Eternal Fighter Zero Netplay FAQ v0.52 - 2006/10/09 Written by Blitzwing for World of Eternity (http://efz.proboards36.com, #efz @irc.efnet.net) Table of Contents [1]. Disclaimer/Credit [2]. Release Notes [3]. Introduction [4]. Getting Started [5]. Netplay [6]. Troubleshooting [7]. Netplay Advice and Etiquette [8]. Links/Contact [1]. Disclaimer/Credit This FAQ is copyrighted by Blitzwing. All rights reserved. Free to distribute if no changes are made. Thanks to Junah for helping with revision. Best viewed at 800x600 resolution minimum. [2]. Release Notes v0.52 - 2006/10/09 - Minor update v0.51 - 2006/10/07 - Spelling mistakes corrected - Formatting fixes v0.50 - 2006/10/07 - Initial Draft [3]. Introduction Eternal Fighter Zero is a fighting game made by Tasogare Frontier (Tasofro, http://tasofro.net/efz/index.html). The characters originate from various visual novel games by Tactics/Key, including Air, Kanon, Moon and ONE. The system is loosely based on Guilty Gear's, and features a cast of 23 fighters. A netplay application (EFZ.NET) was released by LOVEHINA-AVC in early 2006, breathing new life into the game. This is proving especially true in North America, where it continues to bring isolated pockets of EFZ players into the unified community. With Kyoto Animation's remake of the anime Kanon, there will undoubtedly be many new people interested in EFZ. The purpose of this FAQ is to help players make use of the wonderful netplay application. [4]. Getting Started In order to play EFZ online, the following software is required: 1. Eternal Fighter Zero (v4.02) 2. EFZ.NET (v1.21) Patches are available from Tasofro's download page, (http://tasofro.net/arc/index.html). The netplay application, "Eternal Fighter ZERO Netplay Assistant" (EFZ.NET) can be downloaded at (http://chrono.at.infoseek.co.jp/). Step 1: Install the game. This is pretty straightforward. It helps if your system is configured to run in Japanese non-unicode, but this is not required. How to set this up is beyond the scope of this FAQ, but there are plenty of resources online, you just have to google it. A functional command of Japanese is also helpful for finding patches (or access to a good translation application), but again, not necessary. Step 2: Patch the game. If you don't already have EFZ Memorial edition, you'll have to use the 75MB patch to 4.01 first, and then the 4MB 4.02 patch. Patching is pretty simple, as long as the contents of the patch file end up in the efz folder all should be well. Step 3: Extract EFZ.NET Extract EFZ.NET to the same directory as efz.exe. Step 4: Configure Controls. EFZ.NET will always use the 1P controls, so set those appropriately. Keyboard, or a DirectInput compatible device (like a gamepad) are both acceptable. [5]. Netplay Step 1: Prepare for Netplay. In order to ensure a functional experience, empty the replay folder. EFZ.NET uses port UDP 78, so if you have a firewall/router it must be forwarded if you want to host a game. Ensure that firewall rules are configured prior to netplay (or just turn it off), lest the firewall warning popup kicks you out of the game (Windows firewall is commonly overlooked). Step 2: Find an Opponent. The point of netplay is to play other humans, so this step is critical! Visit #efz @ irc.efnet.net or (http://efz.proboards36.com) to find someone if you don't know anyone else with netplay. Step 3: Netplay with Opponent. Ensure that all players have the correct version of software, and that the preparatory steps have been completed. Run the netplay application. The host is presented with a few options for transport mode of packets. Generally, for very low latency connections, (<30ms) async mode, frameskip 2~3 is ideal. Buffered, frameskip 3, is a good catchall up to around <60~70ms. Anything more and Buffered, frameskip 4~5 is the way to go. It's hard to play past about 110ms. Immediate is generally only good for LAN play. The host chooses an appropriate setting, and gives his external ip address to the other player. (http://www.showmyip.com/ is one resource that will give that information.) The connecting player inputs this address into EFZ.NET, and if everything has been done properly, should connect. [6]. Troubleshooting Most of the complaints with netplay are related to one of three things. 1. Firewall 2. Version Mismatch 3. Latency (Lag) Problem: "Trying connect to specified host...no response" Solution: Ensure that the host has UDP 78 forwarded to his local ip. Ensure that the host's local ip or external ip has not changed. Ensure that the host is, in fact, hosting. Double-check that Windows firewall is properly configured (or off). Check all firewalls. Problem: EFZ starts up, and then quickly shuts down again. Solution: As above, double check all firewalls and routing. Confirm that both players have the same version of netplay patch, and same version of EFZ. IMPORTANT!!: The Hongfire version of EFZ 4.02 is a patched version of Bad Moon edition, plus several character hacks and the non-canon voice patch. Generally speaking, it will cause a version mismatch (aka, crash the game). Not recommended to use. A fresh install of the game from disc is the best way to prevent this. Problem: Netplay is laggy. Solution: Unfortunately, this is not always solvable. There are a few things that can be done, however. The first step is to diagnose the connection. Go to start menu, and click on run. Without quotes, type in "cmd" and push enter. In the corresponding window, type in "tracert 192.168.0.1" (replace 192.168.0.1 with your opponent's ip address). If it starts giving "*" after a while, put in "ctrl+c" This shows the path that your data takes through the various servers and nodes on the internet to get to the other person's computer. Have the host adjust the EFZ.NET transport settings as necessary. If the latency is very high at the beginning of the tracert, then likely your connection has become oversaturated. Bittorent and P2P clients are usually the cause of this. If the connection is shared, make sure the other computers aren't P2Ping. Windows update is also sometimes a culprit. For a residence or apartment-wide connection, you may be out of luck; either find a new ISP, try one of the computer labs (those generally aren't capped as much as residence jacks) or find a helpful neighbour who has wifi. Problem: Other player's character appears as pink blob. Solution: Don't use edit colour costumes, or make sure that both players have the SAME palette files. Problem: "Direct Input Error" Solution: This is often a symptom of version mismatch, and can be rectified by a clean install of the game and 4.02. Restarting sometimes works as well. Problem: When alt+tabbing, the game crashes. Solution: Don't alt+tab. This will crash the game under normal circumstances. It's best to avoid the windows key as well. Note that any application that steals focus could potentially crash EFZ. [7] Netplay Advice and Etiquette Here is some advice and etiquette in no particular order that pertains to EFZ netplay specifically. 1. Don't alt+tab! 2. Usually the host will navigate the starting menu. If both players attempt to do it at the same time, the most common result is the wrong menu being entered. 3. Lag can be frustrating at times, but remember that your opponent is experiencing the same thing. 4. If the game's framerate suddenly drops (a common symptom with an unstable connection), it is polite to restrain your attack and/or withdraw (unless you are in the middle of a guaranteed attack string). 5. Don't use edit-colour costumes unless both players agree on a palette set. 6. If one player stops moving for an extended period of time, chances are something has happened (phone is a common reason, since EFZ doesn't desync unlike other doujin games!) Since pause doesn't work in netplay (imagine how cheap that would be!), it is polite to wait patiently for your opponent to return before resuming the battle. 7. The higher the latency, the trickier input becomes. Dragon punch motions (623) and 2x quarter-circle motions (i.e. 236236) can become difficult to enter. Try to make your input match the speed of the game. [8]. Links/Contact http://efz.proboards36.com - World of Eternity Forums #efz on irc.efnet.net - World of Eternity IRC