Need server host for alpha testing

just some advice.

dont start your web site with philosphical ramblings, then spend literly less then 10% of the work spent on those ramblings on your game description. this "story" does not even seem to have something in common with the game (aside that it contains two entities in a struggle).

instead have the start page show a pic of the game, and a short ramble (a few sentences). then onto a page with a menu and info on the game. the menu will allow the user to choose to read the story (i am assuming the main page ramble), gameplay mechanics (the second page you created), screen shots page (if you want), current progression of the game (ie features implemented, state of half implemented stuff, things being worked, a wishlist of features (things that probably will make later revisions, but most liklky not till a few versions)).

from looking at the page i was left confused, especially sine the "download here" text was not even a link so there was no way to download the game to try it out. NOONE will run a server for an app they cant even test themselves without asking your permission.

i suggest having some friends playing with you running of a regular 56k, or even coaxing some friends to bring their pcs over and create a lan for testing. if you have old pcs, you could just use those to test (granted this is a poor way to stress test code, but better then hoping for a nice guy to lend you some server time).

plus it seems your web server is running of a cable/dsl line already controlled by you. being that its your (or a friends) connection, why not use that? you can then test with ppl you know and get better (also quicker) feedback.

also you should give engine stats and better direction of the game since you are hoping to aquire others to help. from what is saw, i see that the project has no direction aside from being an internet game with ppl shooting each other with a world that contains destroyable/creatable terrain. specify things like what the engine currently handles, what language you are using, platform (though it seems you are doing windows since that is what the server requires), features, storyline (if applicable), requirments in the art/music/sound departments, etc. ppl dont want to wade through a philosphical rant on good vs evil and how things work. they want concrete details on the game itself.

dont take what i said the wrong way. you are trying, just seem to be slightly misguided. view some other web sites to see good design tips (especially for games not yet released or going through public beta testing like what you are trying to do).

"dont start your web site with philosphical ramblings, then spend literly less then 10% of the work spent on those ramblings on your game description. this "story" does not even seem to have something in common with the game (aside that it contains two entities in a struggle)."

The ramblings are a quote from the Summa Theologica talking about the question of Dualism, that is, if there is a good god and a bad god who constantly struggle. It is a joke, the point is that there is this huge argument about how there is only a good god, then I say thats where he was wrong, since the game is about good vs. bad. However, the game name and plot is itself a joke, as it has absolutely nothing to do with the gameplay. It is a parody of the whole concept of putting a story in a game.

"from looking at the page i was left confused, especially sine the "download here" text was not even a link so there was no way to download the game to try it out. NOONE will run a server for an app they cant even test themselves without asking your permission."

I was originally going to put a link to the game there, but I haven''t because of this server scenario. The old executable that I was going to link was really only good for LAN games. I have a modified .exe of that which will work on the internet, but that is dependant on what dedicated server I can use. I have a dedicated server program for windows that works, but the only dedicated server I personally have acsess to is Linux, which is why there is a post here.

"i suggest having some friends playing with you running of a regular 56k, or even coaxing some friends to bring their pcs over and create a lan for testing. if you have old pcs, you could just use those to test (granted this is a poor way to stress test code, but better then hoping for a nice guy to lend you some server time)."

My LAN here has some problems which is preventing me from testing it here. I actually am very curious about the whole dedicated server scene. There seems to be a lot of independantly run dedicateds for a lot of games everywhere, even with T3 connections. It seems to me that a lot of people just do it because they can. I am not sure about what the usual setup is for it, what type of people usually do it and why, so thats why I asked here.

"
plus it seems your web server is running of a cable/dsl line already controlled by you. being that its your (or a friends) connection, why not use that? you can then test with ppl you know and get better (also quicker) feedback."

Well the main thing I wanted to do with this test is play it myself and with one other person, and not really have a lot of people playing it. The reason for this is that at this point I need to be able to change the clients constantly and quickly, and it would be very inconvient for everyone to have to redistribute a lot of clients.

"from what is saw, i see that the project has no direction aside from being an internet game with ppl shooting each other with a world that contains destroyable/creatable terrain. specify things like what the engine currently handles, what language you are using, platform (though it seems you are doing windows since that is what the server requires), features, storyline (if applicable), requirments in the art/music/sound departments, etc. ppl dont want to wade through a philosphical rant on good vs evil and how things work. they want concrete details on the game itself."

Actually this is not the real project, this is a promotional mini game, to attract attention to the development of my main game. It shows the basics of my game design philosophy (ie. pure gameplay focus with no story, innovation, arcade action), and helps with technical tests of the engine. Its not supposed to be public at this point yet, but I was forced to post this because of my server issues.