Many fans of the classic Age of Empires 2 as well as the global gamer community don't really like Age of Empires 2 HD because it doesn't fully support LAN (local area network) mode for multiplayer gameplay of this game. LAN games are games played by players using computers connected to a local network. That way, they don't have to use online servers (network or online) which tend to be slow when playing games in multiplayer mode.
To play Age of Empires 2 HD with other people, your computer must be connected to the internet and you must be logged in to your Steam account. If the computer is connected to the Steam server, the Steam software allows the player's computer to switch from an internet connection to a LAN network (if you are playing with other people on the same LAN network). However, some players reported that they were unable to play games in LAN mode via Steam. In addition, if the internet network goes down, you will be disconnected from the multiplayer gaming session.
There are videos on the internet that explain how to solve this problem by modifying the game so that it can be played in LAN mode even if the computer is not connected to the internet. Following this method, you can play Age of Empires 2 HD which features the same LAN mode available in the classic Age of Empires 2.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Installing Steam on a Computer
Step 1. Visit the Steam website
You cannot play Age of Empires 2 HD in multiplayer mode (including LAN) without Steam. In addition, the game can only be purchased on the Steam store.
Step 2. Download (download) the Steam software
Click the green “Install Steam” button to download the Steam installer file. This file is 1.5 MB in size and is named SteamSetup.exe. After that, wait for the file to finish downloading.
Step 3. Install Steam
Once the download is complete, run the installation file to start the Steam installation process. After that, this file will start downloading the full Steam software. The software is on average 120 MB in size and can be installed on Mac as well as Windows computers.
Step 4. Log in to your Steam account or create a new account
When the installation process is complete, you will be asked to sign in to your Steam account. Enter the user name (username) and password (password) in the boxes provided and click the “Login” button to enter the account.
If you don't have a Steam account, you can create one by clicking the “Create a Steam account” button in the pop-up window (small window containing certain information). You will be asked to create a Steam username (create a unique name), enter an email address (make sure the email address is still active as you will need to open the email sent by Steam to confirm the account), and create a Steam account password
Part 2 of 3: Adding Age of Empires 2 HD to Game Library Steam
Step 1. Open the Steam Game Library (a list of games you have on Steam)
You'll find the “Library” tab among the tabs at the top of the Steam window. Click this tab and a drop-down menu will appear on the screen.
Step 2. Select the “Games” option which is on the drop-down menu
“Games” is the first option on the menu. If you have a game on Steam, a list of games will appear on the left side of the Steam window.
Step 3. Enter the Age of Empires 2 HD product code on Steam
At the bottom left of the Steam window, click “Add a Game” and select “Activate a Product on Steam” in the menu that appears. A small window will appear to guide you through adding the Age of Empires 2 HD product code on Steam.
- The window will ask you to enter the Age of Empires 2 HD product code. You can find this code on the CD or DVD box you got when you bought the game. The code has no specific length and consists of letters and numbers. Enter the code into the text field provided and follow the instructions that appear on the screen to add the game to Steam.
- Keep in mind that using a product code to install a game on your computer and adding a game on Steam are two different things. Therefore, you can still use the product code to add games to Steam even if you have already used it to install games on your computer.
Part 3 of 3: Playing Multiplayer Game Sessions on LAN
Step 1. Run Age of Empires 2 HD via Steam
After using the product code to add Age of Empires 2 HD to Steam, the game will be added to the list of games located on the left side of the Games window on the Library tab. Select a game and click the “Play” button on the right side of the window.
Step 2. Enter the "Multiplayer" mode of the game
On the game's main menu, click “Multiplayer.” After that, a menu containing the following three multiplayer game options will appear: Quick Match, Lobby Browser, and Create.
- The “Quick Match” option will quickly get you into a gaming session with other Steam users. This option uses your selected preferences to find a gaming session that matches your preferences. “Lobby Browser” displays the current game session. That way, you can choose and join the game session you want.
- The “Create” option allows you to create a game session that can be played with other players. As long as they have and log in to a Steam account, players who join the game session via LAN or the internet can also play.
Step 3. Create a game session that can be played with other players
Select the “Create” option to display the “Create Game” window. In this window, you can select the following options in the “Visibility” section:
- Select “Public” to create a gaming session that players can play with, regardless of whether they are connected to your LAN or not. You can set the number of players (maximum seven players) who can play with you on the next page. Plus, you can add a computer-controlled player if you want.
- Select “Friends” to create a game session that can only be played with Steam friends. They can play with you, no matter if they are connected to your LAN or not.
- Select “Private” to create a game session that can only be played with the people you invite. If you choose this option, invite the players you want by clicking the “Invite” button at the bottom of the “Game Settings “page. Type in the names of the Steam users you want to invite and click the “Invite” button. After that, they'll get a notification via their Steam account that you're inviting them to play with you. They can join the game session using the " Lobby Browser " feature.
- When you're done selecting your game session preferences and inviting players, click the “Create” button at the bottom of the window to proceed to the “Game Settings” page.
Step 4. Select the desired game settings on the "Game Settings" page
The following is an example of the settings to choose from:
- Map style -type of playable map, such as standard version map or real world version.
- Game difficulty level -the level of the player's ability controlled by the computer (if you add it) in a game session.
- Max. allowed population -maximum number of units each player can create.
- Game speed -set the speed of the game session. This option affects all players.
- Map size - the size of the map being played. The bigger the map, the longer the game session lasts.
- Cheats allowed/disallowed - this option allows or prohibits players from using cheat codes in a game session.
- Victory condition -condition that the player must achieve to win the game.
Step 5. Start playing the game in LAN mode
When you have finished selecting the desired settings for the multiplayer gaming session, the players should have entered the game lobby. You can see their Steam username in the lobby list located on the left side of the " Game Settings " page. When all players have entered the lobby, click "Start Game" to start playing.
When you start a multiplayer gaming session with LAN-connected players, Steam will connect them to the fastest network, the local network. This means that if the Steam server crashes, the game session will not experience lag as long as all players are connected to the same LAN
Tips
- To play Age of Empires 2 HD on LAN, each player must have their own Steam account.
- Even if you are connected to the same LAN, you and other players must also be connected to an internet connection in order to enter the Steam server.
