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How do I run 2 instances of SC2?

Forum Index > SC2 General
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1 2 Next All
TheBalanceIssue
Profile Joined June 2015
Singapore41 Posts
September 04 2015 08:23 GMT
#1
I made an Arcade game, and I want to test it out with 2 players, and I wish to see how it's like from each of their perspectives. To do this, I want to run 2 instances of SC2, one of them logged in with a free Starter edition account and the other logged in to my actual account, then test out the Arcade game.

Is this possible? I've already tried Sandboxie but it doesn't seem to work (it takes forever to load, sometimes there is an error message).
WhiteLuminous
Profile Joined July 2015
43 Posts
September 04 2015 08:26 GMT
#2
I haven't tried this myself, but you might need to run a virtual machine, like maybe VirtualBox. You'd probably need a really good computer to have anything near responsive through the virtual machine though.
Big J
Profile Joined March 2011
Austria16289 Posts
September 04 2015 08:44 GMT
#3
Ah, the good old problem when you are too good for anybody else to train with and want to play with yourself.
Tufas
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Austria2259 Posts
September 04 2015 08:46 GMT
#4
On September 04 2015 17:44 Big J wrote:
Ah, the good old problem when you are too good for anybody else to train with and want to play with yourself.



I mean judging by his name, he just wants it to be balanced ..
Where is my ACE flair
varsovie
Profile Joined December 2013
Canada326 Posts
September 04 2015 08:51 GMT
#5
If you were on Linux you only have to "chroot" or "jail" the SC2 process (or via more advanced implantations like https://igurublog.wordpress.com/downloads/script-sandfox/ ). As I know those envirronemental virtualisation aren't availlable on Window but there's solutions that provide chroot-like feature on Windows
http://www.airesoft.co.uk/chroot http://www.winquota.com/wj/ http://www.sandboxie.com/ or if you like hacking you can make your own chroot https://github.com/bmatzelle/gow
The chroot has the advantage that you don't have to duplicate the SC2 files (more than 10Gb...)

Or you should try an application-level full virtualization (virtual OS) with an application like VMware Virtual box or KVM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_platform_virtualization_software
Microsoft has its own visualization tools for that, but I never tried 'em https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hh826068

And at last the NTFS file systems does allow fine grained access policy, it would be possible to create multiple SC2 install owned by a specific user then run 'em all, but since they would share the same IP I don't know if it would work.

And if you do not manage to make it work, I'm sure some good people here wouldn't mind setting a skype chat with you and try your game or stream it.
NekronautSC1
Profile Joined August 2015
2 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-04 09:32:30
September 04 2015 09:24 GMT
#6
Why so complicated?
Just Start SC via launcher, log out so youre in the old login screen again there log in with the starter account and then launch sc2 again with your new one.
Another way would be to enable two instances in the bnet launcher settings. start two launchers. have one logged into your main and one into your starter set and simply start sc2 in each launcher
.

set both to windowed and if you have 2 screens youre good to go, otherwise just split screen both in windowed.

keep it simple.

NeThZOR
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
South Africa7387 Posts
September 04 2015 09:38 GMT
#7
On September 04 2015 18:24 NekronautSC1 wrote:
Why so complicated?
Just Start SC via launcher, log out so youre in the old login screen again there log in with the starter account and then launch sc2 again with your new one.
Another way would be to enable two instances in the bnet launcher settings. start two launchers. have one logged into your main and one into your starter set and simply start sc2 in each launcher
.

set both to windowed and if you have 2 screens youre good to go, otherwise just split screen both in windowed.

keep it simple.


Not sure whether the first method you mentioned will work
SuperNova - 2015 | SKT1 fan for years | Dear, FlaSh, PartinG, Soulkey, Naniwa
TheBalanceIssue
Profile Joined June 2015
Singapore41 Posts
September 04 2015 09:42 GMT
#8
On September 04 2015 18:24 NekronautSC1 wrote:
Why so complicated?
Just Start SC via launcher, log out so youre in the old login screen again there log in with the starter account and then launch sc2 again with your new one.
Another way would be to enable two instances in the bnet launcher settings. start two launchers. have one logged into your main and one into your starter set and simply start sc2 in each launcher
.

set both to windowed and if you have 2 screens youre good to go, otherwise just split screen both in windowed.

keep it simple.



I wish it was that simple... just tried both methods, both didn't work.
NekronautSC1
Profile Joined August 2015
2 Posts
September 04 2015 09:45 GMT
#9
Is it two different emails or is it the same email the accounts are registered to?
AdviceGuy
Profile Joined September 2015
2 Posts
September 04 2015 09:56 GMT
#10
I know of a solution to this issue regarding the Windows OS.

From my understanding, in order to pull this off, it's going to require two computers and a pro version of the Windows OS.

Install one instance of SC on computer one and the second instance of SC on computer two.

Access the Remote Desktop Application using the search bar in the windows OS. Log in using the necessary log-in credentials (this will open a window of Computer two on Computer one's monitor).

If you want to watch both computers simultaneously, you will need to add an additional monitor then expand the remote desktop window on it.
TheBalanceIssue
Profile Joined June 2015
Singapore41 Posts
September 04 2015 10:22 GMT
#11
On September 04 2015 18:45 NekronautSC1 wrote:
Is it two different emails or is it the same email the accounts are registered to?


Two different emails. 2 instances of StarCraft don't even successfully launch.
TheBalanceIssue
Profile Joined June 2015
Singapore41 Posts
September 04 2015 10:22 GMT
#12
On September 04 2015 18:56 AdviceGuy wrote:
I know of a solution to this issue regarding the Windows OS.

From my understanding, in order to pull this off, it's going to require two computers and a pro version of the Windows OS.

Install one instance of SC on computer one and the second instance of SC on computer two.

Access the Remote Desktop Application using the search bar in the windows OS. Log in using the necessary log-in credentials (this will open a window of Computer two on Computer one's monitor).

If you want to watch both computers simultaneously, you will need to add an additional monitor then expand the remote desktop window on it.


I only wish to use one computer though
AdviceGuy
Profile Joined September 2015
2 Posts
September 04 2015 10:27 GMT
#13
On September 04 2015 19:22 TheBalanceIssue wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 04 2015 18:56 AdviceGuy wrote:
I know of a solution to this issue regarding the Windows OS.

From my understanding, in order to pull this off, it's going to require two computers and a pro version of the Windows OS.

Install one instance of SC on computer one and the second instance of SC on computer two.

Access the Remote Desktop Application using the search bar in the windows OS. Log in using the necessary log-in credentials (this will open a window of Computer two on Computer one's monitor).

If you want to watch both computers simultaneously, you will need to add an additional monitor then expand the remote desktop window on it.


I only wish to use one computer though



Not sure if this will work, but it seems logical. Create two separate windows accounts. Log into StarCraft on both accounts and input the necessary credentials. Lock the second account, but leave the instance of SC running. Access remote desktop and remote into the second account. In theory, this should give you the ability to navigate both accounts from a single screen.
Ventil
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Sweden414 Posts
September 04 2015 11:05 GMT
#14
Tried launching sc2 with ctrl+shift ?
Built in feature in Windows 7 and upward. Not sure of SC2 can do it because the actual sc2.exe is called from the launcher. Don't have a machine with SC2 installed close to me so I can't verify.
Twitter: @VeNtiLSC
todespolka
Profile Joined November 2012
221 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-04 11:39:54
September 04 2015 11:28 GMT
#15
Oh i did these kind of things for 10 years ago.

U have to understand first how sc2 works. How does it see that sc2 is already running? There are multiple ways, it can check window class, window name or process name. There are other ways but i dont believe blizzard would go so far. Its not a security issiue they just want to prevent ordinary people from starting multiple sc2 clients.

If its like that, u can just change process name of sc2 and start a second one. Bw for example checked the window name to see if its already running.

EDIT: I am looking right now if there is a way to change process names.
EDIT2: Wow there are so many creative ways, I am really surprised. Just give "change process name" into google and u will get very easy solutions. I hope it works! Have fun!
NeThZOR
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
South Africa7387 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-04 11:46:51
September 04 2015 11:45 GMT
#16
On September 04 2015 20:28 todespolka wrote:
Oh i did these kind of things for 10 years ago.

U have to understand first how sc2 works. How does it see that sc2 is already running? There are multiple ways, it can check window class, window name or process name. There are other ways but i dont believe blizzard would go so far. Its not a security issiue they just want to prevent ordinary people from starting multiple sc2 clients.

If its like that, u can just change process name of sc2 and start a second one. Bw for example checked the window name to see if its already running.

EDIT: I am looking right now if there is a way to change process names.
EDIT2: Wow there are so many creative ways, I am really surprised. Just give "change process name" into google and u will get very easy solutions. I hope it works! Have fun!

This is starting to sound like a good solution. Can someone try this? Not near a pc with SC2 on it right now
SuperNova - 2015 | SKT1 fan for years | Dear, FlaSh, PartinG, Soulkey, Naniwa
loko822
Profile Joined January 2015
54 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-04 12:21:20
September 04 2015 12:20 GMT
#17
one guy already gave you the answer. I used sandboxie to do exactly what you want to do. Its really easy. You just open it once normal as always and once in the sandbox.

edit: sry didnt see you tried that and didnt work, strange. For me it did ~a year ago.
SC2 Highlights 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEllpcWAzPo // Neeb Herovideo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7r0pwyZWMo
varsovie
Profile Joined December 2013
Canada326 Posts
September 04 2015 14:44 GMT
#18
On September 04 2015 21:20 loko822 wrote:
one guy already gave you the answer. I used sandboxie to do exactly what you want to do. Its really easy. You just open it once normal as always and once in the sandbox.

edit: sry didnt see you tried that and didnt work, strange. For me it did ~a year ago.


Yeah but I tried to give more than one option. :D Chrooting the processus or virtualizing another OS seems the only viable solution other than hacking the .exe to avoid the ID check or using the "russian/chinese local version".
I've just tried under Linux and it works well, so Windows solutions (sandboxie seems popular and non-TOS sources seems to indicate it works) should work well although you may need to copy (reinstall?) SC2 in the sandboxed environment.
I'm not sure about the "ctrl+shift+rightclick --> run as different user", might worth a try.

Renaming the .exe wont work because SC2 launches via staggered scripts and with "agent.exe".
TheBalanceIssue
Profile Joined June 2015
Singapore41 Posts
September 05 2015 00:33 GMT
#19
On September 04 2015 23:44 varsovie wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 04 2015 21:20 loko822 wrote:
one guy already gave you the answer. I used sandboxie to do exactly what you want to do. Its really easy. You just open it once normal as always and once in the sandbox.

edit: sry didnt see you tried that and didnt work, strange. For me it did ~a year ago.


Yeah but I tried to give more than one option. :D Chrooting the processus or virtualizing another OS seems the only viable solution other than hacking the .exe to avoid the ID check or using the "russian/chinese local version".
I've just tried under Linux and it works well, so Windows solutions (sandboxie seems popular and non-TOS sources seems to indicate it works) should work well although you may need to copy (reinstall?) SC2 in the sandboxed environment.
I'm not sure about the "ctrl+shift+rightclick --> run as different user", might worth a try.

Renaming the .exe wont work because SC2 launches via staggered scripts and with "agent.exe".


This happens when I use Sandboxie:

[image loading]

It will just be stuck there forever.

The "Ctrl+Shift+Rightclick --> Run as different user" doesn't work (unfortunately).
xpaperclip
Profile Joined January 2011
Australia995 Posts
September 05 2015 03:55 GMT
#20
The following worked for me. I logged in one with my actual account and another on a starter account and played a game with myself.

1. Open first instance of SC2.

2. Using Process Explorer, go to the sc2.exe process and force close four handles (View -> Show Lower Pane, find it in the list, right click -> Close Handle) with "StarCraft II" in the name:
Events
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\StarCraft II Game Application
- \BaseNamedObjects\StarCraft II Game Application (Global)
Sections
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\StarCraft II
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\StarCraft II IPC Mem
(I don't know which one it actually uses to tell another instance is running so I just did all of them.)

3. Start new instance of SC2.
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