Alef/MP testenv – User

How to run 2 ArmA on the same PC

A fast way to setup MP missions is to run two ArmA games on the same computer. Let's call the first Editor and the second Client. Editor run the mission editor, selected clicking on Multiplayer -> New -> Edit/New. Client can now join it selecting Multiplayer -> LAN or Remote wiht IP 127.0.0.1. It will see Editor in edit mode. As Editor clicks on Preview to run the mission, a PBO named __cur_mp.pbo is create on the fly for Client to be downloaded. Both now enter the usual lobby and choose the slot they want. They play the mission, and when they leave back to the lobby, they can choose to run it again or go back. Editor in this case to the mission editor, Client to the multiplayer or Wait for host screen.

In order to avoid to click the menus, command line arguments are available.

For Editor

\ArmA\arma.exe  -host

For Client

\ArmA\arma.exe -connect=localhost

I like to suggest adding

-window -nosplash -world=empty -nopause

to speed up things and run safe from alt-tabbing.

Problems

All of this above should works if ArmA doesn't check for duplicated CD keys, and you have a single operative system user and a single installation of ArmA. You maybe know that there is an option in server.cfg called kickduplicate, which if set to 0 allows the same CD key to join a MP game. The problem is that server.cfg, or better, the file you provide with -config, is only read if you run ArmA with -server or the dedicated arma_server.exe or server on Linux. Because this check is done online at gamespy, if you drop your internet connection, the check isn't done. But this could be a problem, because while editing or testing, you usually want to search some forums or other online resources.