I think I might have posted this a while ago, but probably on page 10 of some random thread.

With the addition HTTP Download proxy servers, server admins were able to throw custom maps in their rotations and allow players to download them quickly and with no cost to the server's performance. This is a great feature, but it's prettymuch restricted to the biggest servers right now, since it requires a powerfull web server ontop of a dedicated game server (and if it's done properly, they should be completely isolated).

There are plenty of websites and servers out there like dodmaps, 1dod and kustom kettle that provide map hosting, I think it would be a great boost to the custom community if some of those monster sites decided to publish their proxy URLs. We could create a list of URLs and hosts, then small-time server admins could be free to throw custom maps in their rotations.

When players join a server and download a custom map off your proxy, they'll have your banner.gif displayed (that finally works :)) so it won't be pure bandwidth piracy. They'd see they're getting their maps from "Kustom Kettle.com" or "1DoD.com" and maybe visit your site afterwards.

If you wish to controll the exchange of your server information, maybe we could start with a contacts list, you could set your own quota.

Not a chance . . .

The downloads ARE a hit to the server performance, unless they are done off separate servers. On the KK, they are delivered by the same server that hosts the games.

Also, our servers have limited monthly bandwidth, so making our URL's public would most defiantly exceed our monthly allotments and lead to additional charges.

Your idea is noble, but imagine if EVERY DoD server decided to use our URL's. The KK averages about 300 GB a month for files transferred via auto-download. Factor that by the roughly 150 "Active" dod servers. That would be 37.5 Terabytes.

The combined minimum costs to support those downloads would be roughly $1500 a month. That is the cost of thirty two, $49, dedicated web servers, each with 1200 GB per month allotments.

Whether its auto-download, or map installers, hosting and running custom maps requires tremendous amounts of bandwidth and resources. And what many people don't realize
is that many of those "NEW" servers out there running custom maps will most likely NOT be there once their "Unlimited" bandwidth web host finds out they've used 1000 GB of bandwidth for file downloads . . .



:rolleyes:

unfortunately, that is the case.....what would be cool if we could setup a service that allows server admins to donate a certain amount per month for the proxy URL....but organising such a thing would be a pain, and getting interest would be hard!

Originally posted by swordzkof
Also, our servers have limited monthly bandwidth, so making our URL's public would most defiantly exceed our monthly allotments and lead to additional charges.


Totally agreed.

Most people don't understand the cost of webservers.

btw ... It's traffic not bandwidth that is the real cost killer :D bandwidth is set by the provider, the provider charges monthly for traffic.

If you wish to help pay above and beyond what I pay for my site and servers, maybe, just maybe. Of course the majority of them would never pay or "forget" to donate. It is hard to get anyone to donate to your site or server, as there are hundreds of "free" servers out there. What will all these people do when the few of us who pay for and maintain these "free" servers pull the plug?

It would undoubtedly be that a few server ops would foot the bill for a lot of server ops to get some free file hosting.

All that planning and coordination to get it going would fall apart like a Chinese motorcycle as soon as the majority bail out after 30 days.

Originally posted by (4THIDUSA) SSG
What will all these people do when the few of us who pay for and maintain these "free" servers pull the plug?

There will always be someone like me and you to foot the bill ;)

I'm having some nice disscussion about this on my server the past few days. People can't belive how much the servers can cost. Oh ... and someone always knows of a cheaper provider as well ... ;)

Most people are young male players, thay are poor, mostly students or at school. The rest have no reason to pay when they can go elsewhere.

I have one regular donator (maybe two, depends if he's serious or not) to my server and I thank him for doing that.

Why do I do it ... because I love playing DoD.

*tips his hat to you*

If it wasn't for the PayPal button on my website and all the generous players out there, things would probably be more trouble then it is worth.;)

Having a well run and strict game server environment helps weed out the immature crowd. Not saying it is all of them, the majority of the immature crowd is full of young punks that have nothing to contribute to the server community but l33t skillz and run their mouths.

I hate to say this, but I've found that having mostly an older crowd at my server has produced the most amount of financial contributions as well as a higher quality gaming environment.

These people, I guess, know what it is to work for a living, cut the grass, put food on the table, make car payments, etc. They better understand that us server admins usually do the same dreary day-in day-out stuff they do and THEN have to admin servers, pay for them, and keep them up to date.

Their sympathies seem to help bank roll things better than the younger guys who are leeching off their parents.:p

Amen, Brother Mike, then they ask for more stuff, stats and more maps and then less maps and more, well you guys know the deal