- p0lar_bear
- |
- Exalted Heroic Member
Halo Custom Edition: p0lar_bearâ„¢
Favorite Server: Diesel PL 3rd Server - NY
My Maps:
BioHalo v1.1a Singleplayer Map for CE
BUNGIE HAS CUT CUSTOM SINGLE-PLAYER SUPPORT FROM HALO 2 VISTA. COPY, PASTE, AND BOLDFACE THIS INTO YOUR SIGNATURE IF YOU ARE AGAINST THIS CUT.
As zeph pointed out, some of us are angry at how server hosting works on the LIVE service.
From what I understand, to use the dedicated server, you need a Silver account, which is linked to a copy of the game. In essence, you have to own the game to host a dedcated server. This means that there will be setup fees from the hosting companies in addition to the monthly bandwidth charges. Also, if for whatever reason Microsoft feels that you're violating LIVE's terms of service with your server, your server and gamertag is banned from LIVE, meaning no internet multiplayer, and the inability to host a server without purchasing another copy of the game. In addition, the GFWL platform somehow prohibits someone to connect to themselves for internet play on the same network adapter, meaning I cannot join a dedicated server I created unless I have two PCs or network cards, a router, and two gamertags.
Also, if you wish to host a non-dedicated server to just putz around with your friends on, you must have a LIVE Gold account.
This REALLY, REALLY hurts content developers, both freelanceers and whole teams, as they cannot hold beta testing sessions unless...
1. They shell out $50 a year for a LIVE Gold account.
2. They shell out probably $30 a month for a dedicated server.
3. They have a buddy who is a LIVE Gold user, or rents a dedicated server.
In any case, someone is losing money, which totally contradicts what Hired Gun said in their blog about keeping server hosts from spending money needlessly.
In Halo Custom Edition, when I make a map, I can just give it to my testers, start a new Internet game, and test the map for a little while. I like being able to do that. Why I have to shell out a yearly or monthly fee to do that on the game's sequel, I don't know.