...so I went into my router settings and pulled down the pre-enabled router (I have plenty of security on my computers, so it really isn't needed on the router I figured) and ...Chalgyr

Sorry - I didn't catch my mistake here before I posted it and can't see a means of editing my post - I'm airly new here. Anywho - I meant to say" and pulled down the pre-enabled router FIREWALL. Just wanted to be specific for those who might see the same issue on their end.

'ello again.

To answer your question - this is Namco support; and they have been pretty sluggish in their replies. I also suspect the issue is their servers and how they are detecting connection info, since I've been able to connect to other multiplayer games in the past. I did however, resolve the issue last night and notified the tech at Namco with my findings and never heard back after, but meh.

Anyways - there were potentially two settinsg messing up my connection to their servers. My connectivity test was coming back as the NAT type not being found, so I went into my router settings and pulled down the pre-enabled router (I have plenty of security on my computers, so it really isn't needed on the router I figured) and I actived a feature that was off by default called PnUP or something like that. Not sure which of these did the trick (my hunch is the firewall) - but afterward I ran the detection test and I came back as reading Nat 2 from the PS3.

So, I hopped in and did a few quick matches (I REALLY stink against players it would seem, lol!) - and was not only able to connect but also able to back out of the custom matches without getting the freeze. Lag was pretty much minimal and the only oddity was what I read earlier about how the server likes to throw you into rooms that are full - they really should polish that connectivity piece up, but otherwise it seems as though I am good to go now. For those with the same problem, I would look into those settings on your router and then see if your ps3 connectivity test can read your NAT value.

I hope this helps anyone else who is having this same problem.

(I also hope I get better at playing other players, hehe).

Take care,

- Chal

It wasn't much. I just heard back and all they said was - well, it may be your router. Bypass it and hook up directly to your cable modem (not really an option since there's a large distance between them and I use wireless on my ps3).

They also suggested I run a connection test on the PS3 and look for the NAT type to come back as Nat 2 or preferably Nat 1.

I'll do some router configuration later and see if I can find a way around this - I asked for any other configuration options from their support as well, since again - I can't really hook it up via lan connection the way my house is set up.

- Chalgyr

Hello again.

I've tried wireless and wired and both are having issues. I did notice one thing with further testing last night - If I tried to find a quick match I got the message "Failed to Connect" each time, and when I hit the circle button it backed out fine - I tested this a couple of dozen times. However, I went ahead and tried to do a 'create session' and got the message "Connection Timed Out' - if I then hit the circle button to back out, the system locked up - 3 out of 3 times.

I am using a router, and that may be the issue but a) I need to if I go wireless and b) I need to in general because we only have one point of internet and we're running multiple machines including 2 wiresless devices off of it. Still, it is odd that I can semi-connect to their servers - I can view high ranking scores, I get updated on the score list when doing tower descent, and I can view myself and friends on the descent list - it's only when trying to connect to some sort of match play that things go crazy.

I am still waiting on tech support to get back to me. I did get a message back yesterday afternoon just asking what version of the ps3 firmware I was using and what version of the soulcalibur 4 update I was using (2.42 and 1.01 respectively), and included my recent findings last night as well to them, but no word back since.

I'm getting an identical problem with my copy as well, and so is a friend of mine - we have completely different routers - he has a Netgear and I have a ******. Neither of us has been able to connect via search or to one another, and whenever either of us tries to back out of the game with the cirlce button, our systems freeze and force us to hard boot the system. You can eject the disc, but can't get any response from the controller.

Interestingly enough, we both have limited online capability - we were both able to view our rankings from the Tower Descent and able to view the top ranked people from the multiplayer rankings as well. I was able to download and install the accessories pack as well without a hitch (he has not, so it's probably not that).

I did contact their support department this morning so I'll let you know if they give me a resolution that works. :)