Configure, troubleshoot, play and host Battlefield 2 online!

This workshop will cover the basics of getting started with Battlefield 2, plus some extra information to cover those little problems that you may encounter. The contents are as follows:

• System Requirements and System Test
  
• Installing the expansion packs in the correct order
  
• Patching the game correctly
  
• Creating a Battlefield 2 Account with EA
  
• Playing the game using GameSpy Arcade
  
• GameSpy Arcade & Battlefield 2 Name and Password differences
  
• Ports needed for your Router/Firewall
  
• Joystick setup
  
• Clan tags
  
• Server setup
  
• Retrieving an EA Account
  
• Miscellaneous issues
  
• Some Useful Links
  System Requirements and System Test
  
  The minimum requirements are as follows:
  
  CPU: 1.7 GHz Graphics/Video: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible 128MB Direct3D Card from the following supported list*:
  
  ATI: Radeon X700 (PCIe), X600 (PCIe), X800 XT Platinum Edition, X800 PRO, X300 series. 9800 series, 9700 series, 9600 series, 9559 (RV350LX), 9500 series, 8500 series.
  
  NVIDIA: GeForce 6600 (PCIe), PCX 5900 (PCIe). 5800 series (AGP). 6800 Ultra, 6800 GT, 6800. FX 5950 series, FX 5900 series, FX 5700 series.
  
  *Other video cards with 128mb or more Ram are known to work, but are not officially supported by EA Games.
  
  Ram: 512mb Hard Drive Space: 2.3 GB (this is based on BF 2 Installation only, extra space will be required for Expansion Packs, DirectX and Virtual Memory Settings) Operating System: Windows XP, Windows Vista (x86) DirectX Version: 9.0c Sound: 100% DirectX 9.0c Compatible Card.
  
  Anything above this specification means you should be fine to run Battlefield 2.
  
  If you are not sure of your PC specification, use the link here to automatically check your PC for compatibility with Battlefield 2: http://gameadvisor.futuremark.com/gameadvisor/service/
  
  *You will need to install the ActiveX control to allow your system to be tested*
  
  Select the appropriate game by clicking the link, then click 'Will it run on my PC?'
  
  Click OK then the page will refresh. Now, look at the top of the screen (just under the address bar). You should click on the yellow bar there.  
  
  Click 'Install ActiveX Control' to proceed:
  
  Click 'Install' to complete the process. Your PC will now be tested for compatibility.
  Installing the expansion packs in the correct order
  The expansion packs were released in the following order:
  Special Forces
  Euro Force
  Armored Fury
  
  
  You therefore need to install them in this order to ensure correct installation:
  Battlefield 2
  Special Forces (patches Battlefield 2 to version 1.1)
  Latest Patch (or at least 1.2)
  Euro Force
  Armored Fury
  Latest Patch (Currently 1.41 - Sept 08)
  
  
  If you buy the expansions in any other order than that listed above, you will need to perform a Complete Uninstall of the game and expansions, then Reinstall in the order listed. Patching the game correctly
  Ok, this is not as difficult as it seems. Patching Battlefield 2 is easy when you follow these simple rules:
  For the full 1.41 patch go to: http://www.fileplanet.com/160777/160000/fileinfo/Battlefield-2-Patch-v1.41-%5BAlso-Patches-Special-Forces%5D-
  
  Ok, now that you have the patch, you need to install it. This is done by double-clicking the file. The patch will auto install, all you need to do is follow the basic instructions that appear just before installation starts. If it looks as though the patch isn't working, don't worry, just leave it for a minute or so and it will start J.
  
  Now that you're all patched-up, you're almost ready to play. Creating a Battlefield 2 Account with EA Firstly, run the game from the Desktop or Start Menu shortcut.
  
  Click on Play Multiplayer, you will then see the IGN Privacy Policy, User Agreement and EA Terms Of Service screen:  
  
  Click Accept Terms to proceed. Then a screen will appear:  
  
  Fill-in the details using a Valid email address and Secure Password (always try to use a password that isn't directly related to you - Example: don't use your birthdate or something with your name in it, or any combination of these)
  
  Your account will then be verified and set-up (if you experience any problems with this procedure, please check your firewall and/or router settings). Ok, with everything set, you are now ready to play Battlefield 2. Playing the game using GameSpy Arcade After you have completed installation and Account setup, you are ready to play using GameSpy. Ok, let's presume that you have GameSpy already running. In the list of My Games on the left of the main GameSpy screen you should now see Battlefield 2. Click the icon there and you will be taken to the Battlefield 2 game lobby.  
  
  Click Main Lobby to enter the chat lobby/server screen.
  
  Ok, if you've used any other games on GameSpy Arcade before, this screen will look familiar. If not, there follows a brief explanation of each area of the lobby:
  
  The Chat Window is located at the bottom of the screen, this is where you talk to other Battlefield 2 players. Just above that (from left to right) you have the Server List (shows all the servers currently running in GameSpy that you can join), then we have the Player Information Area (this won't show any details until you click on a server from the Server List. It shows the players currently playing on the selected server), underneath that we have the Server Information Area (again, you need to select a server for any details to appear here. This shows the information for the selected server, like Rating, whether or not Punkbuster is enabled etc. and it's worth checking the details here to make sure that it's definitely the server you want to join)
  
  Ok, once you have selected a server you'd like to join, either double-click the server or click Join Game (please note: your Battlefield 2 disc Must be in the CD/DVD drive before you try to join a server). Now the game will launch, and automatically join the selected server. Have Fun!! *Note: Your firewall and/or router must be correctly configured to allow you to play online. Also, if your Battlefield 2 Nickname and Password are Different from your GameSpy Arcade Nickname and Password, you will most likely have problems joining games through GameSpy Arcade. See below for instructions on how to correct this*  
  
  GameSpy Arcade & Battlefield 2 Nickname and Password Differences
  Ok, you have the game all set-up, but you still can?t join servers from GameSpy Arcade (you get stuck at the login screen). Not to worry, this is an easy problem to correct J. Follow these instructions, and you will be playing in no time at all:
  
• Login to GameSpy Arcade using your normal profile
  
• Press Ctrl + P to bring up your Options menu
  
• Click on Games - My Games - Battlefield 2
  
• Click on the "Advanced Options" button on the right-hand side of the screen
  
• Type ' +playerName NAME +playerPassword PASSWORD ' (without the quotes and with a space after +playerName and another after +playerPassword).
  
• Replace NAME with your Battlefield 2 account nickname; replace PASSWORD with your Battlefield 2 account password (both are case sensitive, so type them exactly as if you were playing though the game (Login Screen))
  
• Click the "OK" button
  
  You should now be able to head into the Arcade BF2 lobby and join servers seamlessly.
  Example: If your BF 2 name is ArniesBestMate and your BF 2 Password is CommandoMonster.
  
  *These instructions must be followed Precisely for this to work, any deviation and it will not work correctly (Including any capital letter or space in the wrong place)*
  
  This information was obtained from the forum located here: http://www.forumplanet.com/gamespyarcade/topic.asp?fid=11722&tid=1757555 Thanks go to [GSI]spiff for the information! Ports needed for your Router/Firewall
  To successfully run Battlefield 2 through GameSpy, you may need to open ports on your Router/Firewall.
  The Battlefield 2 ports are located here: http://www.findports.com/document.php?id=115
  
  The GameSpy ports are here: http://www.gamespyarcade.com/support/firewalls.shtml
  
  Bookmarking these pages may be a good idea, just in case you need to refer to them again.
  
  Joystick Setup
  
  If you prefer to use a Joystick to play Battlefield 2, then the following link should allow you to set-up your device correctly: http://intel.planetbattlefield.gamespy.com/bf2/joystick.html
  
  Clan Tags
  
  To add Clan Tags to your Battlefield 2 name, use the following procedure.
  
  Run Battlefield 2 from the Desktop or Start Menu shortcut. At the Login Screen you will see a box at the top of the screen labelled Prefix, this is where you insert your Clan Tags. To give you an example, if you were in a clan called Darth Vader's Apprentices, you could use a clan tag like this [DVA]. At the login screen, it would look like this:  
  
  *The above screen has been altered to conceal some details, you will need all your usual login details to successfully complete this procedure*  
  
  Server Setup
  
  Battlefield 2 has two options to allow you to run a server. The first is to Rent A Server. You do this by logging-in to the game as usual, then click Multiplayer, near the top of the screen you will see the Rent Server button, click that:
  
  You will then be presented with a confirmation. If you want to rent a server click Yes and Battlefield 2 will close and your browser will open, if not, click No:  
  
  You can also click this link to check rental prices and availability: http://battlefieldhosting.ea.com/www/ *These rental servers are Ranked Servers and will allow you to play Ranked Games*
  
  The second option for running a Battlefield 2 server is to run a Dedicated Server from your home PC. This option is free and relatively easy to accomplish J. Use this procedure to get your own server up & running:
  
  Insert your Battlefield 2 CD/DVD and allow the menu to boot. Click Advanced Options and a new set of menu items will appear. Click Run Server and the menu will close, the following BF2ServerLauncher window will then appear:  
  
  At the bottom of this box, you should see a little + sign, this is to Add new config file, click that to proceed:
  
  A box will appear
  
  Enter a name in the space provided and click Ok. *Note: you cannot use certain characters when choosing a name, for example - Spaces - try to use standard text for the name*
  
  Now you will see that the name of your Config File appears at the bottom of the main server launcher window:  
  
  Now you can start altering a few options. Some of these options are based on personal preference, but others are essential.
  
  Ok, first choose a ServerName. You can also choose Password (if you want the server to be accessed by only your friends or people you choose). If you want the server to be broadcast on the Internet, choose Internet. You can also put a message for your guests in the WelcomeMessage box:
  
  Ok, now we have some other options to configure that need to be done for the server to allow connections from others. These Essential options are as follows:
  
  ServerIP and further down the list InterfaceIP. These must match each other for the server to function at all. It seems that the easiest option is to select Choose from detected IP addresses on each of these options. If you have any difficulties, enter your IP address Manually in both of these boxes (taking care that they Both Match)
  
  AllowNATNegotiation is to be selected if you are using a Router or Gateway Device (NAT = Network Address Translation, a common function in most routers. Roughly translated, this is a hardware Firewall). You may also need to open ports for the server to correctly function (see item 7 above)
  
  Ok, now you have set the essential items, you can choose all your other options. As stated previously, these are optional and depend on the game you want to set-up. Things like, number of Bots (computer players) on a co-operative game, number of tickets each team has and number of rounds per map. If the options you choose don?t work for you or your guests, try different ones.
  
  Settings like VoipServerPort and other Voip options are something you can check on in the readme file accessed by running the Battlefield 2 disc and clicking Readme from the main menu screen. This readme also contains the server commands list for kicking/banning players from your server, accessing your server remotely and other admin commands (advanced functions of server management)
  
  Ok, once all your options are set, you will need to choose some maps for your guests. From the main BF2ServerLauncher screen, select Maplist. You should see a screen: 
  
  The two main panes of this window are the Map Select Area (left-hand side) and the Selected Maps Area (right-hand side).
  
  The Map Select Area shows the maps that you have available for use on your server and will change depending on whether you have Euro Force and/or Armored Fury expansions installed, it will also change if you select Co-operative rather than Conquest mode (more on the mode select later).
  
  The Selected Maps Area shows the maps you have currently selected that are to be used on your server, at the moment it will be empty (as shown) because you haven't chosen any maps yet.
  
  Ok, to choose a map to use on your server, double-click the map from the list in the Map Select Area. It will be added to the Selected Maps Area. To remove a map from the list, double-click it in the Selected Maps Area (simple eh). If you want all the maps, double-click all the maps to add them.
  
  'Hey' you say, 'I want my maps in a different order'. No problem, just select a map from the Selected Maps Area and use the up and down arrows in the middle of the two panes to move your maps around.
  
  Now we come to the drop-down boxes at the top of the two panes. The one on the left is to choose the map pack you want to use, the one on the right is game modes.
  
  Map Packs
  
  The map packs are dependant on which Mods you have installed and whether or not you have Special Forces. In the case below, there are the Allied Intent Mod (very good J) and Special Forces expansion (listed as xpack) both installed and available:
  
  Choose the one you prefer and the Map List Area will change to your new map list. In this case, Special Forces maps:  
  
  Game ModesThe game mode drop-down box is to select which mode you prefer to have played on your server. There are usually two modes: Conquest and Co-operative. It's up to you which mode you choose:
  
  If you are happy with your settings, click Save and next time you run the server launcher, you can select your config file from the drop-down box at the bottom left of the main window.
  
  Ok, once all options are set and you have maps selected, it's time to run your server. Click Start at the bottom of the screen to start the server process, you will see a DOS Box
  
  Understandably, what you see here is dependant upon your own system specification and the server options you choose etc. This window MUST remain open or the server will close and kick all current players.
  
  Ok, your server is now running, Congratulations!
  
  When you're finished running the server, just choose Stop, then Quit from the server launcher window:
  
  *If you need to change any options, first you must Stop the server. Change any options necessary, then Start the server again* Retrieving an EA Account In the event that you need to uninstall Battlefield 2 and reinstall it, you will need to retrieve your account/s from EA. This is very easy to do. First follow installation procedure as detailed in item 2 above. Now, run Battlefield 2 from the Desktop or Start Menu shortcut. Once the game has reached the screen below, click Play Multiplayer:
  
  Now you will see the Terms of Service screen:
  
  Click Accept Terms to proceed. This will take you to the Create Account screen. Click Retrieve Account to proceed:
  
  Now you will see a screen
  
  Choose which method suits you best, either Using Email or Nickname. Enter the relevant details, then click Retrieve Account. Your account details will then be downloaded from EA and you will be ready to play Battlefield 2 once more. *All details on this screen MUST be accurate or you will experience problems. If you can't remember some of your login details, you will need to contact EA support*  
  
  Miscellaneous Issues For any issues you experience that are not detailed in this workshop, you will need to contact EA support. These issues may include CD key error issues. EA support is available here: http://support.ea.com/
  
  Follow instructions on this site carefully to obtain the help you need.
  
  For issues relating to Routers or firewalls, Punkbuster and general maintenance issues, please see the next section for some links that may assist you in resolving these issues. Some Useful Links
  Punkbuster Support: http://www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page=support.php
  PBSetup (allows you to manually update Punkbuster): http://www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page=pbsetup.php
  Planet Battlefield: http://planetbattlefield.gamespy.com