Note that Windows 7 is easier to find the shortcut from, because it has a real start menu, but Windows 8 is a bit different (more annoying).

Initially this post confused me, until I ran a search on the Windows 8 start menu folder, which is not per se pinned to the Start screen. You can find the shortcut on your system here:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GOG.com\Master of Orion 1 and 2\Master of Orion 2\Network

Then right click > pin to start.

Do you have to do portforwarding on routers and if so what is the port used

I've not been able to forward my ports properly since I moved here. Tried everything on several occasions. My friend can't connect with hamachi anymore(for some reason) and I've been dying to play MoO2 with him. We have been using EvolveHQ just fine for non-steam games but MoO2 doesn't appear to be working with it. Also we live in different areas at the moment so it's not easy to just go to his house and play LAN whenever I want. Any help would be appreciated.

Hey, try gameranger.com Good luck & hopefully happy gaming. If you're looking for a game sometime message me.

Update, I found out that the gog version of moo2 is not supported & will not work on gameranger.com, however, they say they support the windows 95 version of moo2, last official patch for this is v1.31 english. I'm running windows 7 & don't believe the win95 version runs on win7 from what i've read on the forums. I'm going to install it sometime to see if that is indeed the case. However, the current moo2 gog version works awesome & is very stable in 2v2 multiplayer including 8 AI in a huge galaxy, cluster does not appear to be available in multi player. good luck, looking for moo2 players.

Hey guys, me and my friends can't get multiplayer to work, sadly, what are we doing wrong?
We tried using tunngle, but it didn't help.
My brother tried connecting his PC to his laptop in his home network and that worked fine.
but we need a way to play over the internet...

Edit:

Here is the fix for people with similar problems:

go to your moo2 folder and look for "dosboxMOO2_client", it's a config file.
Then you have to delete the last 3 lines or put a "#" in front of them.
then start the multiplayer as normal and type in "IPXNET CONNECT "INSERT IP" "INSERT PORT" and you are good to go.
do this while using hamachi or tunngle.

Hi guys.. my friend and I are new to GOG... wanted to play MOO 2 again.... having trouble hooking up.. followed the instructions posted some time back...
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GOG.com TeamRegistered: May 2008From Poland
Posted April 20, 2010
2high rated
avatarStuff: I happened across this page and thought others might find it interesting. Tips for getting the game working for online play.

Our version has preconfigure network host - client
menu start -> GOG.com -> Master of orion 1 + 2 -> Master of Orion 2 -> Network
There one player choose Host and others choose client. Host needs to give others his IP and then he choose Multiplayer -> Network -> start new game
Clients input into console CONNECT host.ip.address
Then they also choose multiplayer - connect network and choose Muptiplayer -> Network -> join game
Have fun everyone! :)
=============================
We are getting our IP address from "What is my IP.com" host multiplayer using the default Network setting....
when the client enters the ip number... a failure to connect message appears prior to the game loading...

Can someone tell please what we are doing wrong?

My friend got the game at GOG mine was ported from Steam if that makes a difference

Thanks