to do in order to join?
Every Sunday, the FreeSpace community makes an attempt to make it onto Parallax Online to play multiplayer games of FreeSpace. The events are usually held from 3 PM EST to 9 PSM EST (2 PM CST to 8 PM CST). More information is available at the official FS Frenzy page.
The FreeSpace Frenzy is sponsored by many of the FreeSpace webmasters. The original idea came from our friends at FreeSpace Watch, but many other webmasters have thrown in their full support as well.
Ultimately, the success of the FreeSpace Frenzies depends on the FreeSpace community. This means you! All you need to do is register on Parallax Online and show up ready to play games of FreeSpace. If you have a high-speed Internet connection, please host games for other pilots. If you are able to provide a high-speed dedicated server for the event, that's even better! This event can only become bigger and better with the help of everyone in the FreeSpace community.
What is this Multiplayer Medals FAQ?
Victor "Dr. DooM" Shin created an excellent FAQ which explains how to gain medals in multiplayer missions. This FAQ also contains information about rankings and tips for the multiplayer missions. This is an excellent document for anyone interested in learning more about FreeSpace multiplayer missions.
Why do some pilots have images that I've never seen before?
FreeSpace permits pilots to select a "character" image from any PCX file of 120 pixels height and 160 pixels wide (256 colors and 100 x 100 dpi). Just save the PCX file in your data/multi or multidata directory (depending on your FreeSpace option). In fact, if you see the image of any other pilot that means you've automatically downloaded that image onto your hard drive!
