Extending the Life of Halo Modding

[{DKW}drk]

according to the H1 remake 343 is changing the server from gamespy server (the one were running on) to bungie reach server
what modzy just said is very possible.

[nil]

I have been looking into the possibility of altering the game to contact a server other than gamespy. The new server would have to be 11 characters long, including its .com/.net. And research would have to be done involving what is sent and received from the gamespy server. If the latter research can be accomplished, it would be very possible to host a server list on and alternative master server. Thus removing the need for CD key checks.

Even if you try to avoid gamespy, I think you are still not allowed to play with someone else in the game if he has the same CD key as you, so that would need to be addressed as well (which is why I mentioned generating a random invalid key).

That said, the windows version has had several 'cracked' versions respective to some particular version where I believe it still uses gamespy lobby, but the check for the cracked server checking serial keys is gone.

[Excend]

I haven't looked myself, but I'd assume that he is right in that the CD-key check is an in-game thing and requires no communication to the gamespy server (I'm pretty sure LAN games don't work if you have the same CD-key), but if gamespy can't check whether or not the CD-keys are valid, then the keys can be anything as long as they don't match.

[nil]

Well, I think I agree, but to clarify, I think "check if two people don't have same CD key" is an in-game thing and "check if this is a valid CD key" is a gamespy thing, the latter which doesn't apply to LAN/private games.

[Modzy]

I have already been able to sever ties between Halo and gamespy, so removing the in-game CD check would be the next step I suppose.

[Excend]

^Well that's what we're saying, if you can't remove it, then you can just make a random key.

Well, I think I agree, but to clarify, I think "check if two people don't have same CD key" is an in-game thing and "check if this is a valid CD key" is a gamespy thing, the latter which doesn't apply to LAN/private games.

Sorry, this is what I was trying to say. My words get jumbled a lot.

[Mgalekgolo]

My apologies but can someone explain how a random key would pass the CD-check??

[Excend]

Okay, well when you first start up the game, the CD-key is checked by gamespy to see if it is valid, if it isn't valid then you obviously can't play. But without the ability to externally check for a valid CD-key, you can play (on a non-gamespy server) with any jumble of numbers and letters. The only problem is that halo won't let you join a game with the same CD-key, so we need to make sure everyone gets different jumbles.

This is my understanding at least.

[Mgalekgolo]

Okay, well when you first start up the game, the CD-key is checked by gamespy to see if it is valid, if it isn't valid then you obviously can't play. But without the ability to externally check for a valid CD-key, you can play (on a non-gamespy server) with any jumble of numbers and letters. The only problem is that halo won't let you join a game with the same CD-key, so we need to make sure everyone gets different jumbles.

This is my understand at least.

Ah that makes sort of more sense.

[nil]

I have already been able to sever ties between Halo and gamespy, so removing the in-game CD check would be the next step I suppose.

So are you able to host a public game with an invalid CD key without any issues Modzy, and have other people join with an invalid key without issues? Get online, modzy .

[Mgalekgolo]

Well theres an app called little snitch or someshit that blocks incoming/outgoing connections. sort of like a firewall. Maybe this could be used in a wrapper or script to fool the gamespy server or change it ect. Just a suggestion im not good with networking.

[nil]

I'm dabbing at the moment of getting rid of the serial key check prompt when starting Halo for the first time and using whatever invalid CD key I want. I've some progress, although it's not quite complete. I'll hopefully come back later with some more information on it.

[Sparky]

I think a "packet sniffer" application that looks for the Halo Demo application ID and intercepts communications to the NON-GAMESPY server would be able to help.
Run both the hacked application and the packet sniffer at the same time by putting both inside the UB bundle and making a new app linker. (Does this lingo make sense?)

[Zanghfei]

Never talk about that. "packet sniffer", well, i google it, so many letter o_o!
I have been playing in a cracker server on the game Call of Duty 2 for 2 years.
There is a site that is a cracker server games.
http://epcgaming.com/v2.5/index.php
There may be an important information when you search the site.
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I want someone to re-do the Halo engine, like Halo Aniversary example enchance their graphic, the different engine for multiplayer engine. (If they don't release for PC and Mac).

But if we change the Gamespy service ( when we not using Gamespy ), which will host the system of the server?

Mhmm, if you do not understand when I speak, I use google translation.

[Sparky]

HDM would.