Ground Control 2 - server timeout when trying to join a match (despite it being fixed?)

[Lasercar]

I've been able to test two people and both times I still got the timeout issue.

Originally posted by @Lasercar in #11

[zoli456]

I can confirm this too. When you try to join a game it still gives you the timeout error. You can start the game with bots but not with human players. I tried the dedicated server too but do the same. It doesn't not show anything on the console when I try to connect.

[chc]

so i patched the game and was able to play online with someone

[Lasercar]

so i patched the game and was able to play online with someone

Did you have to port forward or anything like that? Tried testing it again today, but I'm still getting the strange timeout error.

It just either blackscreens with the cursor visible for a moment before giving a timeout message, or it instantly times out.

[anzz1]

Yes, ports always need to be forwarded, if you are using a router (which almost everyone is these days), and the game doesn't use natneg which attempts to circumvent this issue, which unfortunately a lot of them don't. Depending on the game, sometimes its enough that only the host forwards ports, other times everyone needs to.

You can also try openspy-client, which tries to automatically forward ports with UPnP and NAT-PMP but it is not 100% reliable as your router needs to support one of the technologies (most routers do though). Ground Control 2 specifically hasn't been tested so it's currently unknown whether it works with the openspy-client or not. Was it the game exe or some dll you needed to patch? If it was the exe, openspy-client should work as-is, if it was a dll then the support needs to be added.

And if you have one of those ISPs that break the internet and don't give you an actual IPv4 address (Carrier-grade NAT), then you're SOL. Modern internet suuuuucks.