Kali (software)
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Kali is an IPX network emulator for DOS and Windows, enabling legacy multiplayer games to work over a modern TCP/IP network such as the internet. Later versions of the software also functioned as a server browser for games that natively supported TCP/IP. Versions were also created for OS2 and Mac, but neither version was well polished. Today, Kali's network is still operational but development has largely ceased.
Kali features an Internet Game Browser for TCP/IP native games, a buddy system, a chat system, and support for 400 games including Doom 3, many of the Command & Conquer games, the Mechwarrior 2 series, Unreal Tournament 2004, Battlefield Vietnam, Counter Strike Condition Zero, and Master of Orion II.
The Kali software is free to download, but has a time-based cap for unregistered versions. For a one-time $20 fee the time restriction is removed.
History
The original MS-DOS version of Kali was created by Scott Coleman and Jay Cotton in the spring of 1995. It was the successor to a program called iDOOM (later iFrag) that Scott wrote so he could play id Software's DOOM over the Internet. After the release of Descent, Scott and Jay wrote a new program to allow Descent, or any other game which supported LAN play using the IPX protocol, to be played over the Internet; this new program was named Kali. In the summer of 1995, Scott went off to work for Interplay Productions and Jay formed a new company, Kali Inc., to develop and market Kali. Jay and his team developed the first Windows version (Kali95) and all subsequent versions.
In the mid-nineties, it was an extremely popular way to play Command & Conquer, Descent, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, Duke Nukem 3D, and other games over the Internet. Since it was the only way to play Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness against people outside of a LAN or dial-up connection, Blizzard actually included a copy of the program on the CD, going so far as to also provide a customized executable (WAR2KALI.EXE) which optimized the game's network code to account for internet latency and also allowed users to specify their own settings for packet transmission and handling.
During the height of IPX emulation's popularity, a competing product called "Kahn" was being sold by the now-defunct developer Stargate Networks for $15[1] ($5 cheaper than Kali). However, Kali was already well-established by this point; existing users saw no reason to buy another piece of software, and new users were still attracted to Kali's larger user base, since the whole point of the software was to be able to play with other people. The minor cost savings proved largely ineffective against the already-low price of Kali, and Kahn never achieved much market share.
The market for Kali eventually dried up as games began to host their own online services, such as battle.net, MSN Gaming Zone, and also through direct TCP/IP connections, made easier by Microsoft's DirectPlay package. As IPX itself was phased out, Kali's unique emulation technology fell by the wayside and the software shifted its emphasis to becoming a game browser, a market where strong competitors such as Gamespy were already established.
In the early part of this decade, Mr. Cotton decided to sell Kali to a company that would have the capital to expand the program and make it a force to be reckoned with in online gaming. However, this move proved to be disastrous for Kali as the new company folded shortly after the purchase. A year later Mr. Cotton reacquired the rights to the Kali software and system again. Since then he has resumed development and support of Kali.
As of 2008, the latest version of Kali is 2.613, which was released in February 2004. At present Kali works with over 400 games. Support has faded over the last years making usage of Kali harder and less effective.
At the present
Currently there isn't that much game play on kali in the IPX/TCP LAN emulation portion of kail. In the evening in US timezones, usually the following games are being played or someone is looking to play one of the following games:
Warcraft II (classic, and mostly enhanced)
Warcraft III - This game was very popular on kail after it first came out partially because those who couldn't get on Blizzard.net's online multiplayer server could use kali instead. Its populaity on kali has kind of died down as of 2007/2008.
Descent I and II (d1x and d2x and rebirth versions are popular)
Red Alert (version 3.03 or compatible, 1.04 won't be able to see other players)
Duke Nukem
Descent is usually launched from Kali's ->Descent chat server, which usually has 20-30 users in it using the chat interface. To play Descent I or II, you have to find someone in there who wants to play with you. Red Alert is played on the ->Redalert chat server, and most users are in the game (not in kali chat) using Red Alert's chat interface to chat with each other and host games from there. For games like Warcraft II and III, Kali's Game lobbies interface is mostly used to find other players. To find a game, look for a game under lobbies or create one there. A couple Warcraft II players hang out on the ->Warcraft2 chat server.
From time to time people will show up who apparently already know each other and have come to Kali to play another less popular game over Kail.
Games like Descent 3 aren't played using Kali's LAN emulation but can be found in Kali's large game server list.