Please release server files! I want to host my own server!

[Unknown]

Release the server files please! I dont want to buy overpriced servers and they run like .....

[huma474]

They partner with specific providers so they can both control the server hardware and get a fee on the side for the server side software.

[RoofKorea=BestKorea]

community hosted servers also let server adopt their own rules instead of rules being imposed on them by some corporate douche canoe. and they can be hosted in their hometowns.

[TWB*Clell_Miller]

Uhh... well. Some games have released server files. I'm uncertain if HLL has. The biggest headache in using them is that you must upgrade the server promptly every time a push or modification in the game code is initiated. Or it's chaos.

[cdplayer906]

Originally posted by huma474:

They partner with specific providers so they can both control the server hardware and get a fee on the side for the server side software.

and is the case for most developed games now a days. i too used to think it was exclusively so devs can get a dip, but as a whole it applies to integrity of presentation. w/ a hosted service they can come closer to a guaranteed performance of expectation on the server end, which as a whole is better for their product relative to consistency. once it leaves EA it's much more likely that we will get privatized servers, as seen w/ many other titles leaving EA

[Unknown]

I just want to let 2 Hell let loose servers run on my 5900x and 64gb ram dedicated server. I dont want to buy overpriced servers, which runs with 50fps on their cheap hardware.

I mean.. You pay 67 Euro for 100 slots. This is a big joke. If they sell servers like that for years, they must be millionares.

[[BLK] Telu]

I know a guy who rent a HLL server, it was empty all the time. Waste of time for my opinion, you should better join a community who already have a server.

[[509th] Ryan]

Personally, I agree with the OP’s sentiment. I’ve been hosting games for the past 20yrs. I currently have a dedicated server in a data center and host many games on it, but mostly modified Arma 3 at the moment. I would be hosting HLL currently if it were possible, but without the server file, I can’t help but would love to. but first a little insight on how renting a server really works then my thoughts on the file.

What you get when you rent a server.

The companies that the dev team has teamed up with to host the HLL product do not physically own their own servers or house their own servers. They rent or contract these servers from large data centers that provide physical servers to those that have a business of “renting servers”. In many instances, multiple gaming server providers actually rent or contract physical machines housed and serviced in the same exact data center. Each game server provider rents or contracts only so many actual physical machines (servers). Out of the physical machines they have, they then virtualize the environment in each physical box, creating multiple instances of the game, let’s say 5 virtual servers in 1 physical server box, and then you are rented the virtual instance of that game with the appropriate number of slots you paid for. Every virtual instance of the game has its own IP address, but that too is virtual as well. Bandwidth, CPU, RAM, and storage are all shared by the virtual instances within the 1 physical box. When you rent a server, you are sharing resources with the next guy that rents a server too. When the service provider feels that the physical box has reached its limit in terms of shared resources on a physical box, they create more virtual instances of the game on the next physical box and rent those as well, and on and on and on.

A dedicated physical server box from a provider.

Some providers will rent out a whole physical server. They usually include the same protections and services as the virtual instance versions do which are huge bandwidth, DDoS protection, multiple IPs, customer service, updating, tools, etc., but cost a lot more. As an example, on average, a virtualized 100 slot HLL server rents for around $90 US a month, which is a little over $1 per slot a month. In 12mo you would spend approximately $1080 for a 100-slot server. If you were to rent a dedicated physical box, which would not be shared by anyone else, it would cost around $2600 a year, which includes a 20% discount because you pay for a year upfront. If you host just one instance of the game on the dedicated box, it costs you a little over $2 a slot a month for a 100-slot game, twice as much as a virtualized instance you normally would rent. The benefit of a dedicated box is that you can do what game server providers do if you have the server file for the game, and that is to create multiple virtual instances of the game hosted in the same physical box and reduce the cost per slot. So as an example, if you created 5 virtual instances of the game on your own dedicated box like the server providers do, you can drop your cost per slot down to just over 40 cents per slot. The downside to doing this is you and you alone are responsible for configuring the box and the game as if you were a gaming service provider. Configuration and updates are all your responsibility. It’s not overly hard or difficult, but you kind of got to know what you are doing and it can be time-consuming. In the end, this is kind of how game service providers make money, their cost is cents per slot and charge you dollars per slot.

DIY at home

If you had the server file, you could do the aforementioned at home on your own computer. Just be aware that your upload speed from your internet service provider is everyone else’s download speed. If you have 100 players connected to your home network, it better be robust enough to support it, including your routing equipment, the rig that you are running the game on, and your overall bandwidth. You’ll need to understand how to network your system so the outside world can see it and reach it as well. Again, not overly complicated, but you kind of got to know what you are doing and it can be time-consuming.

Having the server file available if done right.

The beauty in PC gaming is that games can be created to make them what you want them to be. That is what the dev team is doing, making a game they want. But the truth of the matter is one size does not fit all. Some players want fewer tanks, some players want balanced weapons configurations, some players want true hardcore gaming like no indicators, some players want different load-outs for different roles, all just for example. There are a lot of combinations of things we want to have or not have, but without having access to a server file done the right way, which is one designed to be configurable in a way that can be modified to suit the need of the person or group that wants to present the game in a certain way or style, it would be a fruitless endeavor to release it. Vanilla is vanilla. Look at the official HLL servers in the server list. They are mostly always empty and they are all vanilla. What is not vanilla are the groups or individuals that rent servers, then set rules or guidelines about how they want their individual server to run, and for the most part, they enforce their rules and get traffic. The next step up would be to allow the server file to be modified by those that wish to, to be able to enhance the vision of the dev teams game, through their own personal choice of what they want or don’t want in the game. That can all be done if the dev team has a vision for the longevity of the game and the will to implement the ability to do so. Having the ability to modify the game to support the diversity of playstyle and game attributes that fit individual or group needs is critical to maintaining a long-term interest and player base. Look at some of the old favorites we used to play. Virtually all the vanilla versions are dead. Groups that modified the game are still hosting servers and are still playing the game. In that small way, those games are still relevant to some, and they still play, years after the game’s initial popularity died. Having the ability to host the game, to create new maps, mods, and assets are all key to that longevity. I hope the dev team realizes this sooner rather than later. To release a server file in a timeframe and format which will help the community help them keep the game relevant for a long, long time is what I am hoping for.

[Unknown]

Originally posted by Telu:

I know a guy who rent a HLL server, it was empty all the time. Waste of time for my opinion, you should better join a community who already have a server.

Dude.. I have my own community. Do you think I just want to let a server run on my own pc and hope that people join? I got a multigaming community and we run multiple servers in 5-6 games.

[Unknown]

Originally posted by 509th Ryan:

Personally, I agree with the OP’s sentiment. I’ve been hosting games for the past 20yrs. I currently have a dedicated server in a data center and host many games on it, but mostly modified Arma 3 at the moment. I would be hosting HLL currently if it were possible, but without the server file, I can’t help but would love to. but first a little insight on how renting a server really works then my thoughts on the file.

What you get when you rent a server.

The companies that the dev team has teamed up with to host the HLL product do not physically own their own servers or house their own servers. They rent or contract these servers from large data centers that provide physical servers to those that have a business of “renting servers”. In many instances, multiple gaming server providers actually rent or contract physical machines housed and serviced in the same exact data center. Each game server provider rents or contracts only so many actual physical machines (servers). Out of the physical machines they have, they then virtualize the environment in each physical box, creating multiple instances of the game, let’s say 5 virtual servers in 1 physical server box, and then you are rented the virtual instance of that game with the appropriate number of slots you paid for. Every virtual instance of the game has its own IP address, but that too is virtual as well. Bandwidth, CPU, RAM, and storage are all shared by the virtual instances within the 1 physical box. When you rent a server, you are sharing resources with the next guy that rents a server too. When the service provider feels that the physical box has reached its limit in terms of shared resources on a physical box, they create more virtual instances of the game on the next physical box and rent those as well, and on and on and on.

A dedicated physical server box from a provider.

Some providers will rent out a whole physical server. They usually include the same protections and services as the virtual instance versions do which are huge bandwidth, DDoS protection, multiple IPs, customer service, updating, tools, etc., but cost a lot more. As an example, on average, a virtualized 100 slot HLL server rents for around $90 US a month, which is a little over $1 per slot a month. In 12mo you would spend approximately $1080 for a 100-slot server. If you were to rent a dedicated physical box, which would not be shared by anyone else, it would cost around $2600 a year, which includes a 20% discount because you pay for a year upfront. If you host just one instance of the game on the dedicated box, it costs you a little over $2 a slot a month for a 100-slot game, twice as much as a virtualized instance you normally would rent. The benefit of a dedicated box is that you can do what game server providers do if you have the server file for the game, and that is to create multiple virtual instances of the game hosted in the same physical box and reduce the cost per slot. So as an example, if you created 5 virtual instances of the game on your own dedicated box like the server providers do, you can drop your cost per slot down to just over 40 cents per slot. The downside to doing this is you and you alone are responsible for configuring the box and the game as if you were a gaming service provider. Configuration and updates are all your responsibility. It’s not overly hard or difficult, but you kind of got to know what you are doing and it can be time-consuming. In the end, this is kind of how game service providers make money, their cost is cents per slot and charge you dollars per slot.

DIY at home

If you had the server file, you could do the aforementioned at home on your own computer. Just be aware that your upload speed from your internet service provider is everyone else’s download speed. If you have 100 players connected to your home network, it better be robust enough to support it, including your routing equipment, the rig that you are running the game on, and your overall bandwidth. You’ll need to understand how to network your system so the outside world can see it and reach it as well. Again, not overly complicated, but you kind of got to know what you are doing and it can be time-consuming.

Having the server file available if done right.

The beauty in PC gaming is that games can be created to make them what you want them to be. That is what the dev team is doing, making a game they want. But the truth of the matter is one size does not fit all. Some players want fewer tanks, some players want balanced weapons configurations, some players want true hardcore gaming like no indicators, some players want different load-outs for different roles, all just for example. There are a lot of combinations of things we want to have or not have, but without having access to a server file done the right way, which is one designed to be configurable in a way that can be modified to suit the need of the person or group that wants to present the game in a certain way or style, it would be a fruitless endeavor to release it. Vanilla is vanilla. Look at the official HLL servers in the server list. They are mostly always empty and they are all vanilla. What is not vanilla are the groups or individuals that rent servers, then set rules or guidelines about how they want their individual server to run, and for the most part, they enforce their rules and get traffic. The next step up would be to allow the server file to be modified by those that wish to, to be able to enhance the vision of the dev teams game, through their own personal choice of what they want or don’t want in the game. That can all be done if the dev team has a vision for the longevity of the game and the will to implement the ability to do so. Having the ability to modify the game to support the diversity of playstyle and game attributes that fit individual or group needs is critical to maintaining a long-term interest and player base. Look at some of the old favorites we used to play. Virtually all the vanilla versions are dead. Groups that modified the game are still hosting servers and are still playing the game. In that small way, those games are still relevant to some, and they still play, years after the game’s initial popularity died. Having the ability to host the game, to create new maps, mods, and assets are all key to that longevity. I hope the dev team realizes this sooner rather than later. To release a server file in a timeframe and format which will help the community help them keep the game relevant for a long, long time is what I am hoping for.

If they never release the server files, this game will die within 1-2 years. The playerbase is already shrinking.

[[BLK] Telu]

I just say than most of HLL servers are empty because people just connect to community server or server who are full.

[Unknown]

Originally posted by Telu:

I just say than most of HLL servers are empty because people just connect to community server or server who are full.

Just read. I got a community.

[Spieler4]

+1 agree "Release the server files please!"

[ShadowNick]

+1 Please release server files for community-hosted servers for both competitive and casual. Also, let servers adopt their own rules instead of having a blanket set of rules they have to follow unless it breaks the law.

[Pan_de]

I dont think they should release the files as of now. The community is not shrinking and moreover the community still needs to learn so much. Whats important is a coherant game with a working gameflow. Tons of modded servers might be good in the future but not now.

Making sure that servers arent player created and modified means absolute quality control in the hand of the devs, which in this stage is definetly important.

Yes there are games which allow modifications and these modifications helped the games to survive. One has to say though, that most of those games were never intended to survive long anyway.

Tbh I hate playing on modded online games, downloads take forever and whenever I want to join another server theres always that extra mod that is missing. Every server plays completely different basically like a different game.

[Unknown]

Originally posted by TAWPan_de:

I dont think they should release the files as of now. The community is not shrinking and moreover the community still needs to learn so much. Whats important is a coherant game with a working gameflow. Tons of modded servers might be good in the future but not now.

Making sure that servers arent player created and modified means absolute quality control in the hand of the devs, which in this stage is definetly important.

Yes there are games which allow modifications and these modifications helped the games to survive. One has to say though, that most of those games were never intended to survive long anyway.

Tbh I hate playing on modded online games, downloads take forever and whenever I want to join another server theres always that extra mod that is missing. Every server plays completely different basically like a different game.

I dont care about a fking modding. I just want to host my own server with my own rules for my own community + public. AND I DONT WANT TO PAY OVERPRICED ♥♥♥♥♥♥ SERVERS WHICH RUNS LIKE POTATOES. This annoys me so much.

And you cant mod a game, if there is no support for that.