dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

Basically I am wondering if there is likely to be a dedicated server released for dom2 ever?

What I would most like to see in a dedicated server for this game would be to:
A> have it minimize to the system tray rather than the task bar (windows)
B> Be a standalone server only product not requiring the rest of the game code. (console mode is fine)
C> be able to have it host multiple games simultaneously.
D> Allow people to start a new game as long as it's below the max # of games and set a password for the game and if the game doesn't gen a turn in X time free the slot again for someone else.
E> Allow it to gen turns automatically either when all players have completed thier turns or at a specific time. (possibly already available in current Version)
F> feel free to add something here and beyond http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

BTW: The main reason I bring this up is because I tend to run my system 24/7 on a stable broadband line and if there was such a program I would be inclined to leave such a server running on it in the background http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ January 17, 2004, 16:31: Message edited by: DimmurWyrd ]

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

I asked for about the same as you did but a linux Version. The tcpip thing is too big to run a bunch of copies of. I was hoping for a standalone with all the game-part stripped out which would just handle the password/upload/download stuff. They didnt like mine but most of the answer was around not wanting to maintain more than one program at this time.

Ive been meaning to play with bringing the game up on a port but not telling it a game. Seeing how much of the menu can be used that way (such as choosing from multiple games)

Ive been messing around with a web-based game manager idea. Seems like all the pieces are ironed out for a system where each game would have its own mailbox/web-space. The webspace could support turn pickup and dropoff and passwords. That way the processing could all be done by "host-and-quit" which means you could run hundreds of games as long as you processed each one at different times

[ January 17, 2004, 16:46: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

AH! does dom support that then? like Stars! perhaps? I used to have some fair scripts for that lol... but that was years and several HD's ago :/ i.e. can you host from the command line (on windows too or just linux?) if you can host from command line then making my own front-end probably wouldn't be all that painful... Would force people to send the file manually however. but running an FTP is no hardship.

Any information on hosting via command line would be greatly appreciated http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif (if it's in the manual I guess I'll just wait til my spiffy new copy arrives whenever they get more in hehe.)

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

Theres a file in the doc directory covering the command line switches. And a number of threads on it also. Yes there are excellent options for non-interactive processing.

As someone else pointed out it should be fairly easy to create something like a PHP form that will pick up game files. And if the turns are tossed into a web directory they could easily be clicked for download with a browser.

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

I know nothing about HTML or anything related to it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif I'm still stuck in the prehistory of programming lol. Not really I use VB 6 (got .NET but not sure I want to install it after the horror stories.) so I only do casual coding for personal or friendly use. I'm sure I have a web server somewhere since it seems to come with so many windows packages anymore.

BTW my ISP provides NO webspace just a nice ADSL feed... 512k/512k (seperate BW up and down so uploads barely affect downloads except for ack's)

basically with VB it's a nobrainer to make a frontend really. any 5-year old today could probably do it lol. Sadly I've neglected my skills for a very long time and the only way I could have the program handle transfers directly would be to make a client/server style app since I don't know how to emulate standard protocols.

hehe probably should get a friend to do it in java http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

Well Ive been doing alot with maps and things and Im using YABasic, a text basic with no GUI (graphic/nousy interface). I use that because it runs on both Linux and Windows. Ive posted my codes before. It would run in your VB tho yours wont run in mine.

I havent really done anything yet along the line of a game server. I have a grasp on its parts, I just havent done it.

I dont think Id want to run a web server on a windows machine but if you do develp something then a server can be found for you. Mine for Linux or Shrapnels for Windows.

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

Hey Gandalf, why not use XBasic .. runs on Linux and Windows and come with GUI support and -builder all inclusive .. for free, o.c. .

Have it on my machine, but never could convince myself not to play DOM or work on maps but to get into programming again http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

A.

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Hmm, perhaps we should make a bad-patch that makes the game bad enough that you would return to your duties and make us some server tools and new maps http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Interesting... I do kinda miss pure text mode programming http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif (but not that much lol) I started with turbo basic v1.0 about the same time with quickbasic v1.0 (compilers did basica before that)

The more I think the more it seems that only a client/server system would really be effective (would bypass needing an FTP or web interface I guess) but would require players to keep another program around and would limit this to windows only players and I don't really like that idea.

AH! ok... just thought of it... now I need to figure out how to do the web interface (or hopefully get someone who knows what they are doing to work with me on it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif hmmm, should use the web interface to submit files as well... probably needs java for that right? and if you use java could just make a file from a "poll" type questionaire thing for game options? then the "frontend" just scans the proper folder for new .GAME files, processes em makes a folder for the turns and such then sends a file for the web site to place in the "current games" table? sound possible?(without too much work that is hehe)

hmmm, sounds like it might be more work than it's worth but who knows. So far as I can tell with that kind of java interface the rest is a breaze. even without It's still no problem so long as a person can submit or download files through the same basic system. i.e. I could have it easily just use FTP for both ends upload/download but is that really convenient enough for most? can still use the same .GAME file just have to make it manually hehe. kinda klunky but only way to have a frontend by me be useable multi-platform sorry to say.

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I tried XBasic. Have it on my machine still. But I dont like like putting GUI's on my linux servers. And YABasic was more like what I was used to.

The only thing that might have me consider another at this point would be something that can create an EXE that WIndows Users can use.

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

To DimmurWyrd or anyone else interested in the subject of a server, here is some info which has gone before.

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...4;t=000088;p=1

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...=000229#000009

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...220;p=3#000039

There is another I thnk where someone mentioned a PHP CGi could be made to allow drag-n-drop. Or even a 1-button pickup since the path, directory and file name would always be the same. That bit is the only part I havent got a working plan for but apparently there are examples available Online.

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

ok, reading those back threads now... however one thing might make things infinitely easy on me.

Right now the hosting through commandline frontend would take me about 30-40 minutes roughly for a single game Version and probably another 30-40 to give it near-infinite game capacity. It's just that easy with VB. The holdup is being able to send/recieve files to an appropriate directory and the ability to setup a game both via the web. basically it would work fine doing it all through FTP and a game options file to create a new game. but that would leave less compliterates out. Not to mention you need the web interface to get most people interested/aware.

In other words we desperately need someone who is good at working with web based DB's hehe. I have no idea what can be done in VBScript as I've never tried. It's an option at compile time but how it affects the display and such I just don't know.

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

The RyanZA guy on here gave me a great link to
http://www.php.net/manual/en/features.file-upload.php
which does seem to answer that. I havent played with it yet but I was hoping that it might be modified to do just one thing. Such as...
If the game is called Game123 and had Man as one of the players then there could be a Game123/man.html which offers a clickable link to upload C:\Progra~1\dominions2\Game123\man.2h and it could offer a link to download Man.trn

[ January 19, 2004, 17:18: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

ok, looking into that while finishing the SP launcher.

Re: dom 2 dedicated server proggie?
 

erp! probably does what is needed but I'd have to learn HTML and PHP to use it hehe... a project for a time when I have that much lol.