Play Borderlands over Hamachi LAN
Credit to: Kraytos @ Deviantart.com
Have you ever wanted to play Borderlands with your friends, but they just can't manage to host anything? I have the FREE (and not crappy) solution to that!
Preface: A bunch of my friends live on their college campus, so they have no access to Port Forwarding (which usually works perfectly with correct settings) and no other configurable things besides local access. This is a PAIN when it comes to playing Borderlands, because it requires five (count em, FIVE) ports be forwarded.
The solution: Hamachi and a little shortcut editing!
What is Hamachi? Taken from their website it is as follows:
LogMeIn Hamachi² is a hosted VPN service that securely connects devices and networks, extending LAN-like network connectivity to mobile users, distributed teams and business applications. You can easily create secure virtual networks on demand, across public and private networks.
Required Software:
- Hamachi2 ( https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi2/download.aspx )
- Borderlands ( either from Steam or from another retailer )
Download and install Hamachi, and then create a network (or join your friend's network if they have already done this and you are trying to join)
Create a network
or join a network
Then, here comes the part that took me forever to find on the internet: You have to DIRECT CONNECT with Borderlands. Since there isn't a dev console in Borderlands, you have to edit your target shortcut, which is very easy to do! First, create another shortcut of Borderlands on your desktop, then Right Click that new shortcut and click "Properties"
Edit the properties of the shortcut
Then go to your Hamachi window and copy the Hamachi address of whoever you are trying to connect to (Right Click > Copy address). Then simply paste their address onto the end of your target, like so:
Right Click -> Copy Address
The end result of your new target should look something like this:
Edit the TARGET path of your shortcut. Simply append the Hamachi IP to the end of your target
For yours, replace the "x.x.x.x" I have listed below with the Hamachi IP address you copied:
"C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -applaunch 8980 x.x.x.x
Note: The above target is because I bought Borderlands on Steam. If you bought it elsewhere, yours will look something very similar, but not exact. Basically, as long as you follow this guide for your target value it'll work:
"{INSTALL PATH}" {hamachi_IP}
Then have your friend (or whoever is hosting) start Borderlands and hit "Host LAN Game." Then, once their game is up and running, run your custom shortcut. Its as simple as that!
Happy Borderlanding!
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December 9th, 2009 - 07:11
I love the giant borderlands icons. You never have to move your mouse more than a few cm to get to Borderlands!
January 19th, 2010 - 08:12
Question: For the Shortcut change, does the “-applaunch…” part need to be there, or is that just part of your Steam version?
January 19th, 2010 - 10:38
It is only because I bought Borderlands through Steam. If you bought it retail (not via steam) then the target would be along the lines of
"C:\Program Files\Gearbox Software\Borderlands.exe" {ip.address}February 3rd, 2010 - 01:53
Hi, I love this way to connect, many thankies for help. I have also one question – is this works in other games? I have similar problem with lobby connection in Resident Evil 5.
February 3rd, 2010 - 07:27
I’m not sure as to how RE5 connects (you probably don’t edit the shortcut) but yes, Hamachi LAN will work for any game. I play AI War all the time on a Hamachi LAN. It creates a persistent connection, not just for Borderlands
You can even share files through the LAN if you tell it to. 
February 24th, 2010 - 10:54
Question: can you have more than one IP in the target of the shortcut at a time???
February 24th, 2010 - 17:02
Probably not. You mean for the Borderlands shortcut? That would probably error, or ignore one of them.
What I would do is make multiple shortcuts and name them for different people, so if Bob is hosting, make a new shortcut with Bob’s IP in the target, and have its shortcut name be something like “Borderlands with Bob” and then if John is hosting, do the same, change the target to his IP and make it “Borderlands with John”
June 17th, 2010 - 02:31
Hi,
I don’t understand how you add the ip-address to the shortcut. I added it like you said (i have the non-steam version) and it looked like this
“C:\Program Files\Borderlands\Binaries\Borderlands.exe” x.x.x.x
But when I launch the game, it runs liek it normally does, and I have to select single or multiplayer, but it doesn’t connect to that ip. Am I doing something wrong?
June 17th, 2010 - 15:08
From the Borderlands Wikia:
C:\Games\Borderlands\Binaries\Borderlands.exe 5.171.18.89 -login=foo -password=barExcept for x.x.x.x you put the ip.
You can forgo the login and password.
Source: http://borderlands.wikia.com/wiki/PC_Connection_Issues#Direct_Connect
September 2nd, 2010 - 07:51
Hi guys ! If i want use “direct Connection” for a non steam Bonderlands game version ?
e.g: if i rename my destination path in this way:
“C:\Program Files\Gearbox Software\Borderlands.exe” {0.0.0.0}
is this correct ?
And the other friend must do same to play or not ? Thanks
P.S: Must I patch it before or not ?
ForceBindIp is useful to play online or not ?
September 3rd, 2010 - 11:21
That’s correct, just give the IP as one of the arguments.
I don’t think you need to patch it, and I haven’t used ForceBindIP, but the Borderlands Wikia has some info on it (here).
September 3rd, 2010 - 12:41
Yes it works
I have created an hamachi net to play ^^
If someone want playing we can create or join in another net to play together