Multiplayer Setup

Make Sure You Have Everything Required

For online play in both Sonic Riders DX and Sonic Riders Regravitified, you need Dolphin Emulator. We provide a custom build of Dolphin, ExGL Dolphin, which has optimizations made for both of the Riders games. This build is used for all of our tournaments.

For setting up ExGL Dolphin, see our tutorial.

Hosting with Dolphin Netplay

Right click on your desired game to open up a pop-up menu, hover down and select "Host with NetPlay".


After that, a pop up window for Dolphin Netplay should appear like the one below.


Hit the "Copy" button to copy the Netplay Room's code, and send it to your opponent.






From there, the "NetPlay Setup" window will open. Make sure Connection Type is set to Traversal Server.

Paste into the "Host Code" box the netplay code you receive from your opponent.

After that, hit "Connect" and you should join the netplay room.





Joining with Dolphin Netplay

Click the "Tools" button in the top left of Dolphin, then hover down and select "Start Netplay...".













If everything works, a window should popup that looks something like this.

*Note: some options are only visible while hosting

Configuring your Netplay Lobby

Data Settings

  • Under the Data settings, make sure everything is disabled except for "Sync Saves". While not required, having "Sync Saves" reduces the chance for netplay to desync.

  • You can have "Sync AR/Gecko Codes" enabled if either if you are running custom AR/Gecko codes, but during competitive play both players should have Cheats Disabled.


Network Settings

  • Under Network settings, make sure the setting is set to "Fair Input Delay". This is required for competitive play as it ensures that both players experience the same input delay.


Buffer

  • Buffer, located in the lower left corner of the NetPlay window, relates to the amount of input delay. You should set buffer to the highest ping with the other players divided by 16, always round up.

  • Due to Dolphin optimizations, playing on low buffer has less input delay than playing on console. 5 buffer is equivalent to playing on console.

  • If you experience stutters, consider raising the buffer

  • The ping is 75ms in this case, since 75/16=4.7, I should set the buffer to a minimum of 5. However, I will set the buffer to 6 to compensate for potential spikes, and increase if necessary.

Data Settings

Network Setting

Buffer Settings

Test Lap

Especially in competitive play, it is customary to do a test lap with your opponent. This allows for both players to get used to the delay, and increase or decrease buffer as needed before the set begins. Usually you will do 1 lap on Metal City, although longer test runs are acceptable on high buffers (12 and up).