Dear returning Carmageddon fans Image

These last years, the CWA Board assimilated what was archived from many old Carmageddon forums, including the whole of the Official Carmageddon.com Forums.
If you wish to merge any previous account you might have had with your new or existing CWA account, don't hesitate to reach out to us !

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

The 2016 reincarnation of Carmageddon! Thanks, SCi!
Post Reply
User avatar
Xanarki
mechanic
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:50 pm

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by Xanarki »

Tried multiplayer with a friend that has the Steam version, while I have the GOG version. Seems like the multiplayer relies on invites and friends' list, so, we can't play with each other.

I kind of expected that console owners can't crossplay with PC owners; however, further dividing the community, by not allowing Steam and GOG users to play each other? Bad move on Stainless' part. Should of at least added a direct IP option, or built a master server, even.

This forum is pretty dead, so I don't expect any responses, but hey, at least someone had to say something, lol.
User avatar
Trent
mindless
Posts: 3265
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2000 9:08 am
Contact:

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by Trent »

It's not a matter of "allowing", as far as I'm aware the game uses Steamworks networking API's and services for the Steam version and GOG Galaxy for the GOG version's networking, I'm not sure they are compatible.

Also in order to make sure people who have different updates of the game don't try to play each (and thus potentially break things completely) the game uses a checksum of the game's data core ZAD data to determine which servers it can see, I would imagine the GOG version's checksum doesn't exactly match the Steam version's either due to the minor changes between the two, so even if the networking APIs are compatible that would probably stop them connecting.

Stopping GOG and Steam users playing together certainly wasn't a conscious decision for them but it's an unforeseen architectural issue.
a.k.a. Brent
User avatar
Xanarki
mechanic
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:50 pm

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by Xanarki »

I guess the only real solution then is if Stainless used their own master server. I feel like it wouldn't be overly expensive; however, I think that ship has sailed. Would be beneficial to the community though. People would be more inclined to setup dedicated servers that are always on.

We might try to use Hamachi or Tunngle though, since there is a LAN option built ingame. Even though those two are for older games, it might just work for this. Dunno...
User avatar
starbuck
kill boss
Posts: 1604
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:26 pm

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by starbuck »

Xanarki wrote:Tried multiplayer with a friend that has the Steam version, while I have the GOG version. Seems like the multiplayer relies on invites and friends' list, so, we can't play with each other.

I kind of expected that console owners can't crossplay with PC owners; however, further dividing the community, by not allowing Steam and GOG users to play each other? Bad move on Stainless' part. Should of at least added a direct IP option, or built a master server, even.


This forum is pretty dead, so I don't expect any responses, but hey, at least someone had to say something, lol.

So would you pay the bill ?
User avatar
shane
Stainless
Posts: 1080
Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:00 am

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by shane »

Hey guys, as Trent says the Steam and GOG have their own API's for multiplayer networking which Carmageddon: Max Damage uses. The downside is that Steam players cannot join players on GOG and vice versa.
Ex-Carmageddon Community Manager - Carmageddon.com
User avatar
Trent
mindless
Posts: 3265
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2000 9:08 am
Contact:

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by Trent »

Running master and dedicated servers for games is notoriously expensive. Plenty of developers have had to shut down multiplayer on games, or even close up shop entirely, because they relied on their own servers for multiplayer and the continuous outgoings on servers was greater than the income they were making off the game. Given the how C:R/MD's wasn't particularly profitable, having a recurring cost of running servers for the game would be financial suicide.

That's also ignoring the cost of developing their own master server and integrating it with the game, which isn't insignificant. They chose to use Steamworks for the game's networking because it saved them having to spend a significant portion of their budget developing their own secure networking and server software for the game. At the time when they started developing the multiplayer component of the game, Steamworks was the best, most viable option for them. You have to remember, GOG Galaxy had it's first public beta test of it's networking functionality literally a just few months before C:R's beta with networking support was released. Stainless was already heavily invested in using Steamworks and when ever they discussed the DRM-free version they said it would have to have all the online features cut out due to the reliance on Steamworks. Luckily GOG Galaxy came out with it's own networking APIs so they decided to use that and keep online features in the DRM free version. Not being able to play with steam players is better than not having multiplayer at all, right?

But that's all entirely a moot point because, as I explained, the game uses the ZAD checksums to make sure you only see servers run on compatible versions of the game due to early issues with data-mismatches. The GOG version's checksum is likely to be different, so to get the two talking together even with running their own master server would require a developing whole new method of maintaining data integrity between both versions.

Either way, here's a comic I nabbed off Peachbutt Comics earlier which sums up what developers tend to think about these "it's really simple to do this, why haven't they done it?!" type comments rather nicely:
a.k.a. Brent
User avatar
MrDeviance
turbo bastard
Posts: 419
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 7:30 pm

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by MrDeviance »

Because fragmenting an already fragmented mp community that most likely doesn't even exist anymore, is a good ideea...
User avatar
Fr0ntj3
speed freak
Posts: 524
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 1:31 pm

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by Fr0ntj3 »

MrDeviance wrote:Because fragmenting an already fragmented mp community that most likely doesn't even exist anymore, is a good ideea...
Can you fragment something that doesnt exist....hmmm
User avatar
CzechDeath
kill boss
Posts: 1884
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:37 am
Location: Prague

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by CzechDeath »

"Supporting devs" that you are a "fan" of, by *Enter proper description of whatever you'd call your malevolent activity here*, is also great idea =D
Image
User avatar
Xanarki
mechanic
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:50 pm

GOG and Steam owners can't play each other

Post by Xanarki »

Okay, thanks for the responses. I kind of figured it from the get go, but I guess the real reason for making this topic is so that people are aware of this issue. I was just trying to prevent someone from making the same mistake as I did and so they can purchase the proper version.

Because a simple Google search on the issue states the wrong thing (one of the first and only relevent results actually), that both users can crossplay.

So no, I'm not expecting a fix or a new server (although I admit, never realized how expensive they are), nor am I bitching that the devs didn't work hard enough and I'm entitled (as your inane dumbass comic, probably directed towards me, is implying).

Just wanted to give a heads up for other potentional new customers. Thanks!
Post Reply

Check who’s online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 100 guests