The number one hot button issue that has appeared in my e-mail box in the past month has got to be... modem play for MacDoom.
Folks, I don't have the answers. Yes, I have a modem, a pretty darn good one at that, but I haven't even tried to play MacDoom with it. So far, AppleTalk has been just fine for me for death matches and the occasional attempt at cooperative play.
I had hoped to have a full-fledged tutorial in this space, written by someone who knows how to play MacDoom by modem inside and out. But the promised article did not make it in on time (its author is in the middle of relocating to another state and, hey, we don't pay anything). So, rather than leave you hanging completely for another month, I've compiled some messages from Usenet containing various hints and tricks. Perhaps one of them will unlock the mystery for you.
Hopefully, we'll have a more in-depth treatment of the subject next month.
Usenet:
Note: Some Usenet posts are edited for space and clarity. Material quoted back in them from previous messages is in italics. Special thanks to Gavin Suntop for letting me reprint his Guide to Modem Play of MacDoom II.
From: Gavin Suntop <phyber@prairienet.org>
Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.games.action
Subject: MacDoom 2 Modem Play Instructions
Well, I have noticed a lot of frustration of the modem play of MacDoom 2. I hope this helps.
Gavin Suntop's Guide To Modem Play of MacDoom II
Version 1.0
1. Call your friend up to discuss the specifics of the game. (difficulty, what WAD, monsters etc.)
2. Decide who will be calling the other and setting up the game.
3. Instructions for the receiver....
a) Drag and drop any external .WAD file(s) if any are to be used on the DOOM II application.
b) Hold down the 'm' key at startup.
c) There will be a pull down menu for the type of communication... use 'Communications Toolbox'.
d) Make sure the checkbox 'Initiate Connection' is NOT checked.
e) Configure the rest of the info as you discussed on the phone.(Monsters, deathmatch etc.)
f) Click the 'OK' button.
g) You should now get a modem configuration window. Set the modem speed to match your modem. (Note: 14.4 is not supported, if you have a modem that speed, use 9600 baud). Hit 'OK'.
h) Now you will have to wait for the game to start.
4. Instructions for the caller....
a) Drag and drop any external .WAD file(s) if any are to be used on the DOOM II application.
b) Hold down the 'm' key at startup.
c) There will be a pull down menu for the type of communication... use 'Communications Toolbox'.
d) Make sure the checkbox 'Initiate Connection' is checked.
e) Configure the rest of the info as you discussed on the phone.(Monsters, deathmatch etc.)
f) Click the 'OK' button.
g) You should now get a modem configuration window. Set the modem speed to match your modem. (Note: 14.4 is not supported, if you have a modem that speed, use 9600 baud) Type your pal's modem number in the modem number field.
h) Hit 'OK'. Your modem should now dial your friend's modem. You should now connect. (Note: you may have to wait a while, if it asks you if you want to keep waiting click 'yes' you may have to do this 3 or so times.)
Now if all went right you should be set...have fun!
NOTES AND TROUBLESHOOTING:
Why won't it work!!??!!?
Is your modem turned on?
Did you install the 'communications toolbox'?
Did you load the external .WAD that you are both planning to use?
Was the receiver ready to receive the call?
How do you chat?
Hit the 't' key. You can now type a message, hit return to send it.
Gavin Suntop
---
From: Russ Blaine <rblaine@cybout.com>
Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.games.action
Subject: How to play MacDoom over the Internet
I got it to work. Here's what I did:
I have a PPP connection to the Internet over a 28.8 modem, and my friend has the same. We both installed the VersaTerm telnet tool (a CTB telnet tool that comes with Versaterm -- TCPack Telnet tool will work also) and ran Doom while connected to the 'Net. I think it's safe to kill the finder and the other apps but I can't remember. When you get to the multiplayer setup menu, select CommToolBox as your connection method. At the CommToolBox setup box, select the VersaTerm Telnet tool. Enter your friend's domain name. You can find this out by taking your IP Address (found in the MacTCP control panel) and plugging it into MacTCPWatcher as a DNS lookup, and it should return a name like me.provider.com or something. Give this address to your friend and enter his into the IP box.
Select TCP port 23. Disable telnet protocol, disable output buffering. Request binary & request no echo. Then hit connect or Ok or whatever, and you should connect. We did on the first try.
It was EXTREMELY slow, but it wasn't Marathon-ARA type slow. It would be quite fast for a few seconds and then pause completely and then repeat. I was looking at my modem and it would send packets for a few seconds and then go dark; so I suspect the Internet itself is at fault - maybe it was just a bad day to try it? When packets were actually getting through, gameplay is fine. If you're on an ethernet network or even a localtalk to the 'Net, it'll probably be more than playable.
Russ Blaine
---
From: Jay Tingley <tinj@sasknet.sk.ca>
Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.games.action
Subject: How to MacDOOM vs PC modem
renev@xs4all.nl (Rene Voorburg) wrote:
>Does anybody know blast a PC Doom user with my Mac Doom,
>using a modem-connection. I know I have to start Doom with the
>"m" key pressed but I can't figure out what to do next. Nothing
>seems to work.
First make sure your friend is running PC DOOM v1.9. After loading MacDoom II by holding down the "M" key, select "COMM TOOLBOX" from the menu at the top. If you are dialing, check the "INITIATE CONNECTION" box. Make sure you both match your settings (turbo, level, deathmatch, warp to, monsters, etc.) then click on "START GAME."
If you want to play with external wads, load them at this time.
The Apple Modem Tool will open up as a default (use it). Type in your friend's phone number, the type of modem you are using, the baud rate, what port your modem is connected to, and make sure error correction and compression is turned off.
Click on "OK" and your modem should dial up and connect successfully to your friend's PC.
Jay Tingley
---
From: Jay Tingley <tinj@sasknet.sk.ca>
Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.games.action
Subject: MacDoom PC-MAC networking
bkwan@ucla.edu (Bruce Kwan) wrote:
>Hi. I'm having problems with playing a network game
>via modem with my friend. I have a Mac 6115CD and a
>Global Village Teleport Gold II (Performa) modem and my friend
>has an IBM PC clone (486/66) with a Zoltrix modem.
>
>We connect and the Mac side just keeps trying to initialize
>the connection. Eventually, I get a Read Error 90 and my friend
>just keeps seeing :wrote <random number> : ID 0 fly
>across his screen.
You _don't_ want to select "HAYES COMPATIBLE" under "MODEM" in the Apple Modem Toolbox (AMT). Instead, select "MODIFY THIS MENU". In the next window, select "IMPORT". Next, you will have to locate a file called "GV Modem Defs 1.2 for AMT 1.5". This should be inside your "TELEPORT ACCESSORIES" folder, inside the "SCRIPTS" folder and then inside the "GV MODEM DEFS 1.2 FOR AMT 1.5" folder (which should have been installed with the rest of your Global Village software).
Your menu will now be updated to include the various Global Village modems. Simply select the Global Village Teleport Gold II and the proper init strings will be set.
This should solve your problem.
Jay Tingley
 
Send your ModemPlay tips to reeltime@voicenet.com. Or, if you'd like to take over and write this column every month, let me know!!
