Multiplayer problems

[Polvere]

Hi everyone, it's nice to find a vast community still active on H&D, I'm sure you guys could help me in my desperate quest to play online.

First of all I'll share some preliminary remarks: I've installed firstly the game and patched it up to 1.12, then I've just done the same with Sabre squadron. Still I can see some servers with the gray line, mostly inaccessible. When I try to start a server (internet or dedicated, LAN or not) by the game menu I get an error simply sayin' "Unable to create the server"; I am actually able to start a server from the server launcher icon into the installation folder of the game but I can't see it from the server list once i start the game..
Also, when I try to log into a match, nothing happens: it just stays there waiting for the connection to be completed..

This game has a great potential so I really appreciate to play online, I beg anyone who could explain me step by step how to solve these problems. Thanks in advance.

[Jason]

Hi and welcome to the forums (and community), It would help if you gave us your computer specifications, the Operating system you are using and if you have a firewall /  anti-virus program running.

[Polvere]

Here's my specs:

AMD Athlon 64 processor 3500+
2.21 GHz, 2Gb ram
Windows XP 2002 version with service pack 3

I'm using avast and spybot as well as the windows firewall.

P.s. I've already tried to open tcp ports on the windows firewall but with no luck.

[Lars]

From what you said it sounds like you installed hd2 patched up to 1.12 and installed than sabre squadron and patched that?
If I would be at you place I would reinstall the game; install Hd2 and than install than sabre (cause sabre is patched as 1.11 it might screwed up your installation before) after that install the sabre 1.12 patch. After that you should be able to see some servers. It might be that you have to open some ports in your router to see some servers. If you only wants to play it would be 11001-11004 TCP&UDP
If you want to host a game you should also open port 27900+28900 TCP&UDP.
In the windows firewall it should work if you open 11001-11004,27900,28900 TCP

[Polvere]

I've done what you said and I opened all those ports (both tcp and udp) in my windows firewall: now I see many servers I could join (not listed in gray) but still I can't enter any of them nor host a game. And by the way now my server console is unable to start (while before, at least, it started even if I couldnt  see the server on the list..)

[Lars]

That is very strange  Are you useing an router? If so is it possible to turn on the DMZ for your PC IP?

[Polvere]

I'm not using a router: I've got only one pc here and I'm on a modem. I don't know what dmz is or how to turn it on. I know it may sounds stupid but these problems I'm experiencing are nothing related with the language isn't it? Cause my H&D2 is eng while my Sabre squadron is multilanguage and I've installed it in italian.

[Lars]

No the muliculti shouldn't messed it up. So no router. You should try something witch worked for me earlier as I was on an ADSL Modemcard. Try to set your internetconnection to share with others in your network. That worked for me as I've done it. If not .. I don't have any more ideas 

[Polvere]

Unabled the public ip for my connection..

I noticed that the timeout to the servers that I tried to join happened because those servers are using custom maps. Actually I tried to join a server with a game-map and this message appeared: "Impossibile connecting to Gamespy to verify the cdkey. If you're behind a firewall, check the file". I searched on the web and I discovered that probably its something related to the cd-key I'm using.

[Lars]

Do you connect via Gamespy Arcarde or do you use the in game browser? Cause I never saw anyone with that message

[Polvere]

I usually try to connect via the game menu.. I tried a couple of times to play by choosing "Play H&D2 with gamespy arcade" by the start menu of xp but I guess I've got to be a member or what?

[Lars]

Playing with Gamespy will mean that you have to download and install their browser and you have to register with it. But with it there is not a big diffrence if useing gamespy or the ingame browser. Are you sure that you entered the correct cd key?
Check it with regedit at the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Illusion Softworks\Hidden & Dangerous 2 if you entered it right

[Polvere]

Allrightly, I think the last thing I could try is entering a valid key, this game deserves it anyways and the price is inviting.

[Jason]

You were trying to play a pirated copy of the game with no proper cd key?

[Lars]

And again ... waisted time with pirates