online connection method for a game

[jrblast]

I'm making a simple tic tac toe game (no ai for now) but to make it more interesting I want to make it have online game play so people can play other people from other computers, I know how to code this but I'm wondering what the best way to do this is. I have a few ideas so far.

1) The user connects to a master server which is always running. The server will then connect two users to each other (or perhaps with a chat room and users choose one another.)
2) users connect to eachother directly by typing one anothers ip manualy
3) Users connect to a master server which directs them to a sub server which keeps track of multiple games.

I'm not sure which of these is the best way so I'm looking for your feedback and if you have any other ideas I'm interested to hear them.

P.S. So far I have a mostly functional 2 player 1 computer version, will post when I fix the bugs.

[Clayton]

Perhaps you should get the game working across two computers before you even think of trying to get a lobby going as well as random matchups. Break each problem down into little steps. Try each of the options above that you yourself provided. You will learn a lot more that way than you will if we just say "Do number 1) because its the easiest". The easiest thing for someone else isn't necessarily the easiest thing for you

[jrblast]

Okay, sounds like a good idea. I still got to touch up the game I have now (Code is terribly unorganize, I'm not usualy like that ) but once I get it going youll be sure to see my post. thanks and if anyone has any other ideas for me to try you can pm me or post here i guess, either.