[canaryman16]

Hello,

I have just purchased Call of Duty 4 for the Mac and I'm keen to give the multiplayer a go. I'm new to online gaming so can anybody give me some tips about how to pick which server(s) to join? Is there a method to selecting one or should I just click one at random?

Also, what is 'punkbuster' and do I need it? Finally, what does the setting mean when it says 'allow downloading' in the multiplayer preferences screen?

Thanks for your help!

[ChrisHolt]

That's a good series of questions. There are no "wrong" servers to join Call of Duty 4, but you'll quickly find that certain servers may not be ideal for starting out. Some servers are populated by "clans," groups of gamers who train and play together and later compete against other teams of players. Usually, these servers are populated with very advanced players. A good way to pick a server may be to look at the number of players currently on the server and the rules for the game. Your guidebook should tell you the different game types- from "team deathmatch" to "capture the flag," etc. When just starting out, you might want to try a server with only a few people on it and eventually work your way to the chaotic pitch of a full server.

I'd recommend getting punkbuster. Some servers require it. Punkbuster is a program that helps prevent cheating in multiplayer games. Some gamers "hack" the program and give themselves an unfair advantage on servers- punkbuster helps stop that by banning such players.

As for "allow downloading"- it depends on where the option is. CoD4 may need to update by downloading patches to your game. This will allow you to continue to play against players and allow everyone to play on the same version. Certain servers may also want you to download new maps, sounds, or skins- usually user generated and sometimes not family-friendly. These can be a bit overwhelming to a new player and may not be necessary for playing the game. As long as the game is updated, I'm not sure you really want to click "allow downloading" until you want to explore these user-generated type servers.

Any other questions, feel free to send 'em my way. Thanks.

[canaryman16]

Wow, that's a comprehensive answer, thanks very much!

I've had a few goes on different servers so I'm getting a feel for the different types of games. One thing I'm surprised about is the number of people trying to hack the game. Players seem to get banned during every match. Aside from the cheaters I think the game is fantastic and runs well (in my opinion) on a new unibody Macbook running at 2.4 GHz.

Thanks for your help!