Last updated on March 18th, 2024.
If you have any questions, ask them here.
Welcome to MH Oldschool!
MH Oldschool is a private server community for the NTSC-J versions of the original Monster Hunter, Monster Hunter G, and Monster Hunter 2 (dos).
To connect to the MH Oldschool server, all you need to do is change the Primary DNS via the in-game Networks Settings menu to 34.75.107.68. If you are not sure how to do this, continue reading the guide from the "how to connect" section onward.
Note: MH Oldschool does not condone piracy. Do not illegally distribute or download copies of these games.
How to connect
In order to play online, you need a copy of whichever game you intend to play, and any internet-connected console or PlayStation 2 emulator to play it on. This guide works for both emulator and real hardware, but if you want a PCSX2-specific guide, you can click here. The use of older PCSX2 versions (1.6.0 and below) is generally discouraged, because they're outdated and require a more difficult setup.
1) Accessing the Network Settings
Firstly, we need to access the Network Settings menu for whichever game you want to play. This is the only part of the process that is different for each game.
Monster Hunter
In order to access the Network Settings menu, you must have created your hunter.
- On the Game Menu screen, select "Continue," and then select your hunter.
- On the Mode Select screen, select "Town," the top option.
- You will be met with a screen telling you not to remove your memory card. Press the circle button to continue.
- Load or create a NET file.
- You will be met with various screens. Press the circle button to advance through all of them until you see a menu.
- On the "Network/Online" menu, select "Network Connection," the topmost option. On the following screen, select "Next," the top option.
- You will be met with a list of all the Network Configurations you have saved, which is likely none. Select the topmost option, "Edit Network Configuration."
- The game will ask you if you're sure that you want to continue. Select "Yes," the top option.
Monster Hunter G
- On the Game Menu screen, select "Network Options," on the bottom.
- On the Network Options screen, select "Network Settings," second from the bottom.
- You will be met with a disclaimer. Select "yes," the top option.
- If prompted, create a NET file.
Monster Hunter Dos
- On the Game Menu screen, select "Network Options," the second from the bottom.
- On the Network Options screen, select "Add/Edit Connection Setting," above the green "Reset to Defaults" option.
- You will be met with a disclaimer. Select "yes," the leftmost option.
- If prompted, create a NET file.
Now that we're in the Network Settings menu, we can change the DNS. This process should be the same regardless of which game you're connecting with.
Note: the language and confirmation button of this menu will be determined according to your console's BIOS.
How to change DNS
- On the Network Settings screen, select "Add Setting," the top option.
- On the Save Location screen, select your preferred Memory Card to save the configuration to.
- You are now editing your network settings. Press right to continue.
- It will ask you for your hardware. Select the hardware you're using to connect to the internet (it is likely the only option). Press right to continue.
- You will be met with a box telling you that you are now editing ISP settings. Select "OK."
- It is now asking if you need an ID and password to connect to the internet. Select "Not Required." Press right to continue.
- It is now asking if you want to change your IP address. Select "Auto." Press right to continue.
- This is the important step. It is asking if you want to change the DNS. Select "Manual." Press right to continue.
- Change the Primary DNS to 34.75.107.68. You can leave Secondary DNS blank. Press right to continue.
- If you want to, change the name of the ISP settings. Press right to continue.
- Press the circle or cross button to save your settings.
- It will ask you if you want to test the connection, if so, select "Yes," the leftmost option. If not, select the right option.
- If you are testing the connection, press either circle or cross to begin the test, and wait for a while until it finishes.
- You will be returned to the main Network Settings menu. Press the cancel button in order to return to the game.
Useful links
MH Oldschool Discord server
The Great Guide™ megathread
Guides
PCSX2 MH Oldschool guide
PlayStation 2 soft-modding guide
Area hosting guide
Patches
1JP English patch
MHG English patch
MH2 English patch
Server information
The following information is on the MH Oldschool server. If you are looking to connect, read the "how to connect' section above.
General server information
MH Oldschool was created in 2019 as a splinter from a Biohazard: Outbreak fan server. Click here if you want to learn more about our history.
Each game has an offline village and an online town (sometimes called a "city"). Connecting to our server allows users to access this online town. While in town, you can depart on four-player quests from the town's tavern.
More information
The private server has almost no control over the quest itself. Instead, the area host decides what happens, sends that to the server, and the server sends it to the other players. This means that the quests are (practically) peer-to-peer; the server mostly controls things in the town, which varies from game to game, but can include things like event quests, the sale and delivery schedule, and the time of day and season. Everything regarding the player's save file is stored locally on their machine.
Currently the account system is separate for each game, so players will need to make a new account for all three games. However, there is nothing that prevents users from using the same username and password for each game. Usernames do not display to other players, only the character's name. Username and password information can be deleted upon request; message an administrator if you would like your account information deleted.
Capcom's official servers have been offline since 2011 in Japan. They originally required a subscription fee, but connection to MH Oldschool is free.
Currently the account system is separate for each game, so players will need to make a new account for all three games. However, there is nothing that prevents users from using the same username and password for each game. Usernames do not display to other players, only the character's name. Username and password information can be deleted upon request; message an administrator if you would like your account information deleted.
Capcom's official servers have been offline since 2011 in Japan. They originally required a subscription fee, but connection to MH Oldschool is free.
Monster Hunter
Lobbies: eight-player Towns.
This is accurate to the original server, except that all Towns are localized to one Land and two Areas.
Event schedule: one event quest per day, rotating daily as such: gathering -> hunting -> gathering -> hunting -> etc.
This is near accurate to the original server, which had a 3-day rotation instead of one day, with a harvest tour in the mornings and a normal event in the evenings.
Event content: all event-only monsters are accessible. There are a few event quests that have yet to be implemented. All event-exclusive items are accessible.
This is partially accurate to the original server; many event quests come from the NA/EU servers and were NOT present on the original JP server.
Market schedule: the market's prices and inventory rotate daily as such: sale -> normal-> delivery -> normal-> sale -> etc.
This is accurate to the original server.
Private server bugs:
Players will depart on a quest when the host does, even if they have not yet indicated that they are ready.
The event quest "Slay the Giant Dragon!" does not play the cutscene as intended, for unknown reasons.
This is accurate to the original server, except that all Towns are localized to one Land and two Areas.
Event schedule: one event quest per day, rotating daily as such: gathering -> hunting -> gathering -> hunting -> etc.
This is near accurate to the original server, which had a 3-day rotation instead of one day, with a harvest tour in the mornings and a normal event in the evenings.
Event content: all event-only monsters are accessible. There are a few event quests that have yet to be implemented. All event-exclusive items are accessible.
This is partially accurate to the original server; many event quests come from the NA/EU servers and were NOT present on the original JP server.
Market schedule: the market's prices and inventory rotate daily as such: sale -> normal-> delivery -> normal-> sale -> etc.
This is accurate to the original server.
Private server bugs:
Players will depart on a quest when the host does, even if they have not yet indicated that they are ready.
The event quest "Slay the Giant Dragon!" does not play the cutscene as intended, for unknown reasons.
Monster Hunter G
Lobbies: 10-player Towns.
This is partially accurate to the original server. The original server had towns that could be named by the first player to enter them; these have yet to be fully implemented. The various rank-restricted Areas have yet to be fully implemented as well.
Event schedule: Events are on occasion, with large gaps between events.
This is not accurate to the original server.
Event content: all event-only monsters are accessible.
This is partially accurate to the original server. Many events have yet to be implemented.
Market schedule: the market's prices and inventory rotate daily as such: sale -> normal-> delivery -> normal-> sale -> etc.
This is accurate to the original server.
Other server information: it appears as though Capcom distributed some patches for the game over the network that were stored on the user's memory card. We have yet to find a way to distribute these patches and the changes they made to the game are not fully understood.
Private server bugs:
Players will depart on a quest when the host does, even if they have not yet indicated that they are ready.
This is partially accurate to the original server. The original server had towns that could be named by the first player to enter them; these have yet to be fully implemented. The various rank-restricted Areas have yet to be fully implemented as well.
Event schedule: Events are on occasion, with large gaps between events.
This is not accurate to the original server.
Event content: all event-only monsters are accessible.
This is partially accurate to the original server. Many events have yet to be implemented.
Market schedule: the market's prices and inventory rotate daily as such: sale -> normal-> delivery -> normal-> sale -> etc.
This is accurate to the original server.
Other server information: it appears as though Capcom distributed some patches for the game over the network that were stored on the user's memory card. We have yet to find a way to distribute these patches and the changes they made to the game are not fully understood.
Private server bugs:
Players will depart on a quest when the host does, even if they have not yet indicated that they are ready.
Monster Hunter Dos
Lobbies: 10-player Groups.
This is partially accurate to the original server. The original server had some Groups that could be named by the first player to enter them; these have yet to be fully implemented. Task Groups, which were 4-player Groups that could be given a password, also have yet to be implemented.
Event schedule: three event quests are available at a time, and events rotate daily.
This is not accurate to the original server, which had two events rotate every two days originally, and then switched to three events that rotate every three days after a certain time. Events on the original server were only accessible from 12:00 to 28:00 Japan time, however on our server events are accessible 24 hours a day.
Event content: all event-only monsters are accessible.
This is near accurate to the original server. Some events have yet to be implemented.
Market schedule: shop prices and inventory rotate daily as such: festival -> normal-> delivery -> normal-> delivery-> normal -> delivery -> normal -> festival -> etc.
This is accurate to the original server.
Season cycle: the season changes every 25 hours. The time of day changes every 50 minutes.
This is accurate to the original server.
Grand Tournament: the 1v1 player-versus-player mode works as intended and is fully accessible.
This is almost accurate to the original server. 2v2 has yet to be implemented.
Town/Fortress Sieges: Town and Fortress Sieges work as intended. All siege-only monsters are fully accessible.
This is accurate to the original server.
Other server information: it appears as though Capcom distributed some patches for the game over the network that were stored on the user's memory card. We have yet to find a way to distribute these patches and the changes they made to the game are not fully understood; all we know so far is that the patch allowed the Tool Shop in Dundorma to sell Tranquilizers, which it does not do normally.
Private server bugs:
Players will depart on a quest when the host does, even if they have not yet indicated that they are ready.
Players will sometimes be met with a message about "monster feed" that will freeze their game until they restart; it is unknown what causes this.
Cutscenes are supposed as players enter the Town Gate at the beginning and end of a Town Siege. They do not play properly, for unknown reasons.
Players on disc will often disconnect when playing in a party of four, but this is inconsistent.
This is partially accurate to the original server. The original server had some Groups that could be named by the first player to enter them; these have yet to be fully implemented. Task Groups, which were 4-player Groups that could be given a password, also have yet to be implemented.
Event schedule: three event quests are available at a time, and events rotate daily.
This is not accurate to the original server, which had two events rotate every two days originally, and then switched to three events that rotate every three days after a certain time. Events on the original server were only accessible from 12:00 to 28:00 Japan time, however on our server events are accessible 24 hours a day.
Event content: all event-only monsters are accessible.
This is near accurate to the original server. Some events have yet to be implemented.
Market schedule: shop prices and inventory rotate daily as such: festival -> normal-> delivery -> normal-> delivery-> normal -> delivery -> normal -> festival -> etc.
This is accurate to the original server.
Season cycle: the season changes every 25 hours. The time of day changes every 50 minutes.
This is accurate to the original server.
Grand Tournament: the 1v1 player-versus-player mode works as intended and is fully accessible.
This is almost accurate to the original server. 2v2 has yet to be implemented.
Town/Fortress Sieges: Town and Fortress Sieges work as intended. All siege-only monsters are fully accessible.
This is accurate to the original server.
Other server information: it appears as though Capcom distributed some patches for the game over the network that were stored on the user's memory card. We have yet to find a way to distribute these patches and the changes they made to the game are not fully understood; all we know so far is that the patch allowed the Tool Shop in Dundorma to sell Tranquilizers, which it does not do normally.
Private server bugs:
Players will depart on a quest when the host does, even if they have not yet indicated that they are ready.
Players will sometimes be met with a message about "monster feed" that will freeze their game until they restart; it is unknown what causes this.
Cutscenes are supposed as players enter the Town Gate at the beginning and end of a Town Siege. They do not play properly, for unknown reasons.
Players on disc will often disconnect when playing in a party of four, but this is inconsistent.
Happy hunting, and welcome to the world of Monster Hunter!
