Does MP actually work?

[FS_albatross]

Just a little FAQ for those having trouble hosting a game and others joining via direct connect. I have the steam version and can see no servers online when i select client, internet. So I went to server, and created a server.
First make sure the Steam port is allowed access in your modem/ router- 27015. When you select multiplayer in game, I went to server and then in the bottom right click ok. I then had to load a mission, which took me to two folders in a window. One called single, and the other multi. Open the multi folder and another two options came up, one called coop, the other Dogfight. Within the dogfight folder are the various multiplayer maps. Select one and hit ok/enter.
Now you have the option to 'Start Battle'.. which I did and then I clicked select army. Another option now pops in the menu called 'spawn player group'. Go through the fields and in order to make sure you spawn enter a number of at least 1 in the Flight1, Flight2..etc fields. then click create. Wait a moment and you will spawn into the game.
Now some other stuff, if you enter a number other than 1 in the flight fields, all those other planes will be AI. Also before creating the server make sure in Realism option down the bottom that the aircraft switching options are allowed.
If you want someone to join you then they need your IP... to get that you can do one of two things. If using Teamspeak right click the persons name who is going to host the server and click client connection info, copy the numbers listed as client address. Make sure not to copy the port.. eg: 111.11.11.111:11111, do not select the numbers after the : symbol.
The other way is to go to this site http://ip-lookup.net/, the hoster can then give you his/her IP.
Once you know the IP your trying to connect to, go to multiplayer, click client then down the bottom click 'direct connect'. In the IP tab put those numbers you copied from the person who is hosting the game, and in the port field put in 27015, that is Steams port. All done you should be able to join a multiplayer game.
Also the online maps come with AI already in the map so I used the Full mission builder and edited a multiplayer map to give airspawns and historical sides, eg: blue axis, red allied, plus ships and objects to bomb and well... you can explore like I did.
Hope that helps... happy hunting online. ~S~