Enjoying a game of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4? Are you one of the 80 million Fortnite players hoping to get another Victory Royale?
Take your video game experience to the next level. Start your own live service or learn how to host a server. This will allow you to apply the Minecraft survival tips you learned before.
Not sure how hosting a server works? Read on and find out more:
Choose the Best Server Hosting Provider
The first thing you need to do is to research on the list of possible providers you can use. These are the guidelines you can use to find the best hosts in the market:
1. Make Sure They Support the Game You Want to Host
If you want to host a certain game, you need to ensure that your host of choice supports the game. The best way to find out is to go to their website and contact them. Each hosting provider has their own scope of support.
At most times, these providers already have one-click install options. This allows your game server to go up as soon as possible. You might want to try AleForge for your Minecraft server — check it out here.
2. Check If the Server Type Supports Your Planned Number of Players
Are you aiming to use the server with a couple of your friends? If so, try getting a server with fewer resources. Otherwise, you need a VPS or a dedicated server to host a multiplayer game with dozens of players.
Check the game of your choice’s official guidelines on the server requirements for specific player sizes. The best way to do this is to contact your potential hosting provider. Always remember that there is no “one size fits all” for game servers since each game has its own set of server requirements.
3. Make Sure They Offer DDoS Protection
Most game servers are common targets for DDoS attacks. If the hosting provider offers protection, put them on top of your list. This isn’t as important if you have the means of properly securing your server on your own.
4. Check the Provider’s Reviews and Uptime
Most gaming server hosts have Twitter accounts. If you want to know what kind of reputation they have, check the reviews they get. A lot of review websites aren’t trustworthy so it’s more important to rely on personal experiences.
Check whether the reviews say they experience downtime. This problem is common for bad game server hosts. Most of these are free hosts, so avoid them and get ones that can give you value with the money you spend.
Free server hosts are accidents waiting to happen. In its most basic sense, free game server providers won’t give you support. They are often stingy with uptime and speed as well, so avoid them when you can.
3. Choose a Server Location Close to Your Players
Are your players from the United States? If so, choose a server located within the country. The most ideal situation is to get a server within the same state as your players.
Most providers will offer web hosting as well, but in most cases, you won’t need it. If you want to host a website for your community, opt for the normal web providers. These specialize in hosting websites, so they have experienced tech support while maintaining a cheap price.
Choose Between Specialized Game Servers and Normal Server Hosting
This might be a common dilemma for you. The bottom line is your use of the server as well as the ease of set up. Your skill and experience on game server hosting will dictate your choice.
Here are some things you need to consider:
1. Set Up an Unmanaged Server If You Have the Experience
The reason for this is that you have cheaper options out there.
It’s a lot of work for your end, but the money you save will make your efforts worth it. For example, if you’re interested in setting up your own Minecraft server, you can follow video tutorials online. This ensures all the games run on it stay live even when the official servers go down for maintenance.
2. Get a Manage VPS If You Have No Hosting Experience But Know How to Install
With managed VPS, your provider will take care of the server management process for you. In most cases, you need to manage the game server on your own. That means you need to install, configure, and maintain the game you host.
You can still contact your provider about taking the role from you. In some cases, they might help you get it done.
3. Get a Specialized Game Hosting Provider If You Have No Hosting Experience at All
If you opt for this route, your provider will take over the job of hosting games for you. This makes the entire process extremely easy. Most of them will offer one-click installations as well as game server control panels.
These providers will offer you pre-configure servers and a large variety of choices for server mods. You can count on the 24/7 support they provide, meaning you won’t get lost even after you’re done setting up your servers. With the competition between providers becoming stricter, most will offer other perks.
Learn How to Host a Server Today!
If you don’t know how to host a server, this guide can help you choose the best provider at least.
In most cases, getting a decent game server host is enough to make everything go well. Always remember to research on what your game host can do for you.
The best way to learn about setting up a dedicated server is to contact your potential provider. The quality of their customer support is often indicative of what you can expect once you choose them.
Do you have kids that want to play Minecraft? Uncertain if its helpful and educational? Read this post and learn about the benefits they can enjoy while playing the game!