You've probably read it already, GameSpy is shutting down its multiplayers services in June 30, according to their website. This means several dozens of games will have limited or any multiplayer functionality, including Battlefield 1942 (BF1942). Specifically, Battlefield 1942 in-game browser will stop to work after June 30 and there will be no CD-key validation anymore. This will have a negative impact on all BF1942 players, since most use the in-game browser to connect to servers and also due to a code error, the game will freeze when they reach in-game browser after GameSpy is down.

What you have to do, as a player, is replace your BF1942 executable with a patched one, which has master.gamespy.com server replaced with master.bf1942.sk and several other fixes included. If you have BF1942 CD-based (Retail) version installed you need to download this zip package:

Battlefield 1942 v1.61 Retail patched

In case, you have BF1942 downloaded from Origin, you have to get this zip package:

Battlefield 1942 v1.612 Origin patched

Then, you extract that zip package in your game directory, making sure all files are overwritten. Please, read the included simple.txt file which has all installation instructions. After that, you are good to go, and don't have to worry about anything with your BF1942 game, in-game browser will work after May 31. If you wish to update to other BF1942 versions, check http://team-simple.org/download page.

I don't recommend editing your operating system hosts file over replacing BF1942.exe. However, if you want to do so, add this 109.71.69.254 master.gamespy.com to your hosts file in:

Windows 95, 98 and Me C:\Windows\hosts
Windows NT and 2000 C:\WinNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
Unix, Unix-like and Mac OS X /etc/hosts

Please, spread this with all BF1942 players as much as you can, so everyone can be ready for the change and aren't affected by it.

For further information:
http://forum.bf1942.sk/gamespy