Expanding into Game Hosting

[Presage_Reg]

I am considering expanding into hosting game servers. Can anyone point me to a good resource that would help me determine what types of servers I would need and how to set them up for various game accounts?

Any help or tips would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[tranz]

As far as I have found there is no one single point for the information that you seek.

Also, if you are not an avid gamer then it is hard to understand the industry and what gamers need. it isnt as easy as just tossing up a few servers and selling slots.

Most of the gamers will be kids and thus have no time for downtime. Your phone will ring INSTANTLY.

Also each server that you are looking to deploy will need anywhere from 300 to 500G per month in transfer.

If you dont play games already i would suggest you start. This will give you a better understanding as to what is needed and some of the in-game play that is disrupted by a slow server or slow connections.

Each server should be at least a P4 2.6GHz with a min of 2G of ram and a 60G Serial ATA drive. This is not the rule but just a small base to work from. The different games also would require different server configurations as they would require more power for the game itself.

[DHCory]

You will also need to decide which games you will host, and what platform to host them on.

Alot of the more recent games have linux server software. Some do not. Some games nativly allow more than one game server per system, other do not. If they don't, you'll need to find some manner of running multiple servers for that game.

[Presage_Reg]

Thanks for the info. I am an avid gamer. I have been playing since the time of the first Duke Nukem...lol. Played Shadow Warrior, Half-Life, Day of Defeat, and on and on...

So I am fairly well versed in what the needs are. I will probably aim towards hosting in Linux/Unix. That way I can offer lower cost with much better stability.

Thanks again.

[Robert]

Everyone keeps telling me I should expand into the gaming hosting section, but that would mean I have to deal with minors and I don't think I really want to.

[tranz]

We are starting a new division that deals with game servers. We will run the servers and the games and they pay for slots.

We can just treat them like anyother client to a point.

[Presage_Reg]

I also have heard that OGL is doing the hosting with slots as well. I don't know too much about this type of hosting, but if my suspicions are correct, it will meet with very limited success. Most clans (gaming groups) prefer to have control of their section of the server. Thus they can add mods etc., to the game as they see fit. The slot rentals may allow this, but it doesn't sound like it.

In any case, I'll be watching/reading this new type of hosting with some interest.

Thanks.

[tranz]

we will also be using our blades as VPS solutions so people can do what they wish. Most companies that offer slots, on the order form or config form allow the main buyer such as a leader of a clan to select the options that they want for their server. They are then given access to the game server itself in order to make changes.