Multiplayer (Midtown Madness)

In Multiplayer, players can race online with other players via local area network, Internet, or serial cable connection. Players can compete in Circuit, Checkpoint, and Blitz modes with other friends as well as exploring with Cruise mode with their friends.

It was supported by MSN Gaming Zone at one point, by now it is supported by GameSpy Arcade and X-Fire via Directplay.

Overview
When the player signs in as Multiplayer, players can play with other online racers via connection through either MSN Gaming Zone, IPX Connection, TCIP/IP Connection, Serial Cable Connection, or Modem Connection.

The Host would have the power to control who participates, assigns the skill level of participants, and chooses the race.

Connection Options

 * MSN Gaming Zone:  Online game connection through MSN Gaming Zone web browser.
 * IPX Connection Using an Ethernet card to connect to LAN (Local Area Network)
 * TCP/IP Connection: Connect using the Internet or LAN (Local Area Network) (Requires IP Adress)
 * Serial Cable Connection: Connects by serial cable
 * Modem Connection: Connects by dial-up modems.

Gold Rush/Cops & Robbers Match
Gold Rush is a capture-the-flag style game where a gold brick is hidden somewhere in the city and the player has to pick up the gold and take it to either a bank or a hideout. There are three kinds of matches: Cops vs Robbers, Robbers vs Robbers (teams), and Free-for-all.

Host and joiner options for all Cops & Robbers Matches

 * The host of the Cops & Robbers Match can configure the weather and time of day.
 * The host can end the Match by setting a time limit, a point limit, or no limit (end forced manually by the host).
 * The host can make the gold heavy or weightless. Heavy gold might balance your vehicle out, while weightless gold would give fast vehicles an advantage.
 * Joiners can enter and exit any Cops & Robbers Match at any time.


 * The Results screen appears at the end of a Match. For the Free-for-all, the Results screen shows the points that each player collected individually. For the Cops vs. Robbers and Robbers vs. Robbers, the Results screen shows the points that each player collected individually, as well as the total points collected by each team.

Multiplayer Races
Multiplayer Checkpoint, Blitz, and Circuit Races are a bit different from the single player versions:

General Differences


 * Joiners must join a Race before the host starts it. Once the Race starts, no one else can join.
 * In all three types of Races, the host tunes the weather and time of day. Those who join a Race abide by the choices of the host.
 * If a joiner leaves during a Race, the joiner’s vehicle disappears from every participant’s screen.
 * If the host disconnects during a game, the game ends.
 * None of the Races has ambient traffic, cops, or computer opponents.


 * During a Race, online Help is inaccessible.
 * The Results screen appears at the end of the Race and contains the same information as it does in Single Player Races.

Differences in Checkpoint and Circuit Races


 * Human opponents replace computer-controlled opponents.
 * For Checkpoint Races, the Race record of the host’s driver determines which advanced Races are locked and which are unlocked.

Cruise in Multiplayer
Like the Single Player Cruise option, Multiplayer Cruising allows you to cruise the city with no time limit and no fear of being permanently destroyed. In the Multiplayer version, joiners can join and leave a Cruise any time.