Running two copies of a game from one computer

[Nick259]

Sometimes we all get together for a lan party and there's always the numpty who couldn't bring his pc. We have spare monitors but no spare pc's up to the task of gaming so is there any way to plug in a controller or another monitor to a pc and run two copies of a game over the two screens using a seperate keyboard/mouse or controller?

Or is there any way to make one pc emulate two pc's so two copies could be run from two seperate steam accounts? Almost like those networks which have the ceneral server which is connected to monitors?

Or could a temporary network be set up on a laptop so that my pc could provide the processing power for the game yet it would display on a laptop monitor?

 

[Bo$$]

i dont think so... you can try running a virtual machine but then controls and 3d acceleration will be an issue

 

[Kreij]

You could try using remote access as another user, but I think it would bury the GC.

 

[slyfox2151]

there was a guy on here who setup something like this a while ago.... try using the forum search to find the post.


it is possible to do this to an extent. it wont work with every game and it will be tough on your PC.

 

[Kreij]

My suggestion would be to have all the LP members kick in and build (or buy) a low end gaming PC.
Paint it pink and name it "The Numpty", and make the person who has to use it wear a dunce cap the whole time.

 

[lilhasselhoffer]

There is only one way as far as I know.

You can set the other person up on a crap computer as a thin client (thin clients need next to nothing). The thin client could use the other computer as the workhorse. There will be substantial trade-offs though....

I have never tried this with gaming. It was designed for office work (low graphics, but low implementation costs and high control). You will have to do a lot of research on your own to determine if the benefits are worth the performance penalties. Honestly, it may be cheaper and easier to buy a couple of hand-helds to tide people over and rotate users between games.

 

[newtekie1]

The person that did this in the past used VMWare Player(I believe) to do it. Setup VMWare, creat a virtual machine, install the OS and Games you want, have a USB mouse and keyboard connected, tell the VM to take inpurt from the USB keyboard and mouse(forget exactly how but it is in the guide), maximize the VM on a second monitor.

This solution isn't perfect though. The VM only emulates and accelerated DX9, AFAIK, so only DX9 games will work here but not all. Also, the virual graphics card isn't a powerhouse, so most games have to be played in relatively low settings, even on a powerful physical computer.

Personally, Kreij's idea works the best. You only need at most $2-300 to throw together a "capable" gaming PC if you buy parts used.

Edit: Found the old thread with the guide on how to do it: http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123452

 

[kurosagi01]

Or you can go the even cheaper route(maybe) for playing games together in same room is buy a console and do split-screen.
Or tell your friends to remember to bring their PC.

 

[Nick259]

Krejj that sounds like a good idea but we're only friends from school (8 of us in total) and we only have these lan parties every month or so during the times inbetween exams. We're all 17 so we don't exactly have the money to put towards a new pc and the time spent gaming doesn't really justify the cost. Also the location changes between 3 of our houses so it's not in a set location each time. Cool thing is I got all of them into pc gaming...now they're real men

I tried the remote access thing there and it wouldn't run games.

lilhasselhoffer i'll research that a bit more, thanks.

Or you can go the even cheaper route(maybe) for playing games together in same room is buy a console and do split-screen.
Or tell your friends to remember to bring their PC.

There are 4 of us that are at pretty much every lan party and then the other 4 make it to around half and sometimes because of their parents restrictions can't bring their pc's. Silly I know at 17 you should be able to make that decision for yourself.

 

[Kreij]

Bah! ... quit making excuses about why you can't make it happen and figure out a way to do it.
You could build a capable gaming rig for almost nothing if you set your mind to it.
My brother-in-law games on my old P4 with an AGP card, for crying out loud.

 

[ShiBDiB]

I have a solution.. stop inviting the kid without a pc to a lan where you play pc games...

Im sure he'll soon realize his faults and sell his xBawx and UberPlaystation and grow up a bit and join the pc gamers

 

[slyfox2151]

I have a solution.. stop inviting the kid without a pc to a lan where you play pc games...

Im sure he'll soon realize his faults and sell his xBawx and UberPlaystation and grow up a bit and join the pc gamers

lol this

had the same problem... after we told him this he was able to bring his pc every time.

 

[kurosagi01]

Really depends on games aswell i guess lol.
Also it just depends on transportation if their worried,at times it would be good to have a decent laptop that can play all games you guys want play. Transportation wouldn't be much issue as it can fit in a bag. Where as a desktop..definitely need to have a car or something to take it places while laptop you can take it on a train and bus etc.

 

[Nick259]

You just want to see pics of someone playing on a pink pc wearing a dunce cap

In all seriousness it's a good idea but I doubt people would chip in the required cash to get a £150 pc and it would be for the irregulars too, making it a bit of a pointless endeavour.

I have a solution.. stop inviting the kid without a pc to a lan where you play pc games...

Im sure he'll soon realize his faults and sell his xBawx and UberPlaystation and grow up a bit and join the pc gamers

That's why I never invite him to any of my lan parties but when it;s hosted in one of the others houses they are a bit more lenient. They're a bit kinder with sharing than I am.

 

[kurosagi01]

Thats the disadvantage of having a desktop,if you are young and can't really transport your desktop to someone house to game,you will probably will need get a laptop,which is why i keep having thoughts of selling my desktop to get a decent laptop but i don't game on pc outside house.
As most of my friends are all console gamers.

 

[Kreij]

You just want to see pics of someone playing on a pink pc wearing a dunce cap

True.

In all seriousness it's a good idea but I doubt people would chip in the required cash to get a £150 pc and it would be for the irregulars too, making it a bit of a pointless endeavour.

Good point. Make bringing your PC a requirement or you sit on the sidelines and watch.
Unless they bring munchies. Then they get 15 minutes of playtime.
If they bring beer they get 30 minutes.

Unless it's a girl.
Munchies = 20 minutes
Beer = 40 minutes
Willing to make sammiches = marry her.

 

[Nick259]

lol Kreij As for the one girl who does come along even if she could make sandwiches marrying her is wellll out of the equation...she's the clingy, huggy type. Maybe some concessions could be made if her sandwich making skillers are up to my standard

We could perhaps build a pc and then charge a small sum to use it? I don't think that would catch on though.

 

[hellrazor]

We could perhaps build a pc and then charge a small sum to use it? I don't think that would catch on though.

Make them pay to use the computer, but instead of making them pay money, tell them to pay for all the snacks.

That way your not playing "who gets the money?".

 

[wahdangun]

actually you can do it, but its need to use pcie graphic card for main computer and pci graphic card for second monitor, but i don't know if it will work with motherboard with two pcie.

Btw you can game on it. But since the second one use pci graphic you can only playing older game with it, thank god its still can handle counter strike so we still can held lan party with it.

 

[Melvis]

I have had a friend at my local LAN run a copy of supreme commander from my mates computer through the network while he was also playing the game, and my m8 was wondering why it was lagging so much, then it crashed lol. Was so funny to watch.