How to host on Web?

[Krad1213]

I have on idea what I'm doing and I would love some help. I want to be able to update the game since I'm wanting to Host it for my Beta-Testers. Help please?

 

[SaburoX]

If all you're looking is something for storage and beta testing you should look into getting a Github or Dropbox account.. Both have free options and you could then link your beta testers to the relevant programs and track your back ups.

 

[Krad1213]

@SaburoX Looking so they can play in browser but so I can update it often.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

There are websites that offer free online game hosting, you should try to maybe google that..


but if it's for a closed beta testing, maybe you can put it on like google drive and have it shared to them or something... 


Do you really update too often anyway? IMHO, you should just send them the updated once you have updated a lot of t hings.. I don't think you need to update your testers every time you updated just a few things, that would be stressful to them too...

 

[Krad1213]

@Engr. Adiktuzmiko My friend did that once, his computer got hacked. Thats why I'm hoping someone here can give me a site they would recommend. And explain how to use it xD

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Maybe he shared a drive that is also connected to his computer then... keep it as a drive that is purely online ofc to at least protect your computer.. You can use a free game hosting site as I mentioned above but that would probably make your game public which you might not want.. and I'm not sure how saving and loading will work for those cases.


I really don't think its a good idea to bombard your testers with minor updates every so often though that you'd need it to be web hosted just so you can put updates very often.. You should just really send them with major updates which should be just once in a while..

 

[Krad1213]

Me and my Testers have bad internet. It takes over an hour just to upload a blank project file.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

If you have bad connection then its all the more reason not to use a web hosted game.. They won't be able to play it nicely.. And you won't be able to update every now and then too if you have bad connection anyway, so you'll be losing your main target anyway.


Your target is  to use web hosting so you can update so often, but you and your testers have bad connection.. 


Bad connection on your end -> you won't be able to update your game file on the web host often


Bad connection on your tester's end -> your players won't be able to play the game smoothly or will take long time to load every time they play


It's a lose-lose situation for you if you go for web hosted game in that case. 


For your case, since you and the testers have bad connection it's far better to just keep the game offline and upload updates once a week maybe.. 

 

[Krad1213]

@Engr. Adiktuzmiko Ah. I understand. Though when I have better connection I would still like to be able to host online and would like a site that can manage such a feat in the future. 

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

you can try this one http://www.indiexpo.net/en

 

[Krad1213]

@Engr. Adiktuzmiko Thank you kindly. I'm moving within the month so my connection should hopefully improve.

 

[Dad3353]

@Krad1213...


You could have a look at Firebase, too, which offers free hosting. I use it; it's simple enough and works well for me.

 

[Andar]

With servers, you always get what you pay for - always remember that servers don't run without power or hardware, and somehow that has to be paid for.


So unless you get to a government-sponsored server, all those "free" hosting sites work by requiring you and your players to watch a lot of advertisment, and often they have no support (which means more leaks to be hacked, as your friend learned).

 

[Dad3353]

With servers, you always get what you pay for...

Whilst agreeing with the general principle, I've had no problems nor hassles from Firebase. One would not know, in playing the Game, that it's a free site, and I don't even see the Firebase site when I update; it's all done through a DOS screen with just three steps. Simple as pie and trouble-free. Only for very modest Projects, probably, but OK for Demos and such, I'd say..?