Charlie's Blog

This is a guide to help people set up their computer to allow them to play Starcraft over the internet by using Hamachi to emulate a local area network (LAN).

This is useful if you don't want to go through the hassle of using BattleNet (Blizzard's online game service) or if you bought Starcraft so long ago that you lost the key but want to start playing again. This guide deals specifically with setting up Hamachi and the various settings required to get it working properly but the steps listed here should be sufficient for most games. As well as the option to install Skype (for in-game voice communication).

1. Step 1: Install Starcraft on your system.

   This is fairly self-explanatory: Put the disc in, click on "Install" follow the prompts etc... If you have Broodwars (the expansion) install it too.

2. Step 2: Install the Latest Patch.

   The latest patch out at the time of this writing is 1.15.2

   • If you have Broodwars you want this one
   • If you are using Starcraft WITHOUT the expansion you want this one

3. Step 3: Install Hamachi.

   Hamachi is a zero-configuration (in name, not function) VPN appliance. This is a fancy way of saying that you shouldn't need to change any settings and it just works. While this is mostly true (Hamachi is MUCH simpler than many of the other ways to do this) It is still not quite "zero-configuration".

   Hamachi can be installed by going to the website here, choosing your operating system and language preference from the list. somewhere along the line it will ask you if you want to purchase the premium version. The basic is just fine (and free) so stick with that.

4. Step 4: Configure your Firewall.

   Since Windows Vista and XP vary slightly in the way they are configured this step will be broken down into two sections: one for each. This how-to assumes that you have Windows Firewall. If you have something else: ZoneAlarm, Norton, etc... you should go here

   • Windows XP

     1. Go to "Control Panel" (Start>>Control Panel)
     2. Open up "Network Connections"
     3. Make sure there is a connection entitled "Hamachi" (If it is not there you may need to reboot your system).
     4. Click the "Advanced" drop-down menu at the top of Network Connections
     5. click the "Advanced" tab and select "Advanced Settings..."
     6. We need to tell the system to try to use Hamachi before any other connections you may have, otherwise, Starcraft will not find any games on Hamachi because it will be looking in the wrong place. To do this make sure "Hamachi" is selected in the Connections box and then press the green up arrow until it is the topmost entry in the list.
     7. Go back to Control Panel
     8. Open "Windows Firewall" and click the "Advanced" tab.
     9. Unselect the checkmark next to Hamachi. After this you may need to reboot your computer.

   • Windows Vista

     I don't have a Vista system at the moment and while I am confident that I could fumble through it if I needed to I could hardly make a very competent walkthrough for others to follow. The basics are the same.

     1. Disable Windows Firewall on the "Hamachi" adapter (or disable it completely if you have issues)
     2. Set adapter priority. Here is a walkthrough for how to get there in Vista. Just make sure Hamachi is first priority (on top of the list)

5. Step 5: Install Skype (optional)

   This part is optional and there are admittedly better options for voice chat such as Ventrillo but we use Skype because it works on Linux and Mac pretty seamlessly.

   1. Go to Skype's Website
   2. Download Skype
   3. Install Skype
   4. Add me to your Skype list: "charlie.coutts"

6. Create or Join a network

   If you want to play some Starcraft with us you can join my network it is "games.chalz" Contact Me for the password.