Playing Games Against Other Players

Most PC games sold at retail today include a multiplayer option. This option lets you play the game against a human opponent. You can play another player on your local area network or find and play an opponent over the Internet.

Setting up a multiplayer game is relatively straightforward. You start by launching the game on your computer, then you connect to the Internet and log on to a specific Web site. This site can be hosted by the game manufacturer, or it can be a general gaming site that has licensing access to a particular game. In many cases, the site you need to log in to is hard-wired into the game software itself. All you have to do is pull down the menu and select the multiplayer option; then the game automatically connects itself to the proper Web site, using your normal Internet connection.

tip

The faster your Internet connection, the smoother the game play you'll experience. Broadband is better than dial-up and is required by some gaming sites.

After you're logged on to the site, you access the area of the site dedicated to your particular game. You can then choose to host a game (and look for other players) or join a game already in progress. You're then connected to the other player(s), and the game begins.

Most sites offering multiplayer gaming operate on a subscription basis in other words, you have to pay to play. Subscription fees vary per site but are typically assessed on an hourly, a monthly, or a yearly basis. (Fees can run as low as $20 for lifetime access or as high as $2 per hour of play.) For this fee, you get the privilege of connecting to other users, as well as using the site's services to organize and coordinate both individual match-ups and tourneys.

To find out how to play online, consult the instructions for your particular game.