Game servers

[pontifex]

Would it be worth it for a single person to rent a game server? I mean, not a server used for a clan and it would be a public server so anyone could play on it.

I was thinking about getting a small CoD4 server. I'd rather get a 10-12 man server but no one seems to rent those. I saw a 16 man server and its almost $24 a month. While thats not really a whole lot of money in general, its a good bit for me. I'd probably be fine with $10 a month or maybe $15 at max, but it doesn't seem possible.

Would people come and play on it? I'd obviously let you guys know what it is you'd be more than welcome to play on it.

I've never run a server before either, so I don't know how much is involved in setting it up and everything.

 

[imported_Imp]

Hate to burst your bubble, but there's a pretty big chance your server will turn into one of those empty ones at the bottom of the browser. Most people seem to flock to the biggest servers so you may be better off spending that $10 a month on bottle rockets.

 

[jjj807]

yeah its not worth it unless you have a clan or have a group of players who will always play there. Small servers are unpopular.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: jjj807
yeah its not worth it unless you have a clan or have a group of players who will always play there. Small servers are unpopular.

the thing is though, with CoD4, it seems meant for smaller groups of players.

but yeah, without regular players it probably won't do well.

 

[BladeVenom]

Originally posted by: pontifex
I've never run a server before either, so I don't know how much is involved in setting it up and everything.

Does anyone know of a server rating site for game servers? Or what would be a good resource for those who haven't set up a dedicated server before.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Would your server be empty? That depends on how many people there are per server and whether or not you have friends who play the game (who can help get traffic going on the server).

I managed a somewhat successful UT99 CTF server for a popular community back in the day, so I think I have some insight into this. Anyone remember the TheGamebox.net servers? The CTF-2 custom map server was my baby . If you don't mind my asking:

* Why do you want to own and manage a server? What do you hope to accomplish?

* Are you sure you're ready for all of the headaches that go along with managing a server?

* What will you do differently from other competing servers? What will you do to make playing on your server more fun? Why do you think you can do that better than the competition?

* How will you bring those first couple players to the server and hold their attention? How will you attain the critical mass of players needed to move your server up in a list of servers organized by number of players (so that other people will see it and join it)? How will you do that continuously for a month or so? (Helps to have friends or clanmates.)

* Are you prepared to get a website and set up a discussion forum?

* What kind of player conduct will be bannable? How will you deal with folks who make racist and hateful comments on your server, etc.?

Are you starting to get the feeling that you could very well end up spending more time managing the server than you will enjoying the game (and playing on your server)? When you go to play on your server, you're not merely a player anymore, you're also the policeman and the complaints and suggestions department.

 

[MyThirdEye]

I've rented from GameServers before for a CSS server. The server was good, the customer service was top of the line; couldn't of been better.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

* Why do you want to own and manage a server? What do you hope to accomplish?
So I can set it up the way I want to play the game.

* Are you sure you're ready for all of the headaches that go along with managing a server?
No idea what they are.


* What will you do differently from other competing servers?
Hopefully offer settings that other people like.

* What will you do to make playing on your server more fun?
Hopefully offer settings that other people like.

* Why do you think you can do that better than the competition?
I haven't found a server that I completely like how its set up.


* How will you bring those first couple players to the server and hold their attention?
No idea

* How will you attain the critical mass of players needed to move your server up in a list of servers organized by number of players (so that other people will see it and join it)?
Don't really care if its top of the lsit or whatever as long as people play it. i don't think it matetrs as long as there is the filter. people can filter by name, ping, players, map etc.

* How will you do that continuously for a month or so? (Helps to have friends or clanmates.)
No idea. Hopefully people like the settings and come play,

* Are you prepared to get a website and set up a discussion forum?
no. I'm not running a clan. if you don't like the way its set up, don't play.

* What kind of player conduct will be bannable? How will you deal with folks who make racist and hateful comments on your server, etc.?
Cheating, continued racist or hateful remarks. warn, kick, ban.

Are you starting to get the feeling that you could very well end up spending more time managing the server than you will enjoying the game (and playing on your server)? When you go to play on your server, you're not merely a player anymore, you're also the policeman and the complaints and suggestions department.

I just want to create a place to play the game with settings I like and hopefully other people will like them as well.

It's not going to happen though because servers are too expensive.