Reflex on PS3 Lan menu.

[mcm2boys]

Can anyone with the PS3 version of Reflex let me know what the LAN menu operation is like. I only have the PC version, but i understand that it is possible to race in LAN mode on the PS3 and if that's right then  i would like to understand how they do it..

[JamieT]

From pressing multiplayer on the main menu, there are three options - online, split screen, and LAN. The next screen then brings up a box which will contain a list of available sessions, and then below this, an option to create a session.  When choosing create session, it then operates in the same way as creating a private sesson on the PC.  Hope that helps in some way.

[mcm2boys]

Thanks Jamie,

It's a good start, however, i've also never created a private session on the PC - could you run through that. What i'm specially interested in is - does the PS3 Lan option seem to connect through a lobby or game server of some kind, or is through Steam or some sony network.

[mcm2boys]

Just found out that PS3 has playstation network (not a big console user), i'm guessing you have to login to that for Reflex's Lan option.

What i'm looking for is a way to enter an IP address for LAN like we used to have in MCM2..

[JamieT]

No, you don't need to sign in to the PSN to start a LAN session.

I'm probably wrong here, but I always thought that LAN was for connecting a number of systems via central hub of some kind, and that connecting with IPs was something different... But I really don't have a clue about any of this type of thing...

Here's some info on PS3's LAN capabilities...  https://support.us.playstation.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/828/~/play-ps3-games-in-lan-mode

A few days after the Steam server went down, someone posted a comment on the Steam discussion board that they'd already tricked Reflex on PC into thinking it was playing through a LAN.  The discussion is titled 'MX vs ATV Reflex servers down?', and the post is on page 6.

When creating a private session (PC) or LAN session (PS3), you enter into the loading track, where you can choose the event type, duration, vehicle class, and that's about it.  There is nothing on the PS3 that lets you connect by entering an IP address.

[mcm2boys]

I think LAN and Ip are more or less the same (could be wrong).. I was reading up on the SystemLInk for xbox and the playstation network and it seems that they are similar. They will both connect via a LAN. Looks like Hamachi might be an option again.

I saw the post, i read that as they had tricked a WAN into thinking it was a LAN (i guess with something like Hamachi) not sure that they actually got Reflex to work through it though..

I'm now more interested in how the xbox version links via LAN (SystemLink) since i have the xbox files to use as a comparison to the PC files. I would like to understand the private session on the PC version better, so can explain what you mean by "you enter into the loading track" is that the loading track screen, or a track that you are loading?

Really wish i'd tried some private sessions while Steam was up now.. 

[JamieT]

lol ohhh a 'WAN' - wide area network... I thought it meant 'way', and it was a spelling mistake..lol.  That just shows my ignorance on this subject!

By the 'loading track', I mean that area you enter before any race actually starts, which has a freestyle type area, and the odd supercross section.

When you choose to start a private session, you enter into this area, and a menu will appear straight away to let you set up the game.  You choose event type, number of events, the track, event duration, and vehicle class.  After all those are set you can confirm, and you are able to ride around the 'loading track' area.  In Freeride events you can start the game at any point from here.  If it's a race you have to wait for other players.

Hope that helps, there isn't really a whole lot to it.  I'll try and see if anyone has catured this process and uploaded a video to Youtube..

[mcm2boys]

Now i have to go chk and make sure he did say WAN and not Way.. 

Ok great that's crystal clear now, so once you choose LAN in the multiplayer menu you're dumped into the Compound loading track with a menu to select the track, players etc

Ok i remember it from the regular online process now. Where was the option to start a private session in the PC version.. If i remember right first you get the spinning logo and the word 'connecting..' just above it, then you'd be dropped into the loading compound, but i don't remember where the Private session was started from..

[JamieT]

After you choose multiplayer from the main menu, and you've seen the 'connecting..' dialogue, another menu would appear which would then display an event type like 'National' or 'Supercross' so that you would be connected to the appropriate game type.  At the bottom of this list was 'create private session'.  Which would then put you into the compound track and menus that I described.

[mcm2boys]

Great, thanks Jamie

i think i know all i need to for now.. 

[al167]

could we maybe see a comeback for TD zone!!

jamie is correct, but heres some ps3 screen shots anyway ,
     1) main menu
     2) the screen that appears after you click on multiplayer
     3) the one after you click on LAN
     4) after you create session(looks the same as when you create a private session on pc)

[mcm2boys]

Thanks Al

That clears up the last screen for me, now i know exactly what to expect. Don't think we'll have a zone for Reflex anytime soon. After looking into it more closely - it looks like the xbox and PC version use a system called quazal for the lobby and game servers (not Steam). Quazal was mentioned around the time that the patch was released because some scipt hadn't been updated and was causing problems but i didn't think too much about it at the time. It seems to be these servers that aren't allowing connection at the moment.

They seem to be needed for the regular online play (matchmaking) and the private sessions (which i think is = LAN). Let's hope that Nordic put the Reflex servers back up soon..

Looks like you have LAN working on Reflex on the PS3 - is that a recent photo? I guess that goes through Playstation Network - can you fill me in on what if anything special you have to do to use LAN on PS3 - like network connections, signing in..?


PS a TD zone for Reflex would need to reproduce the quazal server functionality with no documentation from them. At least with MCM2 MS was kind enough to tell us how to connect the game and the zone and support buildng your own server. Maybe they're not so bad..

[JamieT]

I'm not sure that Allan has LAN working as such, because I reached that point yesterday when I tried it out too.  You create a new session, and reach the compound track, where you wait for someone on your network to join the game.

It doesn't require you to be signed in to the Playstation Network (PSN), and according to that link I posted yesterday, you don't even need to be connected to the internet to play through a LAN on PS3.  According to good ole' wikipedia, a LAN can be built by just using wi-fi connections, which the PS3 already has built in.  I think that if LAN games required connecting to the internet, then you would just play through the standard PSN lobby's and matchmaking services, so there would be no point having LAN functionality.

I've always thought that a LAN didn't require a connection to the internet and therefore you wouldn't need to exchange IP addresses..

[mcm2boys]

Hey sorry Jamie, i realised as soon as i pressed submit that you had already told me about the signing in yesterday.

You're right you don't need an internet connection to make a LAN, but even on a LAN you need a way to identify each device on the network and depending on the network that would most likely be an IP address.

[JamieT]

Ah I see..

Although I have just found some info which says that an IP address is not needed when connecting through wi-fi. http://en.kioskea.net/faq/4617-lan-finding-another-computer-s-name-using-an-ip-address

Edit:
Although, I have just read somewhere that the PS3's need to use a router as the hub...so yeah, IP addresses are probably involved...

[al167]

yeah those photos where taken yesterday. Lan does seem like it would still work even though online isnt, but i have never used it.
After you create a session you are then riding around the lobby, waiting for other players. but i dont have another ps3 to test if it actually works.

[MX_Rider_]

Hi Laurie,

Do you still working into this solution???  I have been trying to figure it out other solution on a program that is used to emulate steam servers... but so far haven't had any luck!!

If you interested to check this program send me a message...  I'll send  you, maybe you could figure it out, since my computer skills are very basic!

cheers

[mcm2boys]

Hey Mx_Rider_

I stopped working on this now. I got hold of a PS3 and tested it with the PC. Seems the PC uses similar LAN code to the PS3 but they won't talk to each other for some reason so the problem isn't solvable without re-writing the game EXE. I also found out that Reflex uses a 3rd party server, from Quazal and not Steam, so you probably won't have much luck with Steam servers.

But i do know that Nordic are working on getting Multiplayer to work so hopefully it won't be too long before we're all back online..

[MX_Rider_]

that's good news... thank you and keep up TGW!!