Last update : September 2009

NOTE : The most popular softwares that allow to play
duke nukem 3D online are Yang (WIN32 installer) and Meltdown.
But you can also play this game online with Dukesterx software.

Welcome to Dukesterx.org, the unofficial website of informations about the use of dukesterx software.


Why this site? I make this website to help new players to use dukesterx, but some
informations on this site may be useful to player who already use dukesterx





Si vous êtes français, cliquez ici pour accéder à la version française de ce site web

DOWNLOAD AND INSTALLATION

Users of windows 98 SE: a version not too old of directX is required

users of windows XP: directX version included in windows XP works very well

to begin, download dukesterx software, who is located on dukesterx.net,
here is the link (Dukester X Full Setup) :
http://forums.dukesterx.net/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=2

then, download Xduke, most of duke players online use it, and it has good performances
on Internet: http://vision.gel.ulaval.ca/~klein/duke3d/

then, download duke3d.grp version 1.5 atomic:
http://dukesterx.org/DUKE3D.zip

Now that all necessary files have been downloaded, unzip DukesterX-Full.zip
this zip has setup.exe file, it is the installation program of dukesterx,
launch this file, and follow instructions.

Unzip Duke3d_Binary_Only_v19.7.1.zip extract all files of this zip in
C:\duke3d

Now, unzip DUKE3D.zip and extract Duke3d.GRP 1.5 atomic file in C:\duke3d

Now that all files have been downloaded and installed, we have to configure them

CONFIGURATION

You have now to launch dukesterx, go to start menu -> programs -> fazsoftware ->
dukesterx -> dukesterx

Port Not Found

after dukesterx launch, you'll see this message

Start With Icons

In "Your name", replace "Player" by your nickname. Click the next ">>" to choose an icon.

Start                            

Click on Options

Options

Now that you are in "Options", select rancidmeat's port, and click on "Find Duke"

Options Find

Select this file at end of the scan: duke3d_w32.exe and then click OK


FIREWALL AND NAT ROUTERS

This part is the one where a lot of players got problems, most players problems happens
because of their firewall or NAT routers (Firewall included with windows XP SP2
is enabled by default).


Start

To know if you are behind a NAT router, that's easy, connect to the Internet, and launch
dukesterx. (if you are not connected to the Internet, and if your computer is set to
IP automatic attribution, you'll see "txtip" displayed after "Your IP", connect to
the Internet before launch dukesterx. "txtip can be replaced by an IP, but the easiest is
to connect and launch dukesterx). Look the IP displayed after "Your IP". If you see this
kind of IP: 169.X.X.X (private IP assigned by windows XP), 192.168.X.X, 10.0.X.X,
or from 172.16.X.X to 172.31.X.X, it's an unroutable IP, that's mean you are probably
behind a NAT router. (On picture, you can see an unroutable IP). These unroutables IP
are used by the router to make a difference between all the computers connected to it,
these IP are not used on Internet.

Firewall Options

Click on the >> who follow the unroutable IP (don't modify the displayed IP):

>> -> Behind router/firewall -> yes
>> -> Behind router/firewall -> save router options (to keep settings memorized for
next launches of dukesterx).
>> -> Use External IP -> Attempt to find (this function detect your external IP).

Click on Options button now

Options

(On picture: TCP 8501 (Dukester X port) and UDP 8500 (Duke port)).

Set your dukesterx ports like on the picture

Now you know your port numbers, we can configure
NAT router and / or firewall

Warning, some NAT routers also include a firewall enabled by default

If you use Windows XP SP2 or a firewall, follow these instructions:

Windows XP SP2 has a firewall enabled by default

1) To set ports in Windows XP firewall, click here:

http://portforward.com/english/routers/firewalling/Microsoft/WindowsXPFirewallFirewall/WindowsXPFirewallFirewallindexIn.htm
   
To set ports of another firewall, select your firewall in this list:

http://portforward.com/english/routers/firewalling/routerindex.htm

2) You have to allow these 2 ports:
TCP 8501
UDP 8500


If you use a NAT router, follow these instructions:

1) Select the router you are using in this list: http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/routerindex.htm

2) Once you have selected the right router, click on the link "Default Guide"

3) You have to allow these 2 ports:
TCP 8501
UDP 8500

If you can't or dont want to open ports:

If you are behind a NAT router with ports closed, you can play without forward ports on your router,
(a stun server must be available).

Firewall Options

Click the >> who is after the IP
>> -> Behind Router /Firewall -> NAT Free Mode

In this mode
you can only join games make by other players,
but games you make cannot be accessed by other players.

DUKE NUKEM 3D CONFIGURATION

Now, configure sound, display, and controls (keyboard, mouse).

If you extracted folder duke3d_w32_bin in C:\, directory to configure sound and display
is: C:\duke3d_w32_bin\bin\Setup_w32.exe

Then configure keyboard and mouse, for that launch duke3d_w32.exe, and click options ->
setup mouse, and options -> setup keyboard


EASY USE OF DUKESTERX

Start

Click on JOIN

Join Masters

Click on "Refresh server list" to update server games list
Double click on a server game, then type OK to join it

When you are on a server, you can see a button ready. The use of this button only
notify the host you clicked on it, by modify display of your nickname on host screen,
but the host can launch the game even if the players who joined his server didn't clicked
this button.

If you dont have the map selected by the host, a dialog box open to ask you if you want
to get the map. After clicking YES, map may not download immediatly, for 2 reasons:

Download is done gamer by gamer, when the first completed the download, download begin
for the second player, etc...

the second reason is that dukesterx default configuration ask host if he accepts to send
the map, he must then click on start to begin the download.

To make a game, that's easy, launch dukesterx, then click on HOST,
a server name is asked, server name and nickname are publicly displayed
(by default, Make public option is enabled)


Start

Click on HOST

Main         

If you see button "make public" near game options, click "make public"
to make your game server displayed on server list
(Make public is enabled by default)


Player Menu

As an host, you can choose players numbers (1-8). For set that, make a right click in
player list area -> Max No. Players

You have also the power to kick, that force a player connected to your game server
to quit it, but he can join again if he wants.

to kick and ban, make a right click on player's nickname. If you want to kick, click on kick

You can also ban a player, that force a player connected to your game server to quit it,
and he can't join again. Technically, here how it works: Each player who connect to a
game server sends an encrypted hash of it's hardware to the host. The fact to change IP
or nickname dont permit to bypass a "ban".

To ban, make a right click on Block Menu -> Block

You can cancel a ban by clicking on Block menu -> Unblock


Block

Ban list is displayed here. To cancel a ban, select the player, and click on Unblock

Start

Click on HOST

Main

Click on "Game Options"

Map

You can choose a map -> game options, and configure game type (deathmatch, coop...).

ADVANCED USE OF DUKESTERX

It is of course a non exhaustive list, i put only functions who has most interest

If you want to know all command lines offered by dukesterx software,
double click on the area used to send messages.


1) Launch several dukesterx, or only one with server list display

It is possible to launch 2 dukesterx applications or more at same time,
this is useful for keep an eye on game servers list at same time than
making or join a game server. It is possible to join as much as
game servers than the number of dukesterx applications launched.

Start

Launch 2 Dukesterx applications, click on JOIN for the first,
and click HOST for the second

Join Masters

After you click on JOIN, you'll see this screen.

Main

After you click on HOST, you get this screen

It is also possible to keep an eye on game servers list with only one dukesterx
application launched, but the fact to join (or to make) a game server
will display a dialog box saying that doing that will close (or quit) the current game server
on which you are connected (or the one you host).

Now, here how to do with a single dukesterx application launched:

Start

Click on JOIN or HOST

Join Masters

If you clicked on JOIN, you'll see this screen, select a game server in the list

Main

Now, type on the chat the command /listservers

Join Masters

This will display the game server list, the chat window stay in background, it is easy to switch
between the chat window and the game server list.

2) Launch private games

Advertise

To launch private games without using a master server and / or dont make public his
game server, launch dukesterx,
Click on the >> who follow IP >> -> Hosting Option -> Always Advertise
(Option set on by default, unset it).

Start

To join you, other players has to click on JOIN, then join manually button. Required
informations to connect are IP adress and port number of host (default port number is 8501).

Join

It's possible to make a list of private servers by typing their IP, port, and name in
join manually, and clicking on Add

3) Launch LAN games with Internet games

It is possible to play games with players in a LAN (using NAT routers), with player
on Internet.

4) Send a map to the host

Start

Click on JOIN

Join Masters

Double click the choosen game server, then click OK

Main

That's very easy to do, you have to type this command: /sendmap
(commands are typed on the chat as if you were talking),
then choose map. That allow players who join a server
to send a map to the host who can deny the map.

5) Download a map without left game server

Main

If a player who join a server select NO to a map download request, or cancel
a waiting download, he can launch again download by double clicking on map name who is
in game settings area. Location where you have to double click is where it's displayed
"E1L3 - Prison" on picture.

6) Find its external IP, change IP fastly

Main

it happens that sometimes IP change (disconnection and reconnexion by the ISP),
it's possible to set immediatly the new IP by typing on the chat: /myip=X.X.X.X
(X are the numbers of your IP).

Technically, here how dukesterx find your IP when you use "Attempt to Find"
to detect external IP:
That's really easy, he connect on this website: http://showmyip.com
Connect to this site if "Attempt to Find" dont work
in your computer

7) Modify chat displaying

Main

To modify chat displaying, double click in chat area (where you can see dialogs).
You can modify: character police, size and color. These changes dont modify
displaying of other players' screen.

8) New players notification in game

To be notified of new gamers in your game server while playing,
you have to add an MP3 or wav file,
or use the file included by default

Copy your MP3 or wav on directory of dukesterx software
(by default, it's C:\Program Files\Fazsoftware\Dukester X\1.5\Dukesterx.exe).


Start

Click on Options

Options

Select your file in "Chat alert sound"

9) Launch problems

Here is 4 problems and how to solve them:

CRC error on a map, players have a different version of a same map name.
Solution is the host ask other player to delete different maps using same name,
then download maps from him (The host).

CRC error on a grp, the player must use 1.5 version of duke3d.grp

CRC error on CON files, player must use 1.5 version of these files

Xduke error (Obsolete version, or no xduke installed), the player must use the latest version of xduke.

10) Use of DMO files

When you play a multiplayer game on duke nukem 3d, game is automatically recorded (by default).
it's possible to watch the game previously played (at end of game), by launching duke
exe (duke3d_w32.exe), and switch between players with K key

When you play a coop game, you can watch other player in game by using K key
(no need to wait end of game in a coop game).

11) Duke in "run mode", show opponent weapons, display target, use Xduke features

To make sure duke is in "run mode", type on caps lock key, type again if duke was
slower when you first typed this key

To see the weapons currently used by your opponents (other dukes), type Z or W
(depends of your keyboard type).

To display a target, type I

Xduke has 2 interesting features: disable the weapon autoswitch and
remove the weapon models to see more space on screen.

To enable these features: after launch of duke3d_w32.exe,choose OPTIONS ->
Game Options -> weapons models

OPTIONS -> Game options -> weapons switch

Set these 2 options to "OFF" to enable these features.


BUGS

Here is 1 bug in dukesterx:

"Getinfo" bug: Sometimes, this message is displayed in chat area, i saw once an
encrypted hardware hash of a player on my screen, but more often, it still display
on the screen players that left game server, etc...

LINKS

Visit these interesting links about Duke Nukem 3D

http://la-rumble.com (Zillas' website, in english).

http://dukeguide.free.fr (website in french) This website is specialized on the windows ports of Duke Nukem 3D

http://duke3d.org/mik3ca This optimized driver created by mik3ca allows you to play DOS version of duke nukem 3D on Internet without IPX emulation

http://dukesterx.org/kali.htm Manual (in french) of this IPX emulator. It can be used to play DOS version of duke nukem 3D on Internet

http://duke3d.sitesled.com/files.html (Dukonnector Bin) Dukonnector is an alternative open source software that you can use to play duke nukem 3D online

http://dukesterx.org/jeu-253-dukenukem3d.rar
You need to download DOS version of duke nukem 3D if you want to play this game with kali or mik3ca driver, this DOS version includes DUKE3D.GRP version 1.3D

Map editor: JFBuild (Win32 executables for the JFBuild port of the KenBuild test game).
If you dont own the original version of Duke Nukem 3d with build.exe
(to make its own Duke Nukem 3D maps), try the jonof's map editor, it works the same way than build.exe
but its using require that you know how to use DOS version of build.exe