I have just networked my home computers and wanted to play a game of Jazz Jackrabbit2 with my brother. The game would load the host computer but would not recognize the guest computer. At the screen where it tried to connect, it became idle and the "connecting" message just continued to blink on and off. I have downloaded all the necessary patches and installed them on my computers. I'd really like to get the local area network connection to work as I do not like to play online much. Is there something I still need to do?

What's the type of router you're using?

What Local Network are you using, TCP or IPX?

Does the network work correctly for other things?

Instead of using the LAN mode, it might be easier to use regular Internet Play. On computer A, host a game as you would to play online normally, then on computer B enter the IP address of computer A when you get to the "Enter Address" prompt below the list of servers.

If you're running Windows 2000 or XP, you can find out your IP address in the status window for your network connection or by running 'ipconfig' in a command prompt. In Windows 95/98/ME you can find it by running 'winipcfg'.

We're using a TCP LAN. I don't want to use the Internet because we only have one phone line and we're on dialup. I'd like to play it offline so the phone line isn't tied up.

The LAN works fine with every other game, including Unreal. Am I right in thinking that Jazz2 should work as well?

Here's what appears to be going on. My computer is the host computer, and I can apparently host a game with no problem. The problem seems to be with the guest computer. The host computer plays the game fine, but when the guest joins the game, the screen says it's connecting, but nothing happens. The computer does not freeze, it simply doesn't get any further. It stays on this screen until the game is closed.

Does the same problem occur if you switch roles of the computers (try letting the other one host)? Are you using custom levels or tilesets?

My suggestion to use Internet Play does not require you to be connected to the Internet, if you do it the way I described. Did you try it?

Originally Posted by Link

Instead of using the LAN mode, it might be easier to use regular Internet Play. On computer A, host a game as you would to play online normally, then on computer B enter the IP address of computer A when you get to the "Enter Address" prompt below the list of servers.

Or enter the IP in TCP/IP-play instead ;S

Originally Posted by Coppertop

I don't want to use the Internet because we only have one phone line and we're on dialup. I'd like to play it offline so the phone line isn't tied up.

It's not like you are actually gonna use the internet.

Originally Posted by Coppertop

It stays on this screen until the game is closed.

Does that mean that when the server stops, you get the "server stopped" message?

Anyway, it could be a firewall problem. Most likely the Windows XP firewall which, if enabled, required you to "unblock" everything first. In my opinion I think that you had accidentally chosen the option to "keep it blocked" somehow.

It means it can't list the servers, and locks at that screen until program is exited... I think.

Maybe the computer won't answer to ping requests? ;p You could try joining with jforce.