Poll: Official Multiplayer Game Server

Lormax · #1 February 14th, 2007, 07:59 PM

Put em up Velusion, or email me lormax23@yahoo.com. Windows it the only OS I know personally. I'll get a server started ASAP if there's enough community need for it. I'll bet the only thing the comp will really need is a memory boost. I've got enough spare other "things" (monitor, etc) laying around to get it setup.

Gandalf Parker · #2 February 14th, 2007, 08:18 PM

I have mine set up on KVM switches. Thats a Keyboard/Video/Mouse switch. It lets me keep both boxes running side by side and when I need to work on box two I just throw the switch. My keyboard, monitor, and mouse work on whichever machine the switch is pointing to.

Micah · #3 February 14th, 2007, 10:09 PM

Velusion's been doing a remarkable job hosting, there have only been a couple of issues between the 2 games I'm in, and all of those were confined to the first 2-3 turns of the second game...plus he's evidently got a shred of decency since he's keeping the servers up after getting knocked out. (seriously, I thought leaving and taking your ball with you stopped around kindergarten, I don't want to believe people would drop the server just because they got knocked out, but I'm sure its happened)

He's also got an automatic email generation upon hosting, so I don't have to obsessively check the server for my turn. I don't think we'd need an Illwinter server if everyone took a cue from him though. Excellent job (as I've mentioned to him before now)

Velusion · #4 February 15th, 2007, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Lormax said:
Put em up Velusion, or email me lormax23@yahoo.com. Windows it the only OS I know personally. I'll get a server started ASAP if there's enough community need for it. I'll bet the only thing the comp will really need is a memory boost. I've got enough spare other "things" (monitor, etc) laying around to get it setup.

I'm working on it now. I'll post the draft in the forum when its complete.

Ygorl · #5 February 16th, 2007, 12:26 AM

Esben Mose Hansen was running 15 TCP games on an old (400 MHz?) Linux box - with a nifty web interface for administering the games!
If someone's serious about this, it might be worth looking him up and seeing if you can get the code from him. The web server was pretty slick. There were also places where it could have been improved on, rendering it even slicker...

Gandalf Parker · #6 February 16th, 2007, 10:44 PM

His code was made available to us, and a full set of instructions for running it, early on in the conversation about an official server.
Esben Mose Hansen Dom2 Server

Tyrant · #7 February 17th, 2007, 04:10 PM

Personally, between Gandalf, Dr. P and Graeme Dice, I've been able to get my fix just fine. But games on the forum fill up really, really fast. Like, last time i signed up 4 slots were taken while i was writing my join-up post! So i'm thinking it's prety clear that lack of games is limiting the growth of the community and it would be worth Shrapnel's time and money to do some hosting. I also worry that noobs who join a game and get clobbered and then can't find another one quick enough will give up the game.

Meglobob · #8 February 17th, 2007, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Tyrant said:
I also worry that noobs who join a game and get clobbered and then can't find another one quick enough will give up the game.

Yes, I agree with this. New players are very vulnerable to being overrun early and becoming disillusioned with the game. The number of mistakes I have made in MP are huge and the late game in particular takes some getting used too. More beginner only games are definately a must, otherwise the community will not grow.

Gandalf Parker · #9 February 17th, 2007, 11:50 PM

There is also a disadvantage that with so few games, there is a higher chance that an expert will be in each game. That doesnt necessarily help newbies gain interest either.

But I dont think that anyone is arguing the need for more servers. Im not sure that we can justify extensive cost layout for one by Shrapnel. Would an extensive web signup system increase interest? Probably. Would it generate new sales? Possibly. Enough to cover the cost and slightly beyond? I dont know.

And how many games would it need to be? If it ran 10 games then that could fill up in a couple of days. And those games could run for months. 10 new games every couple of days? or every week? Even if it were 10 new games a month with all of the nations in an era, then that could end up being alot of games and alot of computer power and alot of administration.

We all agree that we want it. But its not simple after that.

Maltrease · #10 February 18th, 2007, 11:05 AM

How many copies of Dominions have been sold? Maybe take $.25 from each copy and put it towards the server cost, plus the amount people are willing to donate.

Personally I can't handle more then 2-3 games at a time. Sure when they are first starting out I'd love to play 10. But once you are spending 15-45 minutes a turn... that becomes a big commitment. Which then leads to abandonment or sloppy play.

Actually that is something that should be strongly conveyed to new players. I bet this "mistake" has been made by most people... I know it got me in a bit of trouble with Dom2.

I think Esbens base code is a great way to go. If the sever can give the game owners the ability to restart games, do all settings, perhaps even some file manipulation to remove a corrupt turn submission then it can be mostly self managed.