PLAY SPACEWARD HO! 4.0.5 FOR WINDOWS VIA INTERNET
BY CHRIS RIMPLE (HTTP://WWW.CHRISRIMPLE.COM)
LAST UPDATED JULY 4, 2010

CONTENTS
[1] Overview
[2] Install Spaceward Ho!
[3] Install & Configure Leaf
[4] Play Spaceward Ho!
[5] Save An Unfinished Game
[6] Resume A Saved Game


[1] OVERVIEW

Having been originally released in 1990, the developers of Spaceward Ho! didn't have access to modern game networking solutions for multiplayer support.  Instead, Spaceward Ho! uses a single file to store game progress.  As a result, all players must have concurrent access to the file, which is simple enough when playing on a local (home or office) network, but more difficult when playing via the Internet.  Fortunately, there are a number of free file-sharing utilities that can give all players access to the game file.  These instructions will help you configure Spaceward Ho! for Internet play.


[2] INSTALL SPACEWARD HO!

If you don't already own Spaceward Ho! 4.0.5 for Windows, you can purchase it from the developers at http://www.deltatao.com/.  After installing, the player that is going to host the game file should create a new folder in which to store it, such as c:\my documents\ho games.


[3] INSTALL & CONFIGURE LEAF

Leaf is a free network sharing utility for Windows.  All players should perform these steps:

- Open http://www.leafnetworks.net in your browser.
- Download the Leaf installer to your local drive and run it.
- When installation is complete, run Leaf.
- Click the Login button, then the Get A New Account link.
- Create a Leaf account and login.
- From the Actions menu, deselect Start Automatically When Starting Windows.

The player that is going to host the game file should perform these steps:

- Click on the Add Member button, then the Add Member button.
- Enter the Leaf username for another player and click the Look Up button, then the Select button.
- Repeat for additional players, then click the Next button and the Finish button.
- Click on the Share tab, choose My Friends from the Select Network dropdown, then click the Files Permissions button.
- Click the Add button, then click the Browse button and select the folder where the game file will be stored and click OK.
- Click on the checkbox next to each player's name and click on the Write Access checkbox, click Done, then click OK.

All players should perform these steps:

- Accept the invitation from the player that is going to host the game file.
- Click on the Networks tab and click on the arrow for the host player's friends (not My Friends) to expand it.
- Click on the + by the host player's name, then click on View Shared Files.


[4] PLAY SPACEWARD HO!

The player that is going to host the game file should perform these steps:

- Run Leaf.
- Run Spaceward Ho!.
- Click the New Game button, and save it in the folder you created previously.
- Specify your Spaceward Ho! identity and join the game.

All other players should perform these steps:

- Run Leaf.
- Run Spaceward Ho!.
- Click the Open Game button and navigate to the "c:\my documents\my leaf folders" folder, then select the game file and click the Open button.
- Specify your Spaceward Ho! identity and join the game.


[5] SAVE AN UNFINISHED GAME

Occasionally, the Spaceward Ho! game file can be corrupted if multiple players are saving and exiting at the same time.  If players need to stop before a game is completed but want to resume later, it's important that they take turns in saving the game.  If players are not communicating via a voice chat service, coordination can be accomplished via the Spaceward Ho! chat window.  ONE AT A TIME, all players should perform these steps:

- Select Save from the File menu, then select Exit from the File menu.


[6] RESUME A SAVED GAME

To resume a saved game, follow the instructions in [4], but the player that is hosting should select Join Game (instead of New Game) and open the saved game file.


[END]