Tutorial: Internet Gaming with Age of Empires 3 and Hamachi

Summary

This tutorial will demonstrate how to use Hamachi and a special game patch to link two or more computers for multiplayer game play in Age of Empires 3. Since its release, AOE3 has caused many headaches for players due to the game only recognizing an internal IP address (ie 192.168.x.x). This flaw makes Internet gaming impossible, since only computers on an internal LAN can see an internal IP address. Ensemble have offered patches and suggestions to overcome this problem, but they have not worked for all gamers.

Enter Hamachi, a free network application that allows two or more users to organize a Virtual Private Network with Peer to Peer facilities. A special patch for AOE3 (this is NOT a pirate hack) allows the game to select network devices, enabling secure game play over a user’s Hamachi network.

Target Audience

This tutorial is geared towards Age of Empires 3 players who have had trouble hosting or joining multiplayer games using the LAN option (or in some cases the ES Games option)

Software Required

Age of Empires 3

• Install software as usual
• Recommended: visit the Ensemble website (http://www.ensemblestudios.com/) to ensure you are using the latest version of the main program file

Hamachi

• Install program and follow the user setup guide
• Make sure you grant full firewall access to Hamachi

To find the patch, search Google using “aoe3vpn download”

Enter your search terms Submit search form

• Unpack the ZIP file and copy the .EXE file into the directory where you installed Age of Empires 3

Let’s BeginSetting up a Hamachi Network

1. Click on the Windows Start Button. Navigate to the Hamachi folder and click on the Hamachi program icon to start the program.



2. Click on the lower right button. Click on the Create new network option from the resulting pop-up menu. A pop-up window should appear.



3. Enter a name for your new network in the first text box (located under the Network name label). Enter a password for your new network in the second text box (located under the Network password label). Click on the Create button to complete the creation of your network.
4. Provide your network name and password to to the person(s) who will be joining your Hamachi network

Joining a Hamachi Network

1. Click on the Windows Start Button. Navigate to the Hamachi folder and click on the Hamachi program icon to start the program.



2. Click on the lower right button. Click on the Join existing network option from the resulting pop-up menu. A pop-up window should appear.



3. Type in the Network name and password provided to you by the owner of the Hamachi network you wish to join. Upon successfully joining the network you should see the network listed on your main window with the names and IP addresses of other users on the network.

Hosting an Age of Empires 3 Game Over Hamachi

1. Click on the shortcut for the AOE3VPN executable. If you did not create a shortcut for this program you can start the game by double-clicking on the AOE3VPN.exe file from within Windows Explorer. A modified version of the Age of Empires splash screen should appear.



2. Verify that the IP address in the drop box above the start button matches the IP address at the top of your Hamachi window. Click on the Start button to launch the game.



3. Click on the Multiplayer button in the main game menu. A sub menu should appear beside the Multiplayer button.



4. Click on the LAN menu item in the sub menu. The Home Cities menu should appear.



5. Click on the Play button



6. Click on the Host Game button to launch a multiplayer game

Joining an Age of Empires 3 Game Over Hamachi

1. Follow steps 1-4 under the previous section, Hosting an Age of Empire 3 Game Over Hamachi



2. Enter the IP address of the player hosting the AOE3 game in the text box at the bottom of the window. Click on the Connect button next to the the text box.



3. Verify that a game is listed for the IP address you entered then click on the Join button to join the game.

What’s Next?

DOTA (Defense of the Ancients) -a free mod for Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne- is another popular application for Hamachi. For more information on playing this game mod, visit DOTA-Allstars. However, online gaming isn’t Hamachi’s only forte. The program also comes with built-in instant messaging and file-transfer facilities that can penetrate all but the toughest of NAT and hardware firewalls. For further information please visit the Hamachi website:

http://www.hamachi.cc/