Best Type of Multiuser Server?

[09op]

Hi,

I've had 2 years in Flash. I've made a lot of small MMOG's, I wanted to know, what would be the best type of server? An .ASP one, A PHP Socket Server? And I've used Smartfox before but I want my game online, and for one of these servers will it cost money?

[gparis]

Moved to Games. You'll get better luck here.

gparis

[AluminX]

Hi,

I've had 2 years in Flash. I've made a lot of small MMOG's, I wanted to know, what would be the best type of server? An .ASP one, A PHP Socket Server? And I've used Smartfox before but I want my game online, and for one of these servers will it cost money?

Servers always cost money!

[09op]

I don't think to make you're own socket server (simaler to Penguin Chat) it costs money.

[AluminX]

Not sure what penguin chat is but if you are looking for a server to run your multiplayer game than you have only 3 reasonable options.

1) Web Host: these you can probably get a good one for free, however you will be limited to a polling application and not a socket one. In order to run a server semi efficient an application such as php or java needs to run as a deamon( in the background ). As far as I know, web hosts don't let you do that. Unless ofcourse you don't mind starting the socket application from your browser and leaving your computer on forever. Ofcourse these free services limit you will a crappy CPU load and bandwidth that would be consumed faster than your game can say "Welcome to my mmo game".

2) Virtual Private Servers: these are awesome if you don't expect more than 1k - 10k users per month, depending on how much you'll willing to shell out. These services can run between 40bux per month to couple of hundreds dollards.

3) Dedicated Servers. This is the mother load. Your own server, you get full accesses and do whatever you what with it. These usually run between 200 to well 5000 dollars or more depending on the configuration.

Regadless on what your needs are. If you are going to make your game accessible to more than 10 players at the same time, you will need a server that you will have to pay money.

Free alternatives? Make your game to poll php and not via sockets. Or just host it in your computer and let your friends test it out. If you feel that your game is good enough than I think you should buy a VPS.

Hope this helps.

[Incrue]

'penguin chat'...it must be club penguin...
smartFox server handles it

[09op]

Penguin Chat is the old Club Penguin from 2003. And it used PHP socket servers.

[jobemjobem]

I'm replying a bit late on this. But yes, I believe the original penguin chat off of the rocket snail site used PHP servers. You could hear the page poll/refresh about once a second or so.

PHP is considered fairly easy to work with. Unfortunately it will not scale well if you have a popular game/chat/world. For scalability you'll need to use a socket server instead of PHP.

I've programmed more than 50 multiplayer games and worked on about 10 virtual worlds through my company in the last 9 years. We use our own product, ElectroServer (www.electrotank.com and www.electro-server.com).

There is also a free server out there but it is meant more for a/v streaming than gaming. That is Red5 server.

Good luck with your project.

[.hooligan]

I find that ElectroServer has been the best for me and I hear ES5 is coming out soon

[captainfoo]

I have been a bit involved with Smuck, a multiuser flash toolkit. You script the server using EcmaScript (very similar to AS3) and there are drag-and-drop components for lobby, chat, players etc. It's totally free to use, and even server hosting is free for any number of players. Find more info and download the toolkit at www.spogg.com/developer

Good luck with your project!

[Rifts1103]

you can use smartfoxserver online

[09op]

I currently use Smartfox Server but I want to develop my own server for free.