The Game Lobby/Browser

The Lobby is a powerful tool for playing online-enabled retail games. With it, you can join or host a game session for any game in the ubi.com gaming zone. When used with the Friends List, the Lobby is a very powerful match-making tool.

Once in the Lobby, click on the game you want to play from the list.

Once you have selected a game, the Lobby will take you to its game page. From here you can choose the gaming Arena you want to play in. For example, the Black Thorn Lobby shown below is an Arena.

Once in the Arena, you’ll see a list of players that are currently in the lobby with you, a game list, and a text chat window for you to talk with other users.

Here's a list of the features included in the Lobby:

Create Session: Clicking this icon will open the Create Session window where you must enter information to start a new game session.

The session parameters are:

• Session Name: Name your game session in this field.
• Number of Players: Use the arrows to select the numbers of players for your game session. The default is the game’s maximum number of players.
• Private: This checkbox restricts who can join your game. If you check Private, you’ll send a private invitation with a password to the other players you are inviting.
• Password: This field appears if you check the Private box. Type the password for the game that you will share with your private invitations. Each person who joins the game will be asked for the password.

Joining a Game Session: To join a game session, click on one of the currently active game icons (located in the top left of your lobby screen). Once you have joined the game, you’ll need to wait for the session master to launch the session. Note: Game icons with red session names and a checked box are games currently being played; you can’t join them.

Chat Session: There is a permanent chat section in the Game Lobby where you can chat with other players before joining a game. Once you join a Game Session, this chat window is only for the players about to launch into the game.

Game Tabs: If you have joined a Game Session, a tab will appear with the name of the session you have joined. This lets you tab back and forth between your current Game Session and the main lobby.

Changing Views: With your mouse, right-click where all the game sessions are listed. A view option will appear. From this you will be able to choose between:

• Large Icons: If you select Large Icons, the game sessions will be displayed using big icons. You will be able to see the name of the game, the number of players in the session, and, if the game is started, the ping of the host.
• Details: If you select Details, you will be able to see all the Large Icons features plus the game version and the compatibility version. Please refer to the "GAMENAME" section of the Lobby settings to know what they are.

Player List: The Player List is a complete list of all the players in the Game Lobby. Users with names in red are currently in a game. All others are chatting and waiting to join a Game Session.

The graphic above shows you the main features of the Player List in the Game Lobby.

Player List Features:

• Kick User: This feature only appears if you are the host of the Game Session. If you are the host, you have the option of Kicking (removing) someone out of the Game Session.
• Send Page: Opens up the Pager Window. Click here to learn how to use the Pager Window.
• Chat Request: This will request a chat session with the selected player. You will notice that you can create a new chat session or, if you are currently chatting with someone, you can invite that player to an active chat session. There are no limits to how many people you can invite to a chat session.
• Send File: Use this option to send a file to a selected player. Click here for more information on sending files.
• User Information: This option will open up the Player Information for the selected player. Click here for more details on the User Information window.
• Add to Friends: This option lets you add the selected player to your Friends List. This option is used mostly when someone who is not in your Friend List sends you a page or file.
• Refresh Ping: This option will refresh the ping with that player.
• Ignore Chat Messages: Once this option is selected, you will not see any message that this player will write until you close the Lobby. The next time you load the Lobby, you will be able to see all the chat messages from those players again.
  NOTE : Even with this option, you will be able to receive page and chat requests from them.
• Display Chat Messages: If you have selected Ignore chat messages and want to be able to see the user’s messages again, simply click on that option.

Shown above is the main bar on the Lobby Screen. This one works just like your web browser menu bar. Clicking the BACK button will go one step back, even if you are in a game arena. The top bar functions include:

	Takes you back to the last visited window.
	Takes you forward to the next visited window.
	This will refresh any pages you are currently on. It will not refresh a game arena.
	This will stop the current page from loading.
	This brings you back to the Game Selection page.
	This will open the Friends List if the window is closed. It will be grayed out when the Friends List is already open.
	This will open the Who’s On web page. Click here to learn more about Who’s On.
	This will bring you to the official Online Help for ubi.com.
	This will open up a menu that lets you change the General and Lobby Settings. You will also be able to Disconnect yourself from ubi.com here. Click here to learn more about the different settings.