MOHAA in game server launch
Dedicated or Play Along

This page is for the beginner!    
This guide will take you through how to launch a server from your MOHAA game.   There is a separate guide for launching from your desktop, which allows for more customization of game settings.

This process is for launching a multi-player game, from within the game itself.  To run a game for LAN (local area network) or on the internet for anyone to join, the process is exactly the same.  The only difference between LAN and internet gaming is that you must open the internet connections for internet gaming, such as to open firewall ports, configure routers, etc.   See the other guides on this site for more information regarding ports and routers, or click here to read a forum post for more details of the difference.

The Basics.... Step by step....

You should recognize the screen here, but if you do not, you have launched the wrong game "Try Again!"  :)    Now if you move your mouse to the doorway on the far right side, you will see the little sign display "multiplayer" as you see in this picture below.   Click on the door and you will go to the next screen.

You have now entered the "Multi-Player Room" (picture below).   
If this is your first time to go into multiplayer,  first click on the locker on the left side of this screen (below) and go into the setup.   I suggest you add your game name here because if you do not, you will end up with the name "unnamed player" and everyone will know you are a "newbie"!    You can also select the "skin" you want to play for Allies or Axis or leave it with the defaults.  It is also important that you select the correct connection speed here, such as Cable/DSL.  This way the game can configure properly for your connection.   Some people have said that if this is not set correctly, you may get time-outs connecting to other games (not sure if this is true).   Finish these settings are return to the screen below.

To join an existing server, you can click on the center door in this picture below.  You can either list servers on the internet (with the built in browser), join a game for a specific IP address if you know it, or you can join a LAN game on your own network if you have this (see my pages on dedicated server & routers).  

Now... to Launch your own server, this is REALLY easy.    On the right side of this picture you see the bulletin board.   Move your mouse over it and the your screen should look exactly like this picture with the little sign reading "Start Game"    Click on the bulletin board and you will go to the next screen.

The picture below is the select game menu.   Just select the type of game you want to play.    In this example, I am selecting Team Match.

You have made it to the Start Game screen.   That wasn't so bad was it?

This is where you set the game parameters you want (below).    
I have listed most of the settings below this picture.

Max Players:  Number of plaers allowed in the game.  It defaults to 2 so change it to what you like, but I suggest you start small with a few to make sure your machine and connection can handle it.  If you have too many players and/or a poor connection, the game will lag and players will leave.

Score Limit means that the game ends when one team reaches the limit (if in team match).   Leave it at 0 if you want a time limit or never ending game. 

Time limit is minutes, and when the time is up the game will end.

If you do not set any limits, the game will not end unless you, the server admin, quits the game and closes the server.   If you want to have different maps rotate through while playing, either set a score limit or time limit.   At the limit, the map will change to the next in your rotation.

To set Map Rotation, you can set to the default maps by clicking on the bar that says "Default Team Match Map Rotation".    (In some other game times, there are different maps)   Once you click on this default, you will see maps listed in the map rotation as in this picture.   You can remove individual maps or enter custom maps if you wish.

Starting Map.   At the top left of the screen, you select the first map you want to launch with.   Click on the Select Map button and choose from the listing of what you have on your machine.

Team Damage is checked if you want to allow team members to kill each other.  This is called Friendly Fire or FF.    If you check the box, FF is on and you will get killed by your teammates.  :)

Game Server Name   This is where you become famous.   You can put anything you want here to name your server.   If you want to do this often, I suggest you pick a server name that you will want to use all the time so others start to recognize it, and can find it again if you have a good server.    If you do not enter anything here, your server will show up as "Nameless Battle".... lame.    

Last two items are VERY IMPORTANT

Use GameSpy   If you want others on the internet to join your game through gamespy, and want your server to show up on the listing, then check this box.   If you are going to have a private game and will give your IP address to other people you want to join, leave this blank and your server will not display within GameSpy. 

Dedicated Server   If you check this box, you will launch a dedicated server meaning that the machine is dedicated to running the server and you cannot play the game on this same machine.   All you will see is the console for the game.      If you want information about server admin and the console for the dedicated server, go to my Admin page.

GOOD LUCK and ENJOY!

Are you using a router?
If you are hosting on a home network, behind a router, it will act as a firewall and block some of the communications making it impossible for others to connect to your game.  If you have a router, you will need open ports on that router.  Please see my router guide with will explain this further.  Click here.