For example Project Cartographer describes itself as the following
Project Cartographer is a modification for Halo 2 PC (Halo 2 for Windows Vista) that restores online play (Microsoft abandoned the LIVE servers) and adds additional features that are not present in the base game.
Before the release of Master Chief Collection it was my go-to for playing online.
Similarly H1-Mod exists for CoD: Modern Warfare Remastered.
I’d be interested to hear which ones you’ve tried and how active the community is. They don’t need to be currently active or a replacement for a game’s existing multiplayer services. It could be something like Zandronum which allows you to play the classic Doom or NVMP-X which allows you to play Fallout New Vegas with friends.
Most of these services don’t contain DRM so you can use Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle, or any other version of the game and because they are community run you don’t have to worry about servers going down as time goes on and can potentially host your own games.
I also like to make a special mention of X Link Kai which allows you to play system link games remotely. If you are curious I’d check out ConsoleMods.org for setup instructions and their website for a list of supported games.
There’s plenty of other similar services out there depending on what console you are using such as Insignia for the original Xbox.
I’d love to see these communities grow.
I have recently been playing Resident Evil Outbreak again, an cooperative online PS2 horror game. It’s community has build a custom server called Outbreak Resurrection. At first, it was very cumbersome to set up, but it was definitely worth it. It is very niche, but I still was able to spot around 2-4 players everytime I booted it up.
It is honestly heartwarming, seeing people go the extra mile and try to revive an old experience. Sometimes also trying to enhance the experiences by fixing and updating the game. Everything without asking for a penny.
These community should be supported and shared to let them know that we appreciate them 👍
Do you play on original hardware and justtunnel into a private MP? I really want to play that game again, it was such a great time as a kid.
No this would be too troublesome for me, especially because I just wanted to check it out with a friend really quickly. We played it on the pcsx2 emulator and connected via custom IP. Worked great, but sadly the game aged badly and therefore loading times are unbearable. Every door, every major action, and every lost attempt means sitting back and waiting. Lost it’s fun very quickly :/