I would post this in the Shadow Warrior or Duke Nukem 3D forums, but it's more of a general question rather than game specific other than games using DOSBox. I apologize if the question seems dumb.

Anyway my friend and I was playing Shadow Warrior Classic Complete last night online. It's pretty much straight forward. I forward port 213 UDP, go the the game folder, click the multiplayer program, and choose "Start Host Game". Then I give my IP address for my friend to enter after choosing "Start Client Game".

My question is this, because the games use IP addresses rather than a matchmaking service (GameSpy, Steam, etc), does this mean the game is online forever?

I'm guessing it's a direct connection from my computer to my friend's computer over the Internet, and it works like LAN (except using a public IP address obviously). The GOG.com multiplayer program also does LAN the same way.

More or less I want to be sure that multiplayer to some games aren't going to disappear. In event my friend moves or something, since we enjoy playing games together. Sorry if it seems dumb, but I just want to be sure. Please answer and thanks!

I'm amazed you know how to do port forwarding but don't understand how IP addresses work.
No, it's not LAN it's WAN because you're using the internet.
I don't have any experience with the client used by SW, but if you have to fill in the IP address to connect and you're not on the same network, you should be fine as long as you both have a fairly unrestricted connection to the internet.
It's crazy hot over here so I hope that makes sense.

Well that's assuming that in 2030 we're still using IPvSomething and/or DOSBox development has continued or someone made some kind of VPN software that supported....
Lets just say yes :P

Edit: Oh and course you get the credit even though I answered it like hours earlier.

I'll say. As much as I know about IP addresses, it's location. That's about it. Hehe, I learned how to port forward a few years ago just to host private games (server/client FPS with in-game server browser). Though I do have an interest, thus don't mind learning a bit more on the subject.

Ah ok, I got that bit. Here I thought Internet meant Internet, WAN is a new saying to me.

Yeah that makes sense to me. I don't have a restricted connection to the net, niether does my friend.

If you're curious, I attached some pics of the client, usually clicking Host launches "Setup" and use the Network option to host, while "Client" launches a box for IP then it starts. Thank you this answered my concern about the multiplayer lasting.

What made it come to mind, online multiplayer is shutting down on Wii tomorrow, then GameSpy by month's end. Also I remember using GameSpy for some games, mostly Act of War Direct Action, some Hot Wheels racing game, and C&C Generals years ago. Lasting was my main concern.

So not only a direct connection, but a dedicated server to play on. That actually made the DOS multiplayer option even better! Thanks. You did a great job covering some stuff on WAN and LAN.

Sorry, I was concerned with if it would last. I knew I shouldn't have marked it as a question, but I did since I was a question I had about such multiplayer. I still don't mind learning a bit more on this. ^^

Wide Area Network, as opposed to Local Area Network. They're effectively used to connect LANs together, and the internet can be considered the largest and most commonly used WAN.

Thanks, this is really something interesting. Looking at the Wikipedia article you linked.

I will be honest, the idea of games over LAN and Internet has sparked a small interest in Networks. I remember picking up two copies of Quake III just to play LAN and fiddle with it. Something just cool about networking to play something with others.

It stops being cool when you get down to the CCNA level...
But if you're into it, it is interesting stuff.
There is a lot of it though.

CCNA level?

Most of the part my interest is pretty much connecting two computers to interact, which is what gaming does accomplish. :)

Cisco Certified Network Associate, so basically the 'nitty gritty' level where you go from cabling and routers to routing protocols to configuring networks and IP ranges and such.
So basically the entire OSI model.

Whoa!

I don't think I'll get anywhere near that level.

Most of the PC games using GameSpy do support direct IP connections so will still be playable through those methods once the GameSpy services are shut down.

That's great to know then. Now I gotta check if any of my older games have direct IP too.