openspy-client

openspy-client is a universal modification for old PC games to replace the now-defunct GameSpy Arcade service with an open-source alternative.

This allows the multiplayer feature of those games to be used again.

The openspy client module is unobtrusive, meaning no game files need to be altered. It is loaded into the game's memory and redirects the requests from GameSpy to OpenSpy on the fly. It is very light and does not carry any performance penalty.

On this early stage, only a few games are listed as supported. However, due to the generic implementation, many games should be already supported.

Help us by reporting the games you found working so we can add them to the list and reporting the ones which don't so we can work on adding the support.

Aim is to eventually support 100% of GameSpy Arcade titles.

Compatible with Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 / 11 and Server 2003 / 2003 R2 / 2008 / 2008 R2 / 2012 / 2012 R2 / 2016 / 2019 / 2022

How to install

1. Download the latest release

2. Install

   1. 32-bit games

      1. Extract the openspy.x86.dll file to the game folder, next to the game executable.
      2. Rename the openspy.x86.dll to what is listed in the supported games list

   2. 64-bit games

      1. Extract the openspy.x64.dll file to the game folder, next to the game executable.
      2. Rename the openspy.x64.dll to what is listed in the supported games list

3. Play !

Account creation

If the game requires an account to play, you can create one in game.

If the game does not have an option to create an account, you can create one here.

Please note that the GameSpy protocol is old and does not meet modern password encryption security standards, so do not use a password which you have used elsewhere.

Supported games list

Game	Compatibility	DLL (x86, 32-bit)	DLL (x64, 64-bit)	Notes
1944: Battle of the Bulge		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires No-CD patch to remove StarForce (V3) protection
Act of War: High Treason		version.dll	n/a
Anno 1701		version.dll	n/a
Area 51		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Free download [2] Requires latest v1.2 update
Battlefield 1942		winmm.dll	n/a
Battlefield Vietnam		dinput8.dll	n/a
Blood II		winmm.dll	n/a
Chaser		dinput8.dll	n/a
Civilization III		version.dll	n/a
Civilization IV		dsound.dll	n/a
Colin McRae Rally 2005		dinput8.dll	n/a
Conan: The Dark Axe		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v1.03 update [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove SecuROM (V5) protection
Crysis		version.dll	version.dll	[1] Replacing game executables with c1-launcher is highly recommended for additional fixes
Crysis Wars		version.dll	version.dll	[1] Replacing game executables with c1-launcher is highly recommended for additional fixes
Damnation		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires No-CD patch to remove SecuROM (V7) protection  RETAIL
Deer Hunter 2004		dinput8.dll	n/a
Deer Hunter 2005		dinput8.dll	n/a
F1 Challenge '99-'02		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires No-CD patch to remove SafeDisc (V2) protection
F.E.A.R.		version.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v1.08 update  RETAIL [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove SecuROM (V7) protection
F.E.A.R. Combat		version.dll	n/a	[1] Free download [2] Requires latest v1.08 update [3] Requires No-CD patch to remove SecuROM (V7) protection
F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate		version.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v1.08 update  RETAIL [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove SecuROM (V7) protection
F.E.A.R. 2		version.dll	n/a
FlatOut 2		dinput8.dll	n/a
GangLand		dinput8.dll	n/a
Gene Troopers		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires No-CD patch to remove StarForce (V3) protection
Global Operations		version.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v2.0 update [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove SafeDisc (V2) protection
Halo: Combat Evolved		version.dll	n/a
Heretic II		n/a	n/a	[1] No DLL, use this configuration file instead [2] No in-game server browser, use the "gspylite" tool to connect to servers
Hidden & Dangerous 2		dinput.dll	n/a
IGI 2: Covert Strike		version.dll	n/a
James Bond 007: Nightfire		dsound.dll	n/a
Jet Fighter IV		dinput.dll	n/a
Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds		dinput8.dll	n/a
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance		winmm.dll	n/a	[1] Requires No-CD patch to remove SafeDisc (V4) protection
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault		dinput.dll	n/a
Midnight Club 2		dinput8.dll	n/a
MotoGP 2		dinput8.dll	n/a
MotoGP 3		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires No-CD patch to remove SecuROM (V7) protection
MX vs. ATV Unleashed		dsound.dll	n/a
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2		dsound.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v242 update [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove SafeDisc (V2) protection
Nerf Arena Blast		n/a	n/a	[1] No DLL, use this configuration file instead [2] Latest v1.2 update is recommended
No One Lives Forever		winmm.dll	n/a
Painkiller		dinput8.dll	n/a
ParaWorld		winmm.dll	n/a	[1] Latest v1.01 update is recommended
Postal 2		n/a	n/a	[1] No DLL, use this configuration file instead
Rise of Nations		winmm.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest 02.04.04.2903/03.02.12.0800 update [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove SafeDisc (V2) protection
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends		dsound.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v2.5 update
Rome: Total War		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires No-CD patch to remove SafeDisc (V4) protection
Rush for Berlin		dsound.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v1.25 update  RETAIL [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove StarForce (V3) protection  RETAIL
Sacrifice		dinput.dll	n/a
Saints Row 2		dinput8.dll	n/a
Serious Sam: The First Encounter		dsound.dll	n/a
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter		dsound.dll	n/a
Serious Sam 2		dsound.dll	n/a
Sniper Elite		dinput8.dll	n/a
Startopia		dsound.dll	n/a
Star Trek: Bridge Commander		dinput.dll	n/a
Star Trek: Legacy		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Latest v1.2 update is recommended
Star Wars: Republic Commando		version.dll	n/a
Street Racing Syndicate		dinput8.dll	n/a
Terminator 3: War of the Machines		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v1.16 update [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove SecuROM (V5) protection
TimeShift		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v1.02 update  RETAIL  STEAM
TOCA Race Driver		dsound.dll	n/a
TOCA Race Driver 2		dsound.dll	n/a
TOCA Race Driver 3		dsound.dll	n/a
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v1.35 update  RETAIL [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove SecuROM (V7) protection  RETAIL
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2		version.dll	n/a
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear		dsound.dll	n/a
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland		dinput8.dll	n/a
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3		dsound.dll	n/a
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4		dinput8.dll	n/a
Tony Hawk's Underground 2		dsound.dll	n/a
Unreal		n/a	n/a	[1] No DLL, use this configuration file instead
Unreal Tournament (1999)		n/a	n/a	[1] No DLL, use this configuration file instead
Unreal Tournament 2003		n/a	n/a	[1] No DLL, use this configuration file instead
Unreal Tournament 2004		n/a	n/a	[1] No DLL, use this configuration file instead [2] Installing ECE Bonus Pack + Latest v3369 update is recommended  RETAIL
Unreal Tournament 3		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v2.1 update  RETAIL
Vietcong 2		dinput8.dll	n/a
Worms 3D		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v1.073 update [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove SecuROM (V5) protection
Worms 4: Mayhem		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Requires latest v1.01 update [2] Requires No-CD patch to remove StarForce (V3) protection
Worms 4: Mayhem Online Demo		dinput8.dll	n/a	[1] Free download
X-Men Legends II		dinput.dll	n/a	[1] Requires No-CD patch to remove SafeDisc (V4) protection
report supported game

Unsupported games list

Game	Status
Aliens vs. Predator 2	not working
Battlefield 2142	not working
Codename Panzers: Phase One	not working
Crysis 2	not working
Empires: Dawn of the Modern World	not working
Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II	FESL not implemented, see issue #3
Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring	crashes while retrieving profiles
Men of War: Assault Squad	coming soon™
Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix	not working
Star Wars: Empire at War	not working
Test Drive Unlimited	not working
report unsupported game

Remarks

To uninstall, simply delete the openspy.dll file.

If a game is not listed, you can try renaming it as the different variations openspy-client currently supports:

• dinput.dll
• dinput8.dll
• dsound.dll
• version.dll
• winmm.dll

Please report back with your findings to help us fill the supported games list.

Generally it does not matter how the openspy-client module is loaded into the game. This means that in addition to the variations supported, you can also use any other method to load the module into the game.

For example, if you use an ASI loader to load mods like Widescreen Fix for your game, you can simply rename the OpenSpy module to openspy.asi and place it next to the WideScreenFix.asi and it will be loaded that way.

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🌎 Web   Discord

This component is a part of the OpenSpy project

• openspy-core-v2
• openspy-web-backend
• openspy-natneg-helper
• openspy-discord-bot
• openspy-client