Anybody having issues connecting to the multiplayer server?

[RyanDG]

I seem to be getting hung up on the launching client screen?

Just wanting to check as I've went through pretty much all of my standard trouble shooting steps and are able to connect to other MP games without any issues.

[RyanDG]

Well I found out the problem - for anyone with a DS out there, for one reason or another if you are using the little Nintendo Wifi dongly, it doesn't like to play right with Field of Glory if its plugged into the computer while you are trying to play the game.

[IainMcNeil]

Interesting - I wonder why....

Glad it is working now though.

[Stefan2009]

I have had constant problems with this..so much i dont even try to play the game anymore, i can connect to multiplayer for 1-2 days and then it wont work for 5-6 days..tried everything!!! even removed my norton anti virus and closed my firewall, but still nothing. It just hangs there trying to connect and even the cancel button wont work so i have to Ctrl-Alt-Del and shut the whole program down that way.

[pipfromslitherine]

It would incredibly useful if you could try from another machine (ideally one with pretty much nothing installed) and see if you get the same behaviour. I appreciate that that isn't easy for most people though...

Did we ever get your ISP info? Would be interesting to know if anyone else is successfully running the game using the same ISP.

One thing that just occurs - does your router/NAT record a log of behaviour? It might tell you when/if packets are being discarded when they come in from the server.

Cheers

Pip

[Anders2009]

ISP? help me out, where can i find that info? and i dont know how to se my router/NAT log, but with some help maby, thanks for the quick reply btw.

[pipfromslitherine]

Your ISP is your Internet Service Provider, basically the company running your cable/DSL.

I'm not really able to help router-wise, but if you log into your router (your manual should explain how, and you'd have needed to do it if you set up a wireless password etc) then there is usually an option to record and/or view a log of activity.

Cheers

Pip

[mschund]

I get primarily when my computer automatically updates and then it takes forever to get the multiplayer function to work...I get the same results you do...then suddenly it works again and I don't know why...

[mschund]

When I disconnect my wireless connector and the multiplayer button is working I get an error message...however now I just locks up like it was when it was connected to the internet...this leads me to believe the software is locking up before it accesses the internet...could it be a digital signature or something like that...

[pipfromslitherine]

I don't understand the circumstances you describe. Can you be more specific?

Again, if you are able to log your network activity on the router, then you can tell more what is going on.

Cheers

Pip

[mschund]

As indicated the problem must be occuring before I hit my router...since when I disconnect my router I get the same outcome. When it is working and I disconnect my router, I get an error message that effectively tells me I have no connection. So it must be locking up before it even gets to "pinging" the router...

[mschund]

As an aside Conquest has absolutely no problem getting to the internet site...so something in fognet.com the problem...does Conquest access differently than FOG?

[RyanDG]

Okay - I was thinking that I had this solved since for the last couple of days I've been able to play the game without any issues. However, on Sunday, I stopped being able to connect to the multiplayer server. Like mschund is stating, I think that this is something more than just a firewall issue and here's why...

When you are connecting to the server, the fognet application appears in the task bar, but the Firewall is not getting any communication that the fognet is trying to even connect to the multiplayer server. My firewall has settings that allow me to view when an application is blocked or let through via the firewall data history. Fognet is not even attempting to 'ping' the firewall to even ask for a connection and there is no blocked connections being mentioned in the firewall history.

Secondly, with both windows firewall and my personal firewall (comodo internet security package), turned off and the computer restarted (to ensure there weren't any issues there), when I attempt to hit the multiplayer button, the same thing happens. The game states 'Please wait... Launching Client' and hangs there. The game does not respond to pressing the cancel button or anything and forces me to ctrl+alt+del, manually end the fognet program and field of glory.exe to cancel the game.

Thirdly, just to see what happens, I did what mschund stated... I unplugged my network connection and attempt to connect to multiplayer. Shortly after there's a specific error stating that there has been a connection issue. I also disconnected my wireless router (which is a Linksys wireless N router) and connected directly to the ethernet via my internet modem. Same issue both ways.

Here's some basic system information for me (pulled from dxdiag):

I'm running a XPS Laptop, M1530.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/22/2010, 17:56:33
Machine name: MEG-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.091208-0542)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: XPS M1530
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A12
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7500 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 1599MB used, 4741MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8600M GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_022E1028&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1520 MB
Dedicated Memory: 241 MB
Shared Memory: 1279 MB
Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0011.7644 (English)
DDI Version: 10
BGRA Supported: Yes
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/3/2008 22:54:00, 5898240 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes




As I stated in my first post, I'm able to connect to all other multiplayer games that I've tried. I have also (out of desperation sort of), uninstalled my Firewall, reinstalled with no settings carried over, and tried it out with the basic bare bones approach.

For one reason or another, Fognet, is just simply not being recognized as trying to make a connection.

Any clues? I can provide whatever else you want, including screenshots of my firewall settings, my approved/trusted application, screenshots of the FOG hang up screen, and more... The only thing that bothers me is that it seems incredibly sporadic. Because sometimes it works (like it did earlier) and then others now, its hanging up again...

[RyanDG]

Oh and in case you ask, I'm running rise of rome, updated to the latest patch, picked up here on the slitherine forums.

[pipfromslitherine]

As an aside Conquest has absolutely no problem getting to the internet site...so something in fognet.com the problem...does Conquest access differently than FOG?

You mean that it has no issues connecting to the lobby to play games? Conquest uses a different codebase entirely, but it is interesting that you can connect with one but not the other.

I can't remember whether you are using a wireless connection? Nevertheless, could you try something for me.

- Launch FoG
- Get to the point ready to try and connect to the server
- ALT+TAB out of FoG and open the slitherine web page
- Go back into FoG and attempt to connect

I'm just thinking it might be some kind of issue with a delay getting the proxy info or some other network driver mischief.

Thanks

Pip

[pipfromslitherine]

Oh and in case you ask, I'm running rise of rome, updated to the latest patch, picked up here on the slitherine forums.

Thanks for the thorough and useful info you provided. Can I get you to try the same kind of thing as I ask in my above post to mschund. I have some thoughts on what might be going on - it's very hard to extract meaningful information from the mass of firewalls, NATs, and network hardware, but rest assured we are doing our best.

Cheers

Pip

[RyanDG]

Oh and in case you ask, I'm running rise of rome, updated to the latest patch, picked up here on the slitherine forums.

Thanks for the thorough and useful info you provided. Can I get you to try the same kind of thing as I ask in my above post to mschund. I have some thoughts on what might be going on - it's very hard to extract meaningful information from the mass of firewalls, NATs, and network hardware, but rest assured we are doing our best.

Cheers

Pip

This is the thing that makes me wonder what's going on... After posting my whole little spiel there, I went back into the game, played around with a couple of DAG armies real quick and decided to try to log in again and without any issues at all, the game started up, logged in, and allowed me to work on the turns i've been slacking on the last couple of days. i then came online and saw your post of your idea of something to try... Next time I have the issue where it says 'launching client' and hangs there, I'll give what you say a shot. Like I said earlier, it seems to be sporadic when its happening, but when it happens it seems to last for a day or two. I'm hard pressed right now in trying to find some kind of unifier of what i'm doing when the game works vs when it doesn't. As just an FYI (if it helps any), I had the firewall turned on and active and did not change any settings when it allowed me to just log in and play my turns about 15 minutes ago. Everything is the exact same as it was yesterday evening after my reinstall when I was still having the issue.

Weirdness all around I guess...

[deeter]

For what it's worth, I get that message hangup occaisionally and either let is sit there until it goes away or quit and restart later. I just assumed the server was too busy at the moment to let me in.

Deeter

[RyanDG]

Oh and in case you ask, I'm running rise of rome, updated to the latest patch, picked up here on the slitherine forums.

Thanks for the thorough and useful info you provided. Can I get you to try the same kind of thing as I ask in my above post to mschund. I have some thoughts on what might be going on - it's very hard to extract meaningful information from the mass of firewalls, NATs, and network hardware, but rest assured we are doing our best.

Cheers

Pip

Tried what you suggested after I started getting the problem earlier again this morning. I haven't been able to connect for about 3-4 hours now. When I've tried to do what you suggested, I got no change from the game hanging up saying 'Launching Client'. I'll let you know when it allows me to connect again.

[batesmotel]

Oh and in case you ask, I'm running rise of rome, updated to the latest patch, picked up here on the slitherine forums.

Thanks for the thorough and useful info you provided. Can I get you to try the same kind of thing as I ask in my above post to mschund. I have some thoughts on what might be going on - it's very hard to extract meaningful information from the mass of firewalls, NATs, and network hardware, but rest assured we are doing our best.

Cheers

Pip

Tried what you suggested after I started getting the problem earlier again this morning. I haven't been able to connect for about 3-4 hours now. When I've tried to do what you suggested, I got no change from the game hanging up saying 'Launching Client'. I'll let you know when it allows me to connect again.

There is an ancillary program (fognet.exe I think) that is run when you are doing multi-player. I've found that times when I have had problems connecting to the server that I often have two copies of this running in Task Manager. If I then stop the FieldofGlory.exe process and all the fognet.exe processes, then I'm normally able to connect again. Just a thought.

Chris

p.s. Edited to correct fog.exe to fognet.exe.