There are currently few options for playing SWTA online. You are highly encouraged to pursue games over our IRC channel, outlined in part B.

Note: the SWTA demo cannot play multiplayer games. It is a single-player skirmish demo only.

1. IP Games
   All methods of playing SWTA online include, in some way or another, exchanging your IP ("Internet Protocol") address with your partner. If you're meeting over a chat application such as AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, or MSN Messenger, you'll need to find out your IP address manually. Note: only the person hosting the SWTA game needs to determine his/her IP address.

   1. In Windows, go to your Start Menu and select Run…
   2. Type "winipcfg" in the Run dialog box and press Ok. If you run Windows 2000 or XP, go to Start->Run... and type in "cmd". Then type "ipconfig" at the command prompt.
   3. Your IP number is listed next to "IP Address." It should appear as a series of numbers separated by periods. Send this number to your opponent, who should highlight the number and Copy (Control+C) it.
   4. Start SWTA. Select Multiplayer and highlight Internet TCP/IP for DirectPlay. Press OK. At the next dialog, simply press Ok.
   5. At the main battle-room, give yourself a name. Press New to create a new game. Name the game, then press Ok.
   6. Alt-Tab out of SWTA and inform your partner the game is up.
   7. Your partner should now start SWTA, go to Multiplayer, highlight Internet TCP/IP for DirectPlay, and press Ok. At the next dialog box, your partner should Paste (Control+V) your IP Address and press Ok.
   8. Your game should show up on the next screen. If it does not, have your partner press Refresh until the game shows up. If it still does not, something is not configured correctly.
   9. As soon as your partner presses Join and you set up the game, start it up and enjoy!
      
      
2. Finding Games on IRC
   IRC ("Internet Relay Chat") is a popular online chat system commonly used by gamers to meet, talk, and set up matches. There are several clients that allow you to communicate with IRC channels. The most popular is mIRC, found at www.mirc.com. If you do not have an IRC client, download mIRC and install it. Then configure mIRC in the following way.

   1. To connect to the server SWTA uses to organize games, start mIRC. Go to File->Options, and click on Add (next to "IRC Servers"). Type "SWTA IRC" in for the Description, then "irc.gnug.org" for IRC Server, both without quotes. Press Add. Press Ok back at the previous screen.
   2. Go to File->Connect to connect to the TAUniverse IRC server.
   3. Upon successful connection, type "/join #swta" to join the SWTA channel.
   4. IRC is used mainly to meet other players (including the makers of SWTA!) and set up games. You still must find out your IP address and set up a game as above. Fortunately, mIRC makes finding your IP very easy.
   5. At the #SWTA channel, type "//say $ip" without quotes. This will show your IP address to the channel.
   6. Your opponent should then use your IP in the same manner as described in the IP Games section above, starting at numeral iv.
      

   
   Alternatively, you can click here to have mIRC automatically join the SWTA IRC channel.
   
   If you have a client other than mIRC, simply set it up to connect to "irc.gnug.org," port 6667. The #swta channel is a social channel. Be sure to drop by often even if you aren't looking for a game, as there's almost always a group of players in there chatting. It's a great place to meet interesting people and share stories about TA, Star Wars, and their hybrid, SWTA.
   
   
3. SWTA Bulletin Board
   While not used to organize games, the SWTA Bulletin Board is a great place to chat with the SWTA team and community. The entire community posts ideas, questions, and conversations daily. It's a great forum for talking about the mod and/or Star Wars in general, as a vast majority of the visitors to the board are avid Star Wars fans. Check it out by visiting our website (http://www.planetannihilation.com/swta) and going to the Forum link.