My favorite aspect of programming is network/multiplayer so I would love to help you out.
Here is something I just threw together:
input "name: ", name$
perform checklist for net connections
for a=1 to checklist quantity()
if checklist string$(a)="Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay"
connection=a
endif
next a
input "IP: ", ip$
set net connection connection, ip$
perform checklist for net sessions
if checklist quantity()=1
join net game 1, name$
else
create net game "chat", name$, 255
endif
cls
message$="[ "+name$+" ] HAS JOINED"
print message$
send net message string 0, message$
clear entry buffer
do
typing$=entry$()
text 0, 460, typing$
if returnkey()=1
message$=name$+": "+typing$
clear entry buffer
send net message string 0, message$
print message$
repeat
until returnkey()=0
endif
get net message
received$=net message string$()
if received$>""
print received$
endif
loop
Run the program once enter a name and IP, then leave that running and run the program again. Use 127.0.0.1 for the IP address. using 127.0.0.1 will connect to yourself.
[EDIT]
it's true what SimSmall said about a 255 user limit. But I don't think that will matter, as I'm sure you don't intend to have all '1000's' of comps chatting at once. Any amount of computers can be using the chat program but only 255 users can connect to each other. so (for example) you could have 255 users talking to each other, and another group of 255 users talking, and another, ect.....
Available for programming position using DBPro.
Also, good at multiplayer coding, contact at:
laptop5002@hotmail.com