Slitherine

1) Do I need a different copy of the game to play someone else over LAN
2) I connect to my LAN through my fileserver. When I try to play my brother, neither of us can see the other. Would the fileserver interfere.
3) When we try to play online, we can see each other, join a game, but then the game doesn't start. (No response/Ping too high or whatever)

I don't have a firewall on my pc, or on his. The router has a firewall with the normal ports open - FTP, http etc

1) Yes, you will need a copy of the game per person as far as I know. Sorry!
2) The LAN lobby uses broadcast packets, so if your fileserver (or indeed LAN settings in general) won't allow these packets through then you probably won't get the lobby showing you one another.
3) What message exactly do you get when you say the game "doesn't start"? If you are both behind the same router, then it should actually try and connect directly (e.g. over the LAN) but it may be that the LAN is again blocking the packets it needs.

Are you able to give any more details as to the packets? What type, where can i enable them, or see if they are working.

Unfortunately, not really! There are so many kinds of networks. You can try googling UDP broadcast packets and your brand of router, to see if there are any helpful tips out there.

I'm not sure why online play would not work though, it simply needs a UDP connection between machines.

Cheers

Pip

If you have the 2CD version from Europe then either disk will allow the game to start.