Host a session

If you want to be the boss, you can setup your own session. That way you can not be kicked, set the rules, kick players, choose the settings and the location. To setup your server, click "Host a Session..." on the session listing screen. The session information screen will now be displayed. Look at the table below for information about each setting.

Session Information FSX

Session Information FSX Acceleration

session information screen

Session type (FSX acceleration)
Free Flight / Mission	Select what kind of session you want to create. Free Flight is the default setting and is basically the same as the single player mode free flight. You can just select a location, aircraft, etc. Mission is used to fly missions together with other people. This option is available in the FSX Acceleration package only.
Session information
Session name:	The name of the session is listed in the session list of GameSpy. You can choose any name you want. Most people use this field to inform other players about the airport they're at and if there is a tower controller. Example: "Los Angeles Pro ATC"
Session description:	Here you can add a description of the session. You can use it to notify other players about rules, tower frequencies or anything you like. Note that not everyone can see this information. If players have a bad connection or are simply too far away from you, the description field will appear empty to them.
Session password (optional):	If you want to protect your session with a password, enter it here. If you do, nobody can enter your session unless they have the password. Your session will be visible in the session listing, but with a lock icon left to the session name.
Confirm password:	Enter the password again to confirm it.
Session availability
FSX: Session is visible to others FSX Acceleration: Make this session visible to everyone	Select this option to make your session visible in the session listing.
On the Internet via GameSpy	Check this box to make your session visible via GameSpy (visible for internet users).
On your Local Area Network (LAN)	Check this box to make your session visible via your local area network (visible for users connected to you via a local network).
FSX: Do not make this session visible to others FSX Acceleration: Make this a private session	Select this option to make your session invisible in the session listing.

When you've entered all the info, click on the next button. Now the host options screen will be displayed. Look at the table below for information about each option.

Host Options FSX

Host Options FSX Acceleration

Host options

player restrictions
Maximum players:	Select the maximum number of players that can connect to your server. Reduce this number if your frame rate drops too much when many players are connected to your server.
Slots reserved for friends:	To make sure that the players in your friends list are be able to join, you can reserve a number of slots for them.
Minutes until session starts:	If you want to collect players first before you start the session, select a number of minutes until the session starts. Nobody can fly until this time is passed (including you!).
voice communication
Enable voice communication (broadband required)	Check this box to enable the voice communication. If you do, the green speaker icon will show in the session listing screen. Otherwise the icon will be red.
Always activated for all players	Select this option if you don't want to use seperate radio frequencies. If you do, every player can hear each other by using the hold CAPSLOCK method, regardless of what frequency is used.
Only activated using aircraft radios	Select this option if you want to use seperate radio frequencies. If you do, players can only hear each other by using the hold CAPSLOCK method when they all have set the same frequency. This option can be usefull if you have more than one tower controlled airport or if you have more than one controller at an airport e.g. ground, tower, approach, etc.
sharing
Share my aircraft	If you want to share your aircraft with another player, check this box. It is probably a good idea to select this option in combination with a password or at least with the "Disable sharing after session begins if no one has joined" option enabled. If you don't, another player might want to bug you by stepping in your aircraft without notice and start to play around with your engine controls. Remember that you don't need any access to the flight controls if you want to crash an aircraft. They can do a lot of damage by just shutting down the engine(s) or disengage the autopilot. Oh...and before you've kicked all but a few players in your session: you can not see which player is the one in your aircraft, so you have to guess...
Password (optional):	You can use a password to make sure that nobody else can join your aircraft, unless you share the password with someone.
Disable sharing after session begins if no one has joined	If you don't want that anyone can join your aircraft while you are already in session, check this box.
Enable shared voice communication	Enable this if you want to speak to the other player in your aircraft. When enabled, you don't have to press and hold CAPSLOCK to speak with the other player, you can just speak up.

For more options, click the "Advanced Options..." button. Look at the table below for information about each option.

Advanced Host Options FSX

Advanced Host Options FSX Acceleration

advanced Host options

player options
Players can change realism settings	Check this box (in combination with the box "Players can pause their session") if you want "map", "go to airport", "realism settings" and "display settings" to be available on the menu while you're in the session. If you want your session to be as realistic as possible, then do not check this box, so the players are all stuck with your own realism settings. This way you can ensure that other players really crash and not bounce back into the air (if you've set your own realism settings to high). Remember, this setting can not be changed after the session has been started.
Players can change location after joining	Not sure about this one, it seems not to make any difference.
Players can share aircraft	Check this box to allow players to share their aircraft. Remember, you can not see which player is in a shared aircraft. Some bastards might want to bug you by using the SHIFT CAPSLOCK method to transmit their voice on all frequencies. Then you don't know which player you have to kick. Do not enable this option if this happens a lot to you.
Players can use Slew mode	The slew mode can be used to move the aircraft to any direction and even go thru buildings. Obviously, this is not very realistic, especially in multiplayer sessions. But if you find the need to enable this function for all players, check this box.
Players can join during session	Do you want to be alone in your session? If not, check this box. Sometimes, this feature can come in handy, if you're hosting a session for a few friends and don't want to be bothered with other players while the session is running.
Players can pause their session	Check this box (in combination with the box "Players can change realism settings") if you want "map", "go to airport", "realism settings" and "display settings" to be available on the menu while you're in the session. If you want your session to be as realistic as possible, then do not check this box, so the players can not "hang" in the air for minutes. Remember, this setting can not be changed after the session has been started.
Host can pause session for everyone	Probably not a good idea to check this box, unless you want to bug your players now and then with the "P" key. Remember that FSX pauses (by default, you can change it in the settings) when you switch to another application.
starting location
Players can start at an airport of their choice	Best choice if you want to be the tower controller in your session. Players can choose to start at a gate or parking position or at another airport.
Players can start in the air near the host	This option doesn't mean much, because when the gate or parking spot is too small for their aircraft or being used by another aircraft, they will spawn in the air anyway.
Players can start at the airport nearest the host's aircraft	If you check this box, this option will become available for your players. If a player selects this option, he or she will spawn at the active runway. This is probably not desirable if you are the tower controller, so do not check this box in that case. If players still spawn at the active runway now and then, they might do that on purpose via the option "Players can start at an airport of their choice".

Host Briefing Room FSX

Host Briefing Room FSX Acceleration

When you've selected all the options, click on the "OK" button. The Briefing Room for the host will now be displayed. Now you can review your session before you start it. If you want to change something, click on the "Change Role or Location" button. You can change your role in the session (pilot or tower controller), aircraft (if your role is pilot) and the airport you're at.

This option is different in FSX Acceleration. There the button says "Change Role or Aircraft". If you click that button in FSX Acceleration, you can not change the location, only your role and aircraft (if your role is pilot). Click on the "FLY NOW" button to start the session.

Remember that the session settings can not be changed once you've started the session. If you change your mind and you want to change something, you have to end the flight, which ends the session for every player.