Gameranger issues with the Steam version of Battlefront 2 *SOLUTION*

[StoneCold]

*TEMPORARY SOLUTION ADDED*

===================================================================

Hi guys,

I've been on Gameranger (GR) for the past 2 hours and I've encountered HUNDREDS of people asking about what GR is, how it works etc.

I'm not going to go too much into the technicality of what GR is, but in short, GR should allow you to host your own multiplayer session for SWBF2 which other users on GR can join. So, in GR you can click on the "Host" button, you pick SWBF2, you select the number of players, what the room name should be etc.

After you set all of that, you create the room. Once you're inside the room you made, you click on the "Start" button in the bottom right hand corner. After that the game is going to launch. Once in the game, I *ASSUME* it should take you straight to the LAN hosting screen where you select which map / modes etc you want to play ( I said assume, because that is what happens with other games I played via GR previously so it shouldn't be any different for SWBF2). Then you launch the server, the game will load and you as the creator of the room will be able to start playing.

Once other people see your SWBF2 room in GR, they can join it. Once they have joined your room, they click on the "Join" button (again, bottom right hand corner of the GR window).

As soon as you click that "Join" button, what *SHOULD* happen is the following:

1) Your game will launch
2) Generally, you won't / shouldn't see any splash screens or anything
3) Once in the game, it should automatically switch to the LAN screen
4) Once in the LAN screen it should automatically join the server
5) After steps 1-4 have transpired you should be in the game and play !

NOW...here's the catch.

At the moment, there appears to be a compatibility issue with the Steam version of Battlefront 2 and Gameranger.

A compatibility issue you might ask? Yes, a compatibility issue in the sense that once the game launches, and you've reached the main menu, the whole automation process I described in steps 1-4 above will NOT take place. And that's a HUGE problem.

Going to the LAN screen won't find you the room creator's game either, so you're technically stuck without multiplayer then when using GR with the Steam version. Now, SWBF2 isn't the first Steam game that I found that isn't compatible with GR, Ghost Recon 1 and it's expansions are another prime example of not being compatible with GR. There was one user's room that was working for people that have the Steam copy of SWBF2, but it's a hit and miss affair I'm afraid. If that particular person perhaps read this post of mine, feel free to share anything that you might have done to allow you host it successfully for others to join.

I've already made a thread on GR's forum about the compatibility issue between the Steam version of SWBF2 and GR, which you can view over here: http://www.gameranger.com/forum/?t=11457 (you must have GR installed and open in order to access the forums). Lets hope the creator notices my thread and looks into the issue.

So what now? What can you do at this stage?

Well, I know some of you got your keys today, others are still waiting. Normal multiplayer via Gamespy in the internet browser still works. If you get an authentication error about your cdkey, then look for Zero's server called "FBS" as that server doesn't require a key check and will allow you to at least play the game.

You can find Zero's server by:

1) Go to Multiplayer
2) Make sure the browser is set to "Internet"
3) Then, at the top you can filter for "FBS"
4) You should see the server then. If it's a player hosted (meaning non-dedicated server) then it might not be listed as Zero isn't hosting a game at that stage.

But keep in mind that on 31 May, Gamespy's services will shutdown forever and you won't find servers in the browser anymore, hence the fact that everyone should shift to GR.

The only other alternative out there is Tunngle. Tunngle is similar to GR, however, it doesn't use the same "auto launch" characteristics that GR does. With Tunngle, you can simply go in game, host a LAN server and the other users in the Tunngle room simply searches for your server, join it and you can play to your heart's desire. Take note, Tunngle isn't without it faults either, as you might need to fine tune it's adapter settings to be able to find games hosted by others in the same Tunngle room.

The only downside for some people with Tunngle is that you need to portforward Tunngle's hosting port if you're behind a firewall / router. With GR, it automatically does all of that for you. I can assist with port forwarding, and with dedicated server setups for those that need it for Tunngle, just let me know.

I hope that this thread provided you guys with a better insight with regards to GR, using it with SWBF2 and what issues there are currently. Please feel free to link this thread wherever possible, especially on Gameranger, because a LOT of people want to play, but don't have a clue as to what Gameranger is, or how to use it.

Regards
StoneCold

===================================================================

*TEMPORARY SOLUTION*

Ok, I found what the causes the issue.

It has to do with the player profile.

1) To fix the issue, I had to go to my GameData\SaveGames folder and delete both my profile and the default "Player 1" profile. After that if you go back to GR and you try and join a room with SWBF2 game running, it will connect no problems at all.

2) However, once you're in game, you'll be listed as "Player 1". To fix your name, press escape, then choose "Quit Game", this will take you back to the Multiplayer menu.

3) Next, click on the "Profile" button at the top and then then create a new profile with a name of your liking.

4) Go back to the Multiplayer menu, then choose "LAN" from the drop down menu, click refresh if the GR server doesn't appear in the browser and reconnect.

5) Play !

The only downside to all of this is that you MUST, repeat these steps every time that you want to play SWBF2 via GR unless the GR creator can somehow fix this issue. On the other hand, I can write a batch file that will delete the profile info when you launch the game via GR and then only create your profile ingame without manually needing to delete your profile.

Also, your single player profile information will be lost each time, unless you manually backup your profile before deleting. I guess a batch file that will make a copy of your profile and then delete it afterward will do the trick as well.

Give me a few days to conjure up a batch file such as this, because you need to use another program to trick GR into think it's executing a batch file instead of an exe file.

If all of this is too much of a hassle, then I suppose you turn your attention to Tunngle or hope that GR's creator fixes the problem.

===================================================================

[Relief Dragon]

Thanks Stone. Let's hope the creator can fix the error. Else we're all going to need to go on Tunngle or some other VLAN service.

[StoneCold]

No problem, I just hope others find this thread as well, because I can see it getting drowned in a lot of other posts here :(

[DerekE_TTV]

I just had this issue today trying to set up a server. Hopefully a solution arises soon. I want to get used to this program now before GameSpy shuts off.

[StoneCold]

Just a quick update.

I decided to reinstall my retail copy again this morning, hosted my own dedicated server via GR, and guess what... it didn't work either. The game only loads up and till the main menu and then it gets stuck after that. Tried joining that permanent dedicated server someone is hosting (the 1000mb/s one in GR) and it doesn't work with that either.

Somewhere there is something that is causing the issue. What it is, I'm not sure, but I'm NOT going to give up trying until I found the problem. I'm still awaiting a response on the GR forums, will give you guys any new details as soon as I find a solution.

In light of this, SWBF1 works with GR, no issues whatsoever. If I had to take a rough guess, it has something to do with the profile screen. I don't know why, but I just think that could be the problem, but will keep on investigating.

[StoneCold]

Ok, I found what the causes the issue.

It has to do with the player profile.

1) To fix the issue, I had to go to my GameData\SaveGames folder and delete both my profile and the default "Player 1" profile. After that if you go back to GR and you try and join a room with SWBF2 game running, it will connect no problems at all.

2) However, once you're in game, you'll be listed as "Player 1". To fix your name, press escape, then choose "Quit Game", this will take you back to the Multiplayer menu.

3) Next, click on the "Profile" button at the top and then then create a new profile with a name of your liking.

4) Go back to the Multiplayer menu, then choose "LAN" from the drop down menu, click refresh if the GR server doesn't appear in the browser and reconnect.

5) Play !

The only downside to all of this is that you MUST, repeat these steps every time that you want to play SWBF2 via GR unless the GR creator can somehow fix this issue. On the other hand, I can write a batch file that will delete the profile info when you launch the game via GR and then only create your profile ingame without manually needing to delete your profile.

Also, your single player profile information will be lost each time, unless you manually backup your profile before deleting. I guess a batch file that will make a copy of your profile and then delete it afterward will do the trick as well.

Give me a few days to conjure up a batch file such as this, because you need to use another program to trick GR into think it's executing a batch file instead of an exe file.

If all of this is too much of a hassle, then I suppose you turn your attention to Tunngle or hope that GR's creator fixes the problem.

[GamingWithSilvertail]

Why would you use GR when Tugnle's so much better? :/ Tungle actually allows an in game server list where as GR only has one room, 1 host, 1 server

Also, Why even use a third party client. This only adds to lag :P

[Christmas Pud]

im getting this error 5:0000065434 when i try join a room from GR. it joins the lobby but then gives me this error when i try join the match. Can someone please help?

[StoneCold]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Nali Warcow - Mooing':

Why would you use GR when Tugnle's so much better? :/ Tungle actually allows an in game server list where as GR only has one room, 1 host, 1 server

Also, Why even use a third party client. This only adds to lag :P

LOL, Tunngle is a 3rd party client as well ;)

Also, Tunngle isn't really that much better either. You can also see all the game's hosted for a particular game in GR, as it generates a list of all the games on your PC compatible with it. But, different strokes for different folks, you're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine :)

[la creatura 2e23]

well nothing wrong for my game :D
Good for me.

[Scott (GameRanger Dev)]

Thanks for investigative work with the profile stuff. I'm unable to diagnose the problem myself as I'm still waiting for the Steam key server like many others. I've only been able to do full testing with the retail version of SWBF2.

[Scott (GameRanger Dev)]

To be clear, if there are any problems, they will be solved. StoneCold, if you can contact me I can do some testing with you.

[Scatapult]

Thanks for getting on this guys!

[LoveAndGrace]

Yeah I need to figure out how GR works, it always sticks or freezes after a certain point with me. I have it running on compatibility mode as well

[StoneCold]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Scott:

To be clear, if there are any problems, they will be solved. StoneCold, if you can contact me I can do some testing with you.

I sent you a friend invite via Steam, we can do some testing once you're online :)

[Obunga]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Scott:

Thanks for investigative work with the profile stuff. I'm unable to diagnose the problem myself as I'm still waiting for the Steam key server like many others. I've only been able to do full testing with the retail version of SWBF2.

Can you use the dedicated server.exe with gameranger?
(nice post btw)