Master Server

#1 Hey Terry,

Great Question. I think the first thing you need to ask yourself is; How many people do I want to support? Once you know that, it will help guide you and us to help support your question. To help a bit more, ask the guys at Winterleaf Entertainment. These guys all know server/client side like nobody else (in my experience), Especially, Vince Gee, he has created a good server system and a he is a MAJOR LEAGUE knowledgeable person when it comes to supporting and designing Master Servers (WLE has a couple actually).

Hope that helps

Ron

#2 This is something I've been pondering myself. I'm ready to bring my game online almost... and I'm wondering if I should leave GG as the master server? Can I? Will it register? I've always had problems publicly showing master servers for some reason or another, from the days of T1, T2 to other games.

If GG Could support 1000+ people pinging their master server then I see no reason to create my own (That is if I can use theirs). I'm hoping to at least get 40 steady players at the open of my game, and build off of that player community... and my game model centralizes not around one game but building a few different mods, and allowing the community to do their own thing, contribute maps, etc for download. So the player base can go up as other than FPS the genre really doesn't apply to the entire game as a whole... only the first release is an action based... could make jet mods in the game (once seen in Tribes1) or have a revamp of good ol fashioned Tribes Football (A classic if you ask me)

Terry whatever your decision is please keep me in mind, I'd love to piggy back off of your master server if you choose to make it... w/e I can do to cut time and extra steps on the road to making a game :).

P.S. why isn't there a resource that is called "Masterservers 101" ??? I mean I really do think along with an engine that's meant to be played online (for the most part) there should be something that is as simple as masterserver.exe and some small configurations inside of it...

#3

Quote:
I'm wondering if I should leave GG as the master server?

Only for testing. The master server that GG graciously provides should not be used for your release ready game.

#4 @James

Well what kind of Game r u makeing anyway James, I have Desided to setup my own Masterserver and when I get it up Here soon I hope I will let U know and well about getting U access to it Ill get back to U soon about that

Terry

#5 If you're looking into a PHP/MySQL solution, I just got done coding one up for my Multiplayer Assembly Package.

The nice thing about my solution is that the code framework is there that if you need to switch to a different database solution, or even use a different method altogether, you can easily modify the C++ code to compensate. The only not-so-nice thing is that it still has a good portion of the old server query system in it, but hey, if it's working to the needs, why change it?

#6 I think there have been a number of master servers over the years. I think there was even one in Python.

Also, how many people are going to make an MMO, but won't take the effort to write a MMO specific master server...

#7 Just FYI, I'm in the middle of cleaning up the port of the master server for T3D 4.0. Won't be long before it's there

#8 @smally: Looking forward to that.

#9 @Robert, I'll also write you up what I know about the Query format. I just have been running really low on extra time to be able to do a ton. Just having fun with fighting for time :(

#10 @Terry, I'm making a First Person Shooter, it'll be a free to play (only accepting donations, and peoples credit card information ;)+Blank checks :-D).

Hook up with me at lethedethius@gmail.com and we'll talk.

#11 @Robert

Hi I was wondering if U could send me an E-Mail to tbarlow550@gmail.com I was wondering about Master Servers thought maybe U would be the one to ask thanks

Terry

#12 This seems like a relevant place to ask questions about Master Servers, what would you like to know?

#13 @Robert

Well as U know I have been working on trying to get a working master server working, and well I was wondering if U would mind giveing me a hand with it, right now I have the master server C# I belive it is well seems to be running but for some reson the client will not connect to it if we try to que the master server nothing comes up, but if we go to a Command Prompt and load it as a dedicated server it will find the server, so I am thinking there is something worng with the client but not sure what, and also I will like to know what U use for a master server, and get some info on it anyway thanks for the reply.

Terry

#14 I have very little experience in C#, so I wouldn't be much help there. The solution I'm running uses a cURL library addition to T3D that allows me to bypass the broken HTTP/TCP Objects in T3D, from there, I rewrote the existing query system to handle HTTP requests and format PHP output. Lastly, I just coded up a system on my webserver using PHP and MySQL to function as the master server.

#15 @Robert

That sounds kinda cool Im not so stuck on C# right now I am just trying to find something that works so we can move forward so right now I am up for anything that works :) anyway any info U can give me would be great I am working on the TORQUE3D.NET Project and its comeing along just need to get the master server up anyway agian so what ever info U can share would be great

Terry

#16 I Guess I should be asking if anyone has there own working master server up and if so what your useing :) and maybe I can go from there thanks

EDIT: I should also say that I do have a server up I am user the Masterserver C# and it seems to load and when I run the game in server mode it finds it no prob but when I start the client on a diff computer and have it Que the Master server the client will not fine the master server as I stated above :) so if anyone has any thought and if there is a Better Master server out there let me know thanks

Terry

#17 Set up a dedicated server on a different machine at your location. Set up the port forwarding on your router for that game instance and give others your ip address. Alter the Join dialog on the clients to allow users to enter the ip address and they can play on your server.
Some internet hosting services will allow you to run a dedicated server on their machines I would think.

#18 @smally

I was wondering if U have a Master server up, or any info on how to go about it. I am having prob with getting the client to find it the server will find it but not the client, so I am up to try anything thanks.

Terry

#19 @Howard Dortch

I have done that, I made 2 systems so far the master server, and the game dedicated server, but when I load the client up on yet another system it will not see the Master server, but when the server comes up it sees the master server just fine?

Terry