gse/post_build/README.experimental.md

What is this ?

This experimental build of the emulator:

• Blocks all outgoing connections from the game to non-LAN IPs

• Lets you use CPY style cracks that use the steam_api dll to patch the exe in memory when the SteamAPI_Init() method is called

• Can load extra dlls in memory via LoadLibraryW()

Mr_Goldberg's note:

In this folder is an experimental build of the emulator with code that hooks a few windows socket functions. It should block all connections from the game to non-LAN IPs. This means the game should work without any problems for LAN play (even with VPN LAN as long as you use standard LAN IPs 10.x.x.x, 192.168.x.x, etc...)

It likely doesn't work for some games but it should work for most of them

Since this blocks all non LAN connections doing things like hosting a cracked server for people on the internet will not work or connecting to a cracked server that's hosted on an internet IP will not work

Why ?

Mr_Goldberg's note:

Lots of games seem to connect to analytics services and other crap
Blocking the game from communicating with online IPs without affecting the LAN functionality of this emu is a pain if you try to use a firewall

Which IPs are allowed ?

With disable_lan_only=0 inside .\steam_settings\configs.main.ini, only LAN-only IPs are allowed:

• 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
• 127.0.0.0 - 127.255.255.255
• 169.254.0.0 - 169.254.255.255
• 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
• 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255
• 224.0.0.0 - 255.255.255.255

To allow all IPs, including non-LAN IPs, modify your .\steam_settings\configs.main.ini and set disable_lan_only=1

How to use a CPY style crack

1. Rename steam_api.dll crack to cracksteam_api.dll, or steam_api64.dll to cracksteam_api64.dll
2. Replace the steamclient(64).dll crack with the one in this folder

How to load extra dlls in memory

Put the dll file inside the folder .\steam_settings\load_dlls, and it will be loaded automatically using the LoadLibraryW() function