problems networking Medal of honor games with xp

trying to hookup 2 laptops, each running windows xp. going on a long
trip, so we just want to use a crossover cable in the car. we can get
the 2 laptops to exchange files, but we cant get the medal of honor
games to work..they will say "no server found" when the 2nd person
tries to enter a game. here are the setting we are using on the local
area connection:

internet protocol (tcp/ip):

laptop 1
ip address 10.0.0.1
subnet mask 255.255.255.0
default gateway is blank

preferred dns server and alternate dns server is blank

laptop 2
ip address 10.0.0.2
subnet mask 255.255.255.0
default gateway 10.0.0.1

preferred dns server 10.0.0.1
alternate dns server is blank

we've tried leaving the default gateway blank on laptop 2 along with
the preferred dns server..nothing seems to work..
anyone have any ideas?