Some questions on servers like HomeLan and MTCO
by Ichidan · in General Discussion · 06/15/2003 (4:23 pm) · 6 replies
My team is working on an online snooker game, in beta test stage now ( www.thesnookerclub.com ), and currently we use one of our computers to run the Server Application, and allow others to connect to it. This works great, except that we don't think it'll be a good idea to use our home computer to run the server 24/7 when we go online officially (i.e. Power outages, Too noisy, computer is used for other work/vulnerable to crashing).
I think something like HomeLan and MTCO (The Server companies that host many ThinkTank rooms/games) are what we need. But not sure what type of package we should get, and whether they provide an easy means to upload our server application (runs on Windows XP), and remotely execute the application/modify etc. In short we're newbies to this sort of thing, and would appreciate any help/guidance fellow forumers on GarageGames have to offer on this matter.
We're also thinking about using the Torque Game Engine in the near future, and hopefully even make contribution to the engine to help out fellow Indy Developers.
I think something like HomeLan and MTCO (The Server companies that host many ThinkTank rooms/games) are what we need. But not sure what type of package we should get, and whether they provide an easy means to upload our server application (runs on Windows XP), and remotely execute the application/modify etc. In short we're newbies to this sort of thing, and would appreciate any help/guidance fellow forumers on GarageGames have to offer on this matter.
We're also thinking about using the Torque Game Engine in the near future, and hopefully even make contribution to the engine to help out fellow Indy Developers.
#2
Thanks Jeff.
Alex
06/17/2003 (3:23 am)
Although the game that me and my group is working on is still a long way off ... I believe that this will really help all indies around. Thanks Jeff.
Alex
#3
06/17/2003 (12:59 pm)
Jeff, something like this would be really cool, ecpecially if it's priced for Indies :)
#4
Ichidan, (while not my exact area of expertise) I wouldn't really run a dedicated server on Windows XP, I'd prefer a more stable version of windows at the very least, or a linux server. Which I believe is what BraveTree is running.
Sebastien Bourgon
TheAce-MGO
Max Gaming Online
06/17/2003 (2:49 pm)
MTCO is actually Max Gaming Technologies (MGT) and yes we're hosting some ThinkTank servers and rooms. Our website is www.maxgaming.net,we're also the main GarageGames irc server. I'm not high enough up on the corporate ladder as it were to be privy to details on the package BraveTree got. I do believe that they are only running Linux servers, although a Win2k server is probally also in use. Ichidan, (while not my exact area of expertise) I wouldn't really run a dedicated server on Windows XP, I'd prefer a more stable version of windows at the very least, or a linux server. Which I believe is what BraveTree is running.
Sebastien Bourgon
TheAce-MGO
Max Gaming Online
#5
Our server needs, I think are a little different to typical dedicated servers (i.e. for FPS games). As the server doesn't have the simulate a game going on in 3D, it just manages when people log in to the lobby (enter username/password), provides a list of games they can join, routes /msg commands to the appropriate player. But the server does need to be running 24/7, just not in a high performance manner (so the server application functions kinda like Blizzard's Battle.net).
I was actually thinking of developing a library and creating a service for game developers so that they didn't have worry about running dedicated servers. So they just connect to one main dedicated server which hosts 100's of Indy games. The dedicated server just contains lists of accounts & account data for all players that have signed up to the service, and provides a game I.P. look up service. - Each game itself is still hosted on one of the local players' computers. i.e. just like when you play Starcraft. - The dedicated server could be called something like 'Indybattle.net', and would also deal with account registration, purchasing of accounts, and even sending checks back out to players who win money/prizes.
06/19/2003 (4:36 am)
Thanks for the responses guys. Sebastien, I doubt we'll be able to convert our Server application to run on Linux (as it uses MFC, has Windows dialog boxes etc), but it should run on Win2k.Our server needs, I think are a little different to typical dedicated servers (i.e. for FPS games). As the server doesn't have the simulate a game going on in 3D, it just manages when people log in to the lobby (enter username/password), provides a list of games they can join, routes /msg
I was actually thinking of developing a library and creating a service for game developers so that they didn't have worry about running dedicated servers. So they just connect to one main dedicated server which hosts 100's of Indy games. The dedicated server just contains lists of accounts & account data for all players that have signed up to the service, and provides a game I.P. look up service. - Each game itself is still hosted on one of the local players' computers. i.e. just like when you play Starcraft. - The dedicated server could be called something like 'Indybattle.net', and would also deal with account registration, purchasing of accounts, and even sending checks back out to players who win money/prizes.
#6
06/26/2003 (1:40 pm)
Well, we just turned on co-location over at SpeedWorks.com. So you park your box on the line. Plus, I've just released FollowMeIP Pro to remotely track and control windows boxes. I think that about covers what you're looking for. 
Torque Owner Jeff Tunnell
-Jeff Tunnell GG