MetaChat - Can someone explain what they're talking about?

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19 March 2008

Can someone explain what they're talking about? (warning: involves boring comments about Playstation 3 and Rainbow Six: Las Vegas 2)→[More:]

My son picked this game up this morning and has been mad all day because he can't join any onging online games. What do NAT 2 and NAT 3 mean? What ports are they talking about? Is it true that the first day or two that an online game come out it's really hard to join in a match? We never had any problems with the X-Box online servers but Playstation seems to be a whole other animal.

post by: iconomy at: 18:53 | 13 comments

The silence is deafening. No one else knows either, apparently.

This seems to explain it pretty well. So nevermind.

posted by iconomy 19 March | 19:38

iconomy, we have two PS 3 consoles. I asked my husband, but he didn't know what NAT 2 and NAT 3 meant. He said, you're either signed on to the internet or not. I didn't think that was a helpful answer. I hope your son gets to play soon.

posted by LoriFLA 19 March | 19:41

I haven't read the thread, but maybe there are two distinct multiplayer servers?

posted by box 19 March | 19:45

Ooops I didn't even link to the right thread - the one that helped me. Geez. It's this one.

It says in the link:

A NAT is identified by the PS3 as being one of 3 types.

NAT 1: PS3 is directly connected to the internet
NAT 2: PS3 is correctly connected through a router to the internet
NAT 3: PS3 is incorrectly connected through a router to the internet

The PS3 will function under a NAT 3, but users may be blocked in online games, certain features of the PSN will not work, etc.

NAT type 1 or 2 are the correct ones to have

So there are different connection strengths, and we have NAT 3, apparently.

This is pretty fascinating though, right?

posted by iconomy 19 March | 19:59

I found even more. Keep reading only if you have a very high tolerance for excitement! Stop now if you have a weak heart or are pregnant.

* NAT 1: A direct link to the internet i.e. no router
* NAT 2: Connected via a router with no restrictions
* NAT 3: Connected via a router with protocol restrictions

posted by iconomy 19 March | 20:01

AND WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

NAT means Network Address Translation.

I'm going to have to start charging for this vital information, I can't just keep giving it away for free.

posted by iconomy 19 March | 20:03

Watching this might help.

G4 is a pretty reliable source.

posted by CKmtl 19 March | 20:03

Good to know, iconomy. Now we'll (he'll) know what these codes mean if we encounter them.

posted by LoriFLA 19 March | 20:05

Wow. Is there anything that isn't on Youtube? Thanks, CKmtl...I never would have thought to look there!

posted by iconomy 19 March | 20:05

There's a G4 blog link in there too, if you want some text to follow along.

posted by CKmtl 19 March | 20:07

Nothing to add. I just REALLY liked how the warning sorta appears like it was added by a moderator.

posted by richat 19 March | 20:14

NAT 2 and NAT 3 are my grandfather and father, respectively.

posted by Eideteker 19 March | 20:19

Ah, upon further reading, even if you have NAT2 he might have problems with online multiplayer with that game.

It might be a problem on Sony's end, since the game is brand spanking new and not out in some places yet. If that's the case it'll probably iron itself out soon.

There's probably some people at Sony mainlining caffeine to get the servers ready, to appease the hordes of dissatisfied customers.

posted by CKmtl 19 March | 20:25

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