Serious Sam:The Second Encounter Multi-Player

General:

TCP/IP play supported both in LAN and on the Internet
Split-Screen for multiplayer on one computer, even without network
Supports GameSpy, for easier location of servers and co-players on the Internet
Up to 16 players in one game
Up to 4 players on one computer (Split-Screen)
You can join network games using Split-Screen to allow more than one player to play from one computer

Network Specific:

You can run a standard server (where you play) or a dedicated server (just a simple program that automatically runs in a console window).

MULTIPLAYER MODES:

Cooperative:

In standard Cooperative mode, players play together against enemies. Optionally, you can allow/disallow players to accidentally harm each other (friendly fire).

You can play custom levels of your choice, or play an entire game together, from the beginning to the end.

Optionally, you can allow items (health, weapons, ammo) to be picked by all players, so they don't have to split them.

Deathmatch-Scorematch:

Deathmatch on score. For each item you pick up your own value is raised by the value of that item (shown when picked up). Also, your value slowly increases with time, faster if you are standing still than if you are moving. When you kill someone, his value is added to your score, and half of his value is added to your value.

In short, the longer you live, the more items you pick up, and more you kill, the more valuable you will be for the one who kills you. So, it is not worth killing people who just respawned. Let them live longer and build their value up.

Also, if you kill yourself, your value is deducted from your own score.

A Scorematch game can be set on a time limit or score limit base. Person with highest score at the end wins.

Deathmatch-Fragmatch:

This is standard Deathmatch mode. For every kill, you get one frag more; if you kill yourself, you loose one frag. A Fragmatch game can be set on a time limit or frag limit base. Person with most frags at the end wins.

Other Game Types and Game Modifications

When you are joining a game, in the server browser you will be able to see all servers, including the ones that might be running some game modification that you do not have installed. If you have Serious Sam: The Second Encounter installed, you can play on servers running The Second Encounter and those running Warped. If you also have the first episode (Serious Sam: The First Encounter), you will be able to play on servers marked as 'SeriousSam'. When you choose to connect to a server running a mod that is not currently activated in your game, the game will ask you if you want to automatically switch over and play that mod.

If you try to connect to a server that is running some mod that you do not have installed, you will be pointed to a web page where you can download updates for it (if the mod is free).

Note that, besides custom mods, some servers might be running custom, user-made maps. If you don't have such a map, you'd need to download it too. For information on map downloads visit http://www.croteam.com or http://www.planetserious.com.

Multi-Player Setup

Select Network from the Main Menu for hosting or joining a LAN or Internet game.

The Network Menu allows you to:

Join Game

To join a Network game:

Go to menu: Network->Join Game
Choose to 'Search LAN' or 'Search Internet' to list available servers and select a server from the list. If no servers show up, try pressing 'Refresh'. If you know exact address of the server you want to connect to, you can instead choose 'Specify Server' and then type in the address.
Choose proper connection settings, depending on what kind of connection you have. (modem, ISDN, LAN)
Choose player(s) to play on this computer.

If you select 'Observer' you cannot play, but you can watch other players.
Normally, you just select one player.
If you choose more than one player under 'Number of players', you can play in Split-Screen mode. Make sure you set up proper commands for each player.

When ready, hit Start.

Start Server

To host a LAN/Internet Game:

Go to menu: Network>Start Server
Choose type of game to play: Cooperative, Scorematch, or Deathmatch, and difficulty: Tourist, Easy, Normal, Hard or Serious.
Select level to start playing from.
Choose maximum number of players allowed to join a game.
If you choose 'Wait for all players', game will not start until all players join.
You may adjust game rules under 'Game Options'
Press Start.
Choose player(s) to play on this computer:

If you select 'Observer' you cannot play, but you can watch other players.
If you select 'Dedicated' you cannot play on the server computer. This improves game performance for other players.
Normally, you just select one player to play on the server.
If you choose more than one player under 'Number of players', you can play in Split-Screen mode on the server. Make sure you set up proper commands for each player.

When ready, hit Start.

By default, all servers are visible both on the Internet and in the LAN. If you have your Internet connection on, players on the Internet will see your server and be able join.

Quick Load

In Network mode, Quick Load can be performed by the server only.

Load

In Network mode, Load can be performed by the server only.

Seriously Warped Deathmatch

Serious Sam: The Second Encounter comes bundled with a very popular multiplayer game modification (mod) called 'Seriously Warped Deathmatch'. To start a Warped server, first go to Mods and switch over to the Warped mod, then start the server as usual. In Warped, you will be able to choose some new game options, like player speed and knife damage.

The Games:

Control Zone = All maps prefixed with CZ_
Objective Thief = All maps prefixed with OT_
Serious Rugby = All maps prefixed with RG_
Team Control Zone = All maps prefixed with TCZ_
Capture the Flag = All maps prefixed with CTF_
Steal the Objective = All maps prefixed with STO_

The rules are the same for a standard scorematch game, with a slight variation in each of the following:
ControlZone Rules: Somewhere on the map is a flag (possibly multiple), if you stand in the vicinity of the flag (map dependent) you will start scoring points at a rate of 1000 pts per second. Only one player at a time can score points from a particular flag, so the goal is to hold a control zone and prevent others from taking it or other flags. Have fun!

Objective Thief Rules: To score points capture that objective and take it to a recovery zone. The trick is that everyone else will try to do the same, and there is only one of each objective. (It'll respawn after returned or after the player is killed. Default score = 100,000 pts for recovering the objective)

Rugby Rules: To score points capture that objective and just run around with it. The trick is that everyone else will try to do the same, and there is only one of each objective. (It'll respawn after the player is killed) Also, when you have the objective you will be identified to all other players, so be careful. (Default score = 1,000 pts per second while holding the objective)

Teamplay Rules: Teamplay works as above, but points are distributed amongst your team. Normally objectives are not worth as much because of this. If an objective is worth x points, then the formula y = x*(1- PlayerCountForYourTeam/TotalPlayerCount). The player then with the objective, gets 2x and everyone else on his team gets x points. This is a balancing mechanism so the bigger/stronger team will get less points. Everyone on a team will be using the same model. Score limit is not reached until the team score hits the limit. (The Team score only receives points for objectives and not frags).

Team Control Zone - Same Control Zone Rules, but with teams. Points are distributed amongst your team. Help each other by keeping one team member in a control zone area (or one in each, if multiple zones exist) to accumulate points for your team.

Capture the Flag - Each team spawns at their base. Each base has its own Flag to defend. Your objective is to prevent the other team from taking your flag while some of your team members try to retrieve the opposing flag and return it back to your base. (Flags will respawn after they have been successfully captured and returned to the opposing base. If a player is killed while holding a flag, any member of the same team can pick it up, or any of the opposing team can return it back to their base by running over it.

Steal the Objective - Objective thief with teams. Same rules apply, but points are distributed amongst your team. Recovery zones are usually located near the opposing teams spawn area.