Halo 2 Forum
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Subject: Solutions to Original Xbox Live being shutdown!

As you all should know by now, the Original Xbox Live Service including Halo 2 Multiplayer is going to be shutdown in less than a month. Unfortunately, no matter what we say, Microsoft will never change their minds about this. So all we can do is find someone to continue enjoying original xbox games after they've been shut down, especially Halo 2. How can we do this without Xbox Live? Well, there are two solutions:

Solution #1. Halo 2 Vista (aka. Halo 2 PC) - Halo 2 Vista is the PC version of Halo 2 for Windows Vista and Windows 7. It features the complete campaign of Halo 2 as well as a whole new multiplayer mode. The game also has improved graphics. Halo 2 PC uses the Games For Windows Live service which works with the modern version of Xbox Live. Basically, while playing on Halo 2 Vista, you sign in with your Xbox Live account and get achievements in Halo 2 Vista. You can even communicate with people playing on the XBox 360 through private chats or messages. Halo 2 Vista also comes with 2 NEW maps, a map editor, and the ability to download and play custom maps. Basically, this is like the HD Remake of Halo 2 that everyone's been asking for. THE BEST PART OF HALO 2 VISTA AND GAMES FOR WINDOWS LIVE IS THAT ONLINE MULTIPLAYER IS FREE!!! Even if you have an Xbox Live Silver Account, you can still play multiplayer in Halo 2 PC absolutely free.

More Info Here

*Please note, this method is not like Halo 1 PC. This game actually connects to Xbox Live so you can earn achievements. You WILL need to have an Xbox Live account. Your Live account is interchangeable between the Xbox 360 and PC (GFWL).



Solution #2. Xbox Connect - This method requires the actual Halo 2 Xbox Game. You will need to make sure your Xbox or Xbox 360 is connected to the same router your computer is connected to. You also need a program called Xbox Connect installed on your computer. What this method does is that once you have everything set up, you just sign onto Xbox Connect on your PC. Once that's all ready, you look for a Halo 2 server to join. Once you've joined, on your Xbox version of Halo 2 or whatever original Xbox game you're playing, go to SYSTEM LINK. In System Link,it will start to search for available games. If you joined a server with other people on Xbox Connect and you're connected, some games will start to pop up on your games list. You can now join those games and start playing Halo 2 multiplayer just like it was on Xbox Live. You can even voice chat and invite other people. However, this isn't like matchmaking. This is more like Custom Games, but it's as close as you can get to Xbox Live. Basically what Xbox Connect does is that it tricks your Xbox into thinking that you're on a LAN network for System Link games. Xbox Connect is essentially a large online global LAN network that's the best alternative to Xbox Live when it gets shut down for original xbox games. This method is also free!

More Info Here

Video of Xbox Connect

*Please note, while playing online using this method, the game can be quite laggy when there is over 5-6 people in one game. You should keep the total amount of players under 10. Anything above may cause severe lag because most people are probably using the free version of Xbox Connect. There is a payed premium version, but that is unnecessary to play online.



Well, I hope those solutions will help all of you. Each of the two solutions has its own advantages and disadvantages. So it's up to you to decide which one is the best for you. I suggest you click on the links I provided to do a little bit of research first before you decide which solution you will try out. Keep in mind that while Xbox Live (Games For Windows Live) is completely free on the PC, Halo 2 Vista itself still costs around $15-20. Other than that, the first method is also free. I suggest you try out these solutions now so you can easily make your final decision after the day Halo 2 is shut down. You could always go with both solutions if you wanted, but you can't combine the solutions. Halo 2 Vista will not work with Xbox Connect. Only Original Xbox Games with System Link capabilities will work. But until then, we should enjoy Halo 2 with Xbox Live as much as possible. Have fun! I hope these solutions will prove very useful.

  • 03.12.2010 9:27 PM PDT

Oh. I was just trying to shoot those birds with this here jello-shooter.
-noob using a fuel rod gun

Social Infection

wow thanks. If I ever get the cash, I will upgrade my computer with better graphics, clean it, and wipe XP and install a better OS. I have to go look up achievements for it right now. I had no idea. thanks for the heads up.

  • 03.12.2010 9:32 PM PDT

Posted by: Zwolf_wolf
wow thanks. If I ever get the cash, I will upgrade my computer with better graphics, clean it, and wipe XP and install a better OS. I have to go look up achievements for it right now. I had no idea. thanks for the heads up.


Yeah sure, no problem! Glad I could help!

  • 03.13.2010 8:28 PM PDT

That's why I'm Ace.

Is this xbox connect program officially by microsoft?

and how safe is it to use(opening up your computer to a network, security like firewall still enabled)?

  • 03.13.2010 8:42 PM PDT

Posted by: AceDudeyeah
Is this xbox connect program officially by microsoft?

and how safe is it to use(opening up your computer to a network, security like firewall still enabled)?


Well, it's not official Microsoft software but it is safe and has been tested by tons of people. A lot of people already use it and it does work. You can watch that youtube video I have linked in the original post.

The software is very secure. You don't have to disable your firewall or anything to join the network. It's pretty much the same as connecting to Xbox Live. You don't have to turn off anything. Your default network settings should be enough to allow access to Xbox Connect network.

But if you still don't feel secure about using Xbox Connect, then you can always try the 1st solution which is to buy Halo 2 Vista. That's an offical game published by Microsoft and it connects to Games For Windows Live which is the PC version of Xbox Live and works in conjunction with Xbox Live. Both are from Microsoft of course. So the choice is up to you which solution you want.

  • 03.13.2010 9:40 PM PDT

Another solution would have been to save your money up for the 5 years that the xbox 360 has been out instead of buying new games or other stuff like new cell phones or etc to get an xbox 360. Don't get mad that I said this because it is true. It took me a little over a year to save up for an xbox 360 elite with $10 a week. In that time, I did not buy one game or any other luxury item at all. Seriously, I have had the same cell phone for a few years now.

[Edited on 03.13.2010 10:02 PM PST]

  • 03.13.2010 10:01 PM PDT

Posted by: Frozensword
Another solution would have been to save your money up for the 5 years that the xbox 360 has been out instead of buying new games or other stuff like new cell phones or etc to get an xbox 360. Don't get mad that I said this because it is true. It took me a little over a year to save up for an xbox 360 elite with $10 a week. In that time, I did not buy one game or any other luxury item at all. Seriously, I have had the same cell phone for a few years now.


You're not making any sense right now. Are you actually implying that no one here has an Xbox 360? I think the majority of Halo 2 players have an Xbox 360 now. I got my Xbox 360 over 3 years ago. We're not poor. And that was a completely random thing to bring up. The problem with Halo 2 being shutdown is not related to the XBox 360 at all. It's the fact that even with an Xbox 360 you can't play Halo 2 online at all. My 2nd solution also works on the Xbox 360. People still play Halo 2 online not because they don't have an Xbox 360, but because it's still fun. Now I don't play Halo 2 a lot anymore. I mainly play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 now, at least until Halo: Reach comes out. I suggest next time you check everyone's profile and gamertags before you assume that none of us have Xbox 360's just because we play Halo 2. Now as for my gamertag, my Bungie profile is linked to a backup gamertag seperate from my real gamertag. So that's why I have no Halo games played. But you should still see some other Xbox 360 games played like Modern Warfare 2. So please, do a little background checking first. You could end up making the wrong people angry.

  • 03.13.2010 10:59 PM PDT

Halo 3 and ODST Rules plus halo 1 n halo 2,halo 2 online is great it will be missed
"Fear The Pink"
i own all the halo games i still need halo wars ^_^

i need to buy vista for halo 2 too bad it doesn't play on xp T_T

  • 03.13.2010 11:10 PM PDT

Sangheilis Rock

i need to buy the pc version, yay achievments

  • 03.14.2010 4:23 PM PDT

Posted by: kirachief117
i need to buy vista for halo 2 too bad it doesn't play on xp T_T


Unfortunately, I don't think Windows Vista is sold anymore. It's been replaced by Windows 7 now. Personally, I still prefer Windows Vista, I think it had some great things about it. But anyways, Halo 2 Vista should still be compatible with Windows 7 and all future Windows systems. So yeah, you'll most likely be getting a Windows 7 system. Also, if you're going to be upgrading an old XP computer, that might not be good enough for Halo 2 Vista. Halo 2 requires pretty high system requirements. Most old windows xp computers don't have the power to run Halo 2. Even a lot of early Windows Vista systems couldn't run Halo 2. You're better off buying a completely new PC with Windows 7 already included on it.

  • 03.14.2010 8:35 PM PDT

The name's SXcalibur, but to you, it's Daddy.

I've had Xbox Connect for a while. I think that this is the best solution.

  • 04.14.2010 3:36 PM PDT
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An Xbox Live Arcade port would be an amazing solution! But unfortunately Halo 2 Vista is not an option for me, since I have a mac. Its the tradeoff I suffer for enjoying a computer that works

  • 04.14.2010 3:44 PM PDT

This is the average H2 Fanboy.
Xfire: JacobGRocks.
50 in H2/H3? Great, but you still fail at this.

Also add xlink kai. That is another way to keep playing.

Also, if you have a mac, get boot camp and dualboot vista/7 and mac os x. Problem solved.

[Edited on 04.14.2010 3:47 PM PDT]

  • 04.14.2010 3:47 PM PDT

why are ur posts essays

  • 04.14.2010 3:52 PM PDT

Halo 2 for Life!

They should have found a solution, I think personally that they are just lazy and dont want to waste time to fix the problem so everyone can play the best online game on XBL. Halo2 for life.

  • 04.28.2010 6:04 PM PDT

Bring Back Rocket Race!!!

Posted by: totallymassive
They should have found a solution, I think personally that they are just lazy and dont want to waste time to fix the problem so everyone can play the best online game on XBL. Halo2 for life.


The only other solution would be to run seperate servers that are independent of current xbox live servers. But that would be too expensive to run.

  • 05.21.2010 3:09 PM PDT

Would Jedi Academy work on Xbox Connect?

  • 05.21.2010 9:55 PM PDT
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any game which is system link enabled will work, on XBConnect and Xlink Kai

  • 05.22.2010 1:55 AM PDT

Greggory Seamon

dude i used to use xbox connect like 5 years ago before i had xbox live... is it still running... do people still play it, cuz they did then, but it was a while ago. hell, i had an original xbox then, and i used it for Halo CE online lmao.

  • 05.22.2010 12:07 PM PDT

█ █ █ █HaloTech █ █ █ █ █
█ █The Group of the Future....

Does XBC work with windows 7?

  • 05.22.2010 12:55 PM PDT

feet first into hell

ODST's motto

Posted by: Str8 2 The Heart
An Xbox Live Arcade port would be an amazing solution! But unfortunately Halo 2 Vista is not an option for me, since I have a mac. Its the tradeoff I suffer for enjoying a computer that works

Last time I checked, PC's worked.

  • 05.22.2010 9:44 PM PDT
  • gamertag: PRElyk
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Can I play H2 Vista on a Bootcamped Mac?

  • 05.24.2010 4:18 AM PDT

Bring Back Rocket Race!!!

Posted by: Chiefs Cousin
Can I play H2 Vista on a Bootcamped Mac?


As long as you have either Windows Vista or Windows 7 installed, then you're fine. I doubt there will be any hardware conflicts. But it's possible.

  • 05.24.2010 7:35 PM PDT

This is the average H2 Fanboy.
Xfire: JacobGRocks.
50 in H2/H3? Great, but you still fail at this.

Posted by: General Heed
Posted by: Chiefs Cousin
Can I play H2 Vista on a Bootcamped Mac?


As long as you have either Windows Vista or Windows 7 installed, then you're fine. I doubt there will be any hardware conflicts. But it's possible.

As long as it doesnt have blammy intel graphics, it will work. The newer the mac, the better.
Also, get the map disc and install the maps and 1.1. Then, you will not have weak melees and nades.

[Edited on 05.25.2010 6:58 PM PDT]

  • 05.25.2010 6:57 PM PDT

Bring Back Rocket Race!!!

Posted by: JacobGRocks
Posted by: General Heed
Posted by: Chiefs Cousin
Can I play H2 Vista on a Bootcamped Mac?


As long as you have either Windows Vista or Windows 7 installed, then you're fine. I doubt there will be any hardware conflicts. But it's possible.

As long as it doesnt have blammy intel graphics, it will work. The newer the mac, the better.
Also, get the map disc and install the maps and 1.1. Then, you will not have weak melees and nades.


Well, when you sign onto GFWL (aka XBL), it will automatically prompt you to download and install the updates for the game. I don't know if installing it on a Mac affects your ability to play online, but as long as your copy of Halo 2 PC is genuine and legal, then you should have no trouble playing online.

Personally, I don't think the Mac is a good machine for gaming. It's got nice hardware, but honestly, there are much more powerful dedicated gaming PC's or laptops out there. I'm not trying to start a PC vs. Mac argument, although I assume that just simply mentioning PC and Mac in the same sentence will start a flame war. Anyways, using the $2000 I could spend on a Mac, I can get a dedicated gaming PC that's over 4 times more powerful than the Mac in every aspect of hardware. It all just comes down to software and whether you prefer Windows or OS X. But as I said, if your ultimate purpose of getting a new computer is for gaming, then Macs aren't really the right direction to go.

Oh and JacobGRocks, I'm sure you remember those debates we had back in the Halo PC forums. I now appreciate the fact that you can upgrade the hardware in a PC. Unfortunately, game consoles like the Xbox and Xbox 360 don't let you upgrade your hardware like the RAM or graphics card. The same applies for Macs. But anyways, Halo 2 PC works best on a PC that was designed for gaming. While most systems can run Halo 2 PC today, if you want optimal performance, you'll need a good dedicated PC for it. I use a Dell XPS M1530 to play Halo 2 PC.

  • 05.25.2010 9:15 PM PDT

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