Playing multiplayer starcraft on LAN with multiple subnets
One of the best games of all time must be StarCraft. I recently installed it again, and was delighted to see it now supports UDP instead of the archaic IPX protocol. But this is where the fun started.
My network is divided in to three subnets. I have the WAN connected to the Internet, a Wireless subnet for all my wireless devices (including my one gaming computer), and a LAN for the wired computers (including the game server). But this is where the problem lies - by default UDP broadcasting does not extend subnets - and for a good reason too. However StarCraft uses UDP broadcasting to discover servers to connect to.
Obviously I enabled routing of UDP traffic between the LAN and WiFi subnets, but this was not enough. To have broadcast traffic forwarded to the other subnet, I had to get my hands dirty.
I love dedication like this
A very simple idea, yet the detail and subsequent result is amazing. Love it when people get creative.
Microsoft may suck, but for development they rock.
Compare this official documentation on the exit value of a process for Java:
with Microsoft's:
Spring in Winnipeg is AWESOME
Moving back to Windows
After a long abstinence from the Windows platform as main OS, I have finally decided it is time to see the light and get with the masses. Windows Vista/7/2008 is the best OS out there, and neither Linux nor Mac OS X can touch it.
I have used various distro's of Linux for 2 years as primary OS, and got tired of the constant frustrations in having to pick from thousands of different choices. To not have a single company to blame for problems. To not have one single entity to hate when things go south. To have constant updates irritating the life out of me. I mean, if you have to choose between installing 10 patches in one month, or one large patch once every 3 years - which would you pick?
Then I went onwards to Mac OS X - and what a bummer. Even this guy claims Windows is better as it is cheaper than a Mac. I paid $9500 for my Mac Pro, compare that to the $2800 I paid for my super duper PC that (almost) outruns the Mac Pro. I paid $3800 for my MacBook Pro 17" Unibody, compare that with $699 for a 17" PC notebook. Steve Jobs is stealing our money. Why pay triple for some flashy junk when you can get solid compatible hardware for a third of the price?