Playing the CD Version over the Network?

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Having problems playing the CD Version over the Network?

Playing the CD Version over a network or the Internet can be tricky at times. This page will provide you with some information to help you get set up and troubleshoot network issues that may be preventing you from playing over a network.

How do you play the CD Version over the Internet?

The easiest way to do it, is to use a player matching service like RealArcade or Yahoo Games, which makes most of the technology transparent. When using a player matching service, you can install their software, log on, find the Monopoly lobby, find a game, join it, and when the game is started, their software will launch Monopoly for you, with all the appropriate options selected. If you're unable to here, go to the troubleshooting section below.


What if I'm not using a Player Matching Service?

Assuming the game is installed, find a friend to play against and do the following:

  • Figure out who will host... just pick one of you, preferably the one with the better computer. If it doesn't work the first time, have another one try to host.
  • Figure out the host's IP address, write it down and have every other play write it down. The easiest way to get this is to have the host click here. For privacy and protection, many people do not feel comfortable giving their IP addresses out to strangers. After all, the IP address is what hackers use to access your computer. If you don't want to give out your IP address, you can get a DNS name.
  • Each of you should launch the game.
  • Click the PLAY button.
  • Click PLAY A GAME ONLINE. Next the game will minimize, and present you with a dialogue box asking if you'd like to be to host or join a game. Each network game will have only one Host, and one or several "joiners". Every joiner's computer must be able to "talk" to the host computer over the network (or Internet). The computers identify each other by their "IP addresses." Don't freak out about the terminology, hopefully we'll get past that.
  • The Host will click HOST; the Joiners should click JOIN.
  • Next the game will ask how you are to connect, select "Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay". Then click OK!
  • The Host will then be brought back into the game, and given the opportunity to select his name and token.
  • The Joiners will be shown the "Choose Game Session" box, where they'll be shown the game session (hopefully, if there are no firewall or routers blocking the host's Internet connection).
  • The Joiners should select the game, and click OK! The game will then launch and everyone will see all the players in the game.
  • The Joiners can then select their name and token, and the host can configure and begin the game.
  • To turn chat on and off, players can press the TAB key.
  • To speed the game play, players can select the OPTIONS tab, and disable many of the silly animations and sounds in the game.

What if it's not working?

If you've created your own game on GameSpy, and when you click launch the game starts on your end, but won't launch on your opponent's end, or you attempt a direct internet connection as the HOST, and your opponent can not see any games listed in the "Choose Game Session" box, then you have something blocking your internet connection. I would try playing against someone who knows that their system does work, as a joiner or playing in someone else's game on GameSpy. This should almost always work.

If you would like to host matches, or are unable to join games, you'll have to figure out what's blocking your way. Most likely, it's a firewall, router or proxy server. A firewall is usually software running on your computer, designed to prevent unauthorized users or computers from accessing your computer... in other words it keeps hackers (and Monopoly players) out. Routers are used on networks... home, office, school or any kind of network. So if you have some kind of broadband connection shared by multiple computers, there is most likely a router connecting them. (Though, admittedly broadband providers prefer if you pay them a higher monthly fee instead of buying a router, so some folks don't.) A proxy server is generally only used on larger networks like schools and businesses, they are used to reduce the amount of data traveling over network, speed access, and protect internal resources from unauthorized access. Any of these can and will prevent you from playing the game. If you are on a larger network with routers, firewalls and/or proxy servers there may be nothing you can do unless you have an in with the network administrators, since THEY will have to make changes to their servers. If, however, you are doing this from home or have the ability to make the changes to network configuration yourself, then you can probably fix the problem... read further.


What do we need to do?

Well, it's pretty straightforward. Not only do the PCs need each other's IP addresses, but they need access to certain "UDP" and "TCP" ports. It's not important, for our purposes, what that means. If you don't already know, you won't need to know to do this. Don't freak out about the terminology, we'll get to that later. I'll show you how to open ports in a bit. All you'll need to know is that you have to make sure the following ports are open:

  • 47624 UDP & TCP both incoming and outgoing
  • 2300 through 2400 UDP & TCP both incoming and outgoing

I got this information from Atari, the current owners of Monopoly 3. I tested this, and found that opening these ports do allow me to host the game. For those of you who know more about networking, I will point out that this seems excessive to me, and I have not investigated to see if we might be able to eliminate any of this. Bear in mind, that this applies to the Monopoly 3 game. GameSpy requests other ports be opened, however I believe that these ports probably apply for the whole range of games that they support, as well as their voice chat option. If you plan on playing at GameSpy, you can check out the GameSpy Firewall configuration page for the ports they suggest opening, but I think the ports listed above should suffice.


That's the goal, anyway... open those ports. Now, before we can open them, we have to figure out what's blocking them. Sometimes, there are many things blocking ports. At my home, I have both a router and firewalls on each of the PCs, so I have two things blocking them. You may have only one, or you may have more. Here's how I suggest you progress:

  • Figure out what you have blocking your ports.
    • Firewalls (software like WindowsXP Internet Connection Firewall, or Norton Personal Firewall)
    • Routers (NetGear, Linksys, etc.)
    • Proxy Servers (there are a bunch of these, mostly on corporate, government or school networks)
  • Disable everything that could be blocking the ports temporarily for testing purposes. Make a note of everything you identify. For example, if you find out that you have the WindowsXP Internet Connection Firewall enabled, note it down, then disable it.
    • Firewall software can be disabled, since there are so many products out there I can't cover them all here, but you should check your manual or help files. If you are using Microsoft WindowsXP, you may have the Internet Connection Firewall enabled. You can click here for information on how to disable the WindowsXP ICF.
    • If you're using a modem, DSL or cable modem and have only one PC connecting through that into a pubic internet provider, then you don't have to worry about routers. If you have multiple PCs sharing a single internet connection, then you may be using a Router. Routers offer an interface, usually accessible via web browser, which allow you to configure them. If you figure out what your pc's IP address is, and you can access and configure your router, you'll need to figure out how to do two things. First, configure your router, so that your PC is the "DMZ Host".
    • Test your system to make sure all the ports you need (those listed above) are now available. The easiest way to do this is to set up a Monopoly game as host, and see if it works. If it does, you've temporarily eliminated everything that's blocking your way. If not, you have to figure out what is still in your way. Another way, and the way I prefer to test, is to run a port scan on your system from out on the internet. This eliminates any possible problems your Monopoly opponent might be having. Here are a few free port scans you can try. Again, refer to the two bullet points above, to see which ports you're trying to open, and see if the port scan shows them as being available:
      • speedguide.net's Security Scan
      • broadband reports.com
      • Sygate Online Services
      • AuditMyPC.com--This service allows you to scan individual ports, which is very nice. If you select Option 2 & ADVANCED, you can enter 47624 as your port, and it should report "Direct Play Server", if you're set up to host a Monopoly Game and everything is open. This is goodness.
      • ShieldsUp--This service also allows for custom port probing. Again, you can set up to host a monopoly game and probe port 47624, to see if it's open.
  • Once you've eliminated everything, and documented it all, then you can add it all back in to protect yourself from hackers & worms. BUT, this time, now you need to open just the ports necessary to play Monopoly. So, for example, if you're using the a firewall, check the documentation or help file. Enable it, then open the ports listed above and go to one of the on-line port probing servers and make sure that it still works. Here's how to open a port manually using WindowsXP's ICF. Check the documentation or help file for your firewall software.

If you had a router, and configured it to put your PC in the DMZ, take the PC OUT of the DMZ, then open the appropriate ports. You may also need to disable "Block WAN requests". Most router vendors have great technical support, and if you call them and tell them what ports you need opened, they'll step you through the process. Or you can check the manual yourself. here are some links to websites for some of the more common router vendors:

Finally, once you've added back your firewalls and reconfigured your routers and proxy servers, you can use the port probe servers to test and make sure that the correct ports are still open. Finally, set up as host, and see if the game runs.

If you're still having problems, please feel free to send us a message describing what you've tried and the problems you're experiencing.


Application Sharing over the Internet

If you choose to use one of the other alternatives listed on this site, these are versions of Monopoly which are not network enabled. So if you wish to play over the internet, you will need to use an application sharing product. There are several available out there, however since this site discusses free Internet play, I'll mention the easy, free one's that I'm familiar with:

  • WindowsLive Messenger -- After installing Messenger, creating a Passport, and logging in, a player can launch a web site like Monopoly Lapoo or a program like Java Monopoly 0,015, and share that with other people they're in an Instant Message conversation with. To do this:
    • Launch the application (or web site) you wish to share and enter into an Instant Message conversation with the person you wish to share with.
    • Go to the ACTIONS menu
    • Select START APPLICATIONS SHARING.
    • The other members of the conversation must then ACCEPT the request. Application Sharing will then take a few minutes to launch and the Sharing window will appear, giving the person running the application the opportunity to select it from the many things they're running.
    • Select the application or web site you wish to share, then click SHARE.
    • You'll also have to click ALLOW CONTROL, and select AUTOMATICALLY ACCEPT REQUESTS FOR CONTROL. This will allow the other player to take their turn. If this works correctly, a window will appear on the other person's screen, showing the application. If they see a "cross hatch pattern", that is because you have the application in the background. Bring it to the front, and they will be able to see the program. For them to move, they'll have to go to the CONTROL menu and select REQUEST CONTROL.
    • Microsoft NetMeeting. Most people already have NetMeeting installed on their PC, they just don't realize it. If you have problems with Messenger, you may find NetMeeting does a better job. It works in a manner very similar to Messenger. To see if you already have it installed, go to your START menu, select RUN and type "conf" without the quotes. If it's not there, then click the link and install it.
  • MSN Explorer While I'm not pushing MSN as an ISP (I personally don't use them), they do offer a feature called "Browse the web together" to their subscribers. This feature will allow two subscribers, at different locations, to connect via Messenger, and both go to a site like Monopoly Lapoo to play a game together. I haven't actually tried this, since I don't have MSN, but I believe it should work. Please let me know if it works.