Some questions from a Unreal player/server runner

[Xeogin]

I only started playing this game 2 days ago, but I got a few questions. I want to run a server, but I want to make sure it does what I want, so answer all that you can plz:

What settings do u recommend for cutting down on lag-kills, etc. I've heard turning off the minigun somewhere, but I then heard only minigun haters say that, I'm personally unsure, I want to turn off anything that would cut down on lamers.

Is there anyway to edit the maxclientrate and/or maxtickrate, I know those settings are key to running a lag-free server on Unreal. Also, anything that is considered similar for running a server, plz tell, I'm perfectly ok with editing ini's, etc.

Are there any flash clones of this game, or similar flash games? It would help a lot for getting ppl that hate the 2-D shooter genre to considered downloading and playing Soldat that I know. (I used to be one of them, I've know about Soldat for about 6 months, but never played do to that.)

Are there any third-party apps that everyone running a server should add? Like for security, or crash-guards?

Should I get that dedicated server download? I thought I should, but the download seems to be down right now, is there any other trusted site I can get it from if I need it?

The company I'm working for is going to have, what I tentatively call "Or-LAN-do" day, where we run a few LAN games over what areas of downtown Orlando has the free Wifi service. (All of downtown Orlando will have free wifi October 2008, this event is kinda a test, that's why we have permission) So far, we only have Halo planned to run for this $5 an hour fund raiser, (another reason we have permission) but I'm trying to push other games, mostly Unreal, (which I continually make lite version of for online download, just for play like this event) and I was thinking that I might push Soldat too, I was wondering if anyone else has suggestions, and if all goes well, if we could mass register copies of Soldat, give or sell them on CD to the public for this, I haven't said anything to my boss yet, and I'm not sure if he'd even go for it, but I want to know what the community and MM thinks about it before I even bring it up.

Many thx!
~Doc

[SirJamesaford]

I'm sure a more knowledgeable person will answer later but......Yes disabling the minigun will cut down on lag (but it wont matter since noone will use the damn thing) and yes you should use the dedicated server.  But then again I am an idiot so ya never know lol.

[chrisgbk]

I only started playing this game 2 days ago, but I got a few questions. I want to run a server, but I want to make sure it does what I want, so answer all that you can plz:

What settings do u recommend for cutting down on lag-kills, etc. I've heard turning off the minigun somewhere, but I then heard only minigun haters say that, I'm personally unsure, I want to turn off anything that would cut down on lamers.

Minigun is more responsible for lowering framerate than anything, but less firing also means less network usage, so it can help to disable it.

Is there anyway to edit the maxclientrate and/or maxtickrate, I know those settings are key to running a lag-free server on Unreal. Also, anything that is considered similar for running a server, plz tell, I'm perfectly ok with editing ini's, etc.

Soldat runs quite a bit differently than Unreal does; but it does allow you to alter the network settings a bit. There are a number of presets for connection settings, and setting it to the T1 default also allows you to tweak a lot more settings, should the other presets not be enough. Connection settings apply to the server only.

Are there any flash clones of this game, or similar flash games? It would help a lot for getting ppl that hate the 2-D shooter genre to considered downloading and playing Soldat that I know. (I used to be one of them, I've know about Soldat for about 6 months, but never played do to that.)

There are a few clones of the basic idea out there, but nothing worthwhile.

Are there any third-party apps that everyone running a server should add? Like for security, or crash-guards?

Serverside wise, there is only one perl script for linux servers, which is slightly outdated now; most servers write their own crash detection by 1)checking if they can still connect to a server and check the status of the server, 2) checking if the gamestat file is still being updated, and 3) checking if the process is still running by looking up its PID.

Should I get that dedicated server download? I thought I should, but the download seems to be down right now, is there any other trusted site I can get it from if I need it?

Yes, use the stand-alone dedicated server for hosting. It's much more stable. The server related download page is http://www.soldat.pl/down-s.html, and the direct link to the official download is http://static.soldat.pl/downloads/soldatserver262.zip

The company I'm working for is going to have, what I tentatively call "Or-LAN-do" day, where we run a few LAN games over what areas of downtown Orlando has the free Wifi service. (All of downtown Orlando will have free wifi October 2008, this event is kinda a test, that's why we have permission) So far, we only have Halo planned to run for this $5 an hour fund raiser, (another reason we have permission) but I'm trying to push other games, mostly Unreal, (which I continually make lite version of for online download, just for play like this event) and I was thinking that I might push Soldat too, I was wondering if anyone else has suggestions, and if all goes well, if we could mass register copies of Soldat, give or sell them on CD to the public for this, I haven't said anything to my boss yet, and I'm not sure if he'd even go for it, but I want to know what the community and MM thinks about it before I even bring it up.

Many thx!
~Doc

As per the software license, you can distribute the shareware version of Soldat electronically or on CD as much as you wish, provided you do so for free (the only exemption to that being cd-roms included with magazines that you pay for). Realistically, the only difference between the registered and shareware version is the nagscreen/license agreement with a banner ad on startup, the ability to play MP3 music, ability to change your jet color, and a pretty star next to your name.

Also, from the license agreement:

Neither directly nor indirectly you cannot rent or sell by any means
this software (except renting servers or by special permission of author).

I'm not sure how much this would apply to your event, so it would be best to contact MM for clarification; he's usually on the stance of letting people do it if they ask, since it supports Soldat by increasing it's exposure, but it's his decision. Sending him a PM on the forums, or sending an email, is usually the best course of action.

As for registering copies of Soldat, there are bulk discounts currently, which, depending on number of registered copies, goes up to 50% off for quantities greater than 11. ie: If you were to register 12 copies, they would be $6.99 each. Again, you would also want to talk to MM about that, particularily if you planned to buy more copies than that.

[Michal Marcinkowski]

The mass registrations are as Chrisgbk said. If you are serious about this, tell me how much you'll need, we can arrange something.