Multiplayer gaming alternatives

Our University blocks the ports so multiplayer gaming isnt possible. Is there a way to setup multiplayer games with the guys on our floor not using the internet connection? Does the ad-hoc thing in vista require an internet connection? Is their any alternatives. Most of us all have vista with wireless cards. thanks

 

How does the university block gaming? Is it blocking access to certain sites?

You can set up a LAN party the old fashion way. Connect all the computers to a single router and most games will have a LAN multiplayer option.

 

@Lithus:

All you have to do is go to PortForward.com to find out what ports popular online games use. Block those ports and you have effectively blocked online gaming.

 

Quite frankly, I didn't think the university was smart enough to do that. At some universities, they bandwidth limit you by tracking your MAC, but aren't smart enough to realize that MACs can be easily spoofed. I was just wondering what method this one was using.

 

They may be using a third-party firewall/application to do this. My wife's school blocked access to all gaming websites with a basic web filter. I'm sure there are hardware and software-based firewalls that can do the same for gaming.

 

I've used the ad-hock network feature playing games with my friends before and it works well. You don't need any internet connection to do it. All I did was setup a network and then other people could connect to it just like any other network. As far as range goes I would imagine it would work as long as everyone can get a signal to each other- we were all in the same room. If you need more help finding out how exactly to set it up just search "setting up a ad hock network" in windows help and there is step by step instructions on how to do it- its quite easy..

 

@mudpuppy193:

I won't rag on you too much, but it's actually "ad-hoc," instead of "ad hock."

 

my mistake..

 

Now the real question is, why the heck would a university block online gaming? College is stressful, and relax time IMO is just as important as study time. Not to mention the thousands of dollars you're spending to attend their University.

 

Because bandwidth is expensive.

 

Hehe, tell that to the students who use bittorent, itunes, napster, or just about any other p2p program.

 

A lot of universities are imposing bandwidth caps or blocking p2p programs now.

 

Aye. P2P ports have been blocked for longer than gaming ports. Soon, it will be total information control, and all students will be able to do will be to access the college's approved research sites. Really, that's the only way to guarantee minimal bandwidth usage.

 

c'mon universities are the ideal places to explore what can be done on internet....(as long as its ethical)...

 

Of course they are, especially given that they're normally running one or more OC3 connections, but somehow the uni administrators just don't seem to agree that their bandwidth should be used for entertainment purposes.

 

Lol Soon there will be no blocked list and instead , an approved list , anything not on the list , not acsessable. That would suck.

 

Go to your campus's Computer/Information Services building. Go in there and talk to the first guy who approaches you about unblocking some ports. Make sure you tell him that they're specifically for World of Warcraft or whatever. He should unblock them for your account.

I just went downstairs and asked when I lived in residence, and the admin dude had no problem with it. I told him I needed some ports opened for counterstrike and other stuff. As long as you're nice about it, they should open them up for you.