WWII SkyFighters has three ways to connect with other players: direct serial cable between two computers, direct modem connect between two computers, and AppleTalk network between up to 4 computers.
Select 'Begin Multi-Player Dogfight...' from the 'Settings' and you'll see a dialog box allowing you to select, 'Network', 'Direct Modem', or 'Serial Cable'.
Serial Cable
Use a null modem cable for the direct serial cable connection. Plug the cable into the modem port on both computers. One player will select Host, the other Join. If both players select the same team to fly for, the program will move one player to a different base. Follow the prompts and make sure both computers are progressing at the same time through the prompts.
Direct Modem
Playing over a modem connected directly to another player can be a bit more problematical. One player will be the 'caller', and the other will receive the call. Follow the prompts. There is an modem init string already defined and you should try connecting using this string. If your modem doesn't support '&Q6', you can try replacing it with '&Q0\J0' (those are zeros, not ohs). Also, sometimes you'll encounter a marginal phone line and you may find the modems disconnecting on their own. You can try a slower speed connection by adding the command 'S37=11' or the equivalent, to the end of the modem init string. The modem init string is required.
Network
If you have your computers connected via AppleTalk you will select this item to begin a multiplayer dogfight. You will then see the Host/Join dialog box. One player selects 'Host', all the other players select 'Join'. Also, all players must select the same Squadron Number. (The easiest thing is to just leave it at '1'.) Joiners will now wait until the host sets up the game.
Alternate Networks
WWII SkyFighters will also work over other networks. The trick is that they must emulate AppleTalk. So if you have a EtherTalk network it should work fine. Also, it is possible to play SkyFighters over the internet. You must use 'IPRemote' to log onto a ARNS which will allow AppleTalk to work over the internet. Explaining all the details for flying over the internet is beyond the scope of this document. There are, however, many web sites devoted to this subject. You can find Tom Morrison's web site, for example, by selecting the 'Web Search' button on my web site. Good luck.
I suggest people meet on IRC on channel #SkyFighters. If we all visit this channel from time to time we should always be able to find a game. It may get very busy with a lot of games starting up at the same time. If this happens, use the 'Squadron Number' option to help separate the players into groups. Everyone trying to connect up in one group must use the same Squadron Number. This is only intended to make it easy for the host to see only the players he wants to fly with, instead of seeing tons of players in his dialog box. So, one group of pilots might use Squadron #2, the next, #3. It is important to agree on the number to be used before leaving IRC for SkyFighters. Also, you'll want to decide who will fly for which teams. You may want to fly 2 vs. 2, or 2 vs. 1 or 1 vs. 1 vs. 1. Any combination of up to 4 players is supported. (Except for all players on the same team.)
