HI,
thanks for the answer. I do not have any special reason to use hamachi, it is just that I found it easy to use since i am not particularly good at computer.
My question regarding the crossover cable is that I thought it would be simpler than fiddling with the internet. The other reason is that my brother and I are going to be together at xmas for a couple of weeks ; ordinarily I am in australia and he is in japan. I read a lot of bad report about MP and CMSF, so i was just wondering if it was worth getting it for him. I should mention here that he does not have control on his router as he is getting internet through his landlord. but anyway, since neither of us are good with computers, i do not think we would be able to go through a port-forwarding process if it was required.
Also i have to say that i prefer turn-based than real time, but i guess i could get use to the realtime. Why doesn't mp works turn-based, by the way?