I know we've asked this before ... but I really want to know if its possible
if it is possible, what would it take?
how much money?
who would we talk to to fix it?
PLEASE stay on topic ... i'd like this thread to be strictly about fixing our hosting issue on the server... A good healthy discussion/brainstorming session about fixing our hosting on the server.
Thoughts iL ? ... Blid told me to mention "upnp" im not exactly sure what that is but maybe you will know.
Sorry, was busy in reallife for last days, just got enough time...
"Fix hosting" is too common, it depends on many small things.
uPNP? It's really one of high-priority projects, i think it have to be transparently implemented into combat (and compatible with any other war2 version), as a loader.
You can use this:
http://forum.war2.ru/index.php/topic,165.msg1466.html#msg1466 , thanks to Lance, but it requires manual clicking several buttons, that's not obvious for most casual players therefore.
Not sure which % of players will it cover.
UDP NAT traversal? It's a very interesting and new technology, that could be used also, but release steps are not clean for me now...
Some kind of VPN? Also one of tasks to implement for those who will not being covered by uPNP and nat traversal. We can do that after providing smurf-detection project, which is also one of high-priority project, to be included to loader. Because VPN is easy way to bypass an ipban system.
All of this is about to let people host games and let others join. That doesn't cover coflicts as here:
http://forum.war2.ru/index.php/topic,205.msg526.html#newSo, "fixing the hosting" in definitely the thing to be implemented, but it's not the question we can answer just "yes" or "no".
We will implement it gradually, step by step.
About "how much money":
This is a big question also. I don't see an easy answer. We have to make a clear technical project before to hire anobody. Otherwise we will get some kind of useful trash...
Well, let me say: i have plans to begin to implement all these things myself, i have plans for everything for years. I can begin to find some kind of 3-rd part programmer, to make some source-code of such projects after we have $1000 or more. I don't think it's possible to find good and fully qualified programmer with less money. I'd prefer to it myself, but my main problem is time.
This program is for broodwar and is open source.
https://github.com/mca64/mca64Launcher
Yes, that would be the greatest project, could resolve most of our problems, but... this program is not opensource...