Installation
GameChat installation is fairly simple. To start,
download the latest GameChat package from the Downloads area.
1. Start the downloaded installer. A welcome
screen will appear. Click 'Next' to continue.
2. The license agreement will appear. You must
agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the license before you
can
install GameChat. When you have read the terms and conditions, click 'I
Agree' to continue.
3. GameChat will now ask you what you wish to
install. It is recommended to
leave all the boxes checked for optimum performance. When you have made
all your selections, click 'Next' to continue.
4.
Finally the installer will ask you where you
want to install GameChat. It is recommeded to leave it at its default
setting (C:\Program Files\GameChat\) but you can change it if you wish.
5. Press 'Install' to begin
the installation. GameChat will install, and shortcuts (depending on
your setting) will be installed in your Start Menu.
GameChat Lobby
The
GameChat Lobby will appear when you select it from the Start Menu.
GameChat has two modes of operation - in Regular View and in
'SmallView'. SmallView is recommeded when
you are in a windowed game and wish to chat while you play. SmallView
takes up approx. 1/8 of the screen (at 1024x768 resolution) and is
visible in most windowed games.
Connecting to A Server
Connecting to a server is
simple in GameChat. Type the server IP into the Address field and type
the server's port in the Port field. Then type
your username in the username field. Depending on what GameChat version
you have, most of these fields can be automatically filled in on
demand. When you are ready, click Connect to
attempt to connect to the server. If the connection is a success, a
list of usernames who are connected as well will appear in the User
List box, and you will now be able to send and
receive chat messages.
Server Names and Message of the Day
Available
in GameChat v1.0 and GameChat Dedicated Server v1.1, you will be able
to view Server Names and Messages of the Day. The server name will
appear in the title bar of the main GameChat Lobby window (it'll look
something like this - *Server Name Goes Here* - GameChat Lobby
(Connected To Server). The message
of the day will appear beside the 'Disconnect' button. Only the person
who is running the server can change these, and will require a server
reboot for the changes to take effect. See the 'GameChat Dedicated
Server'
page for more information on Server-Side Server Names and Messages of
the Day.
Sending and Receiving Chat Messages
Sending
and receiving chat messages is simple. All received chat messages
(including private messages, described later)
are displayed in the Chat Messages field. To send a message, type your
message into the 'Your Message' field and press Enter. Your message is
then displayed onto all connected users'
computer screens.
Private Messages
The private message
system in GameChat allows users to send a message to only one person of
their choice. If someone sends you a private
message, the received message will look like this:
GameChat-User has sent you a private message: HI!
To send a private message, double click on the user's name who you wish
to
send the private message to. A box will appear, allowing you to type in
your message. When you are done, press 'Send'.
Game2Launch
The Game2Launch service is provided so the
server administrator can set up a specific game with parameters. Before
you start a server, browse to a game you and your friends want to play
and select it. If you wish you can add parameters, and when everyone is
ready, they can click on the Game2Launch button to start the game! The
game will execute, along with the parameters!
Switching
Backgrounds
To
switch GameChat's background, click on the 'GameChat' menu and
highlight 'Backgrounds', then select 'Browse...'. Navigate to a bitmap
(.bmp), JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) or
PNG (.png) file of your choice, and select 'Open'. GameChat's
background will change to that picture!
GameChat Dedicated Server
Note: this is only needed if you are hosting your
own GameChat server.
The GameChat Dedicated Server allows users to
setup and allow other users to connect to their own server for
chatting.
It is very simple to run your own server.
Open
the GameChat Dedicated Server. As you will be able to see, it is simple
to use but is actually a very powerful server application.
Starting A Server
Starting a server is as simple as pressing a button. If you
desire, you can input your own server name and a Message of the Day
that all chatters who are connected to the server can see.
Setting the Server Name and
Message of the Day
To
set the server name (which will appear on everyone's GameChat title bar
when they are connected), simply type the name into the field beside
'Server Name:'. To set the Message of the Day,
simply once again type the message into the field below 'Message of the
Day'. This will appear on everyone's GameChat window while they are
conected.
Starting The Server
To start your own server, click on the 'Start Server' button. It is
recommended to leave the port setting at its default setting. Your
GameChat Server's
IP address will appear in the box at the bottom. You will need this
number, it is what everyone who is connecting to your server needs. To
stop the server, press the 'Stop Server' button.
Troubleshooting
This section will answer some of your most popular
and common questions. This section will be regularily updated.
Q: Why can't I connect to a server?
A:
Check your firewall
settings to ensure the 'GameChat.exe' application is not blocked and
has full access to the Internet. If this is correct, make sure the IP
AND port settings are also correct. If they are, then
it may be possible the server is (a) not running or (b) malfunctioning.
Contact the server administrator in this case. If the server is
operational, send us a Support Request through our Contact Us area and
we will gladly help you.
Q: No one can connect to my dedicated server but
myself through my computer! Why?
A:
Your firewall may be blocking inbound connections to your computer.
Temporarily disable
the firewall, and have your users try again. If they can connect, then
it is a firewall issue. If this is not the issue, then submit a Support
Request to us through our Contact Us section and we will
help you.
