Game Server Hosting

A game server is a dedicated server usually provided by a web host for users with game clients to connect to it in order to play online video games such as massively multiplayer online role-playing game [MMORPG] and first-person shooter [FPS]. Besides game hosting, web hosts are companies that provide services such as file, video and image hosting by renting out spaces on their servers which are located in a data center. Web hosts that provide game servers such as Call of Duty 4 servers or COD4 servers for renting are also known as Game Server Providers [GSPs].

There are two types of game servers; listen game servers and dedicated game servers. Listen game servers are game servers running on the same machine as the game client. There are two main disadvantages associated with this type of game server with one of them being limited bandwidth and processing powers which restricts the number of players supported to usually a maximum of eight players. The other disadvantage is that the server will be shutdown together with the game client as both of them are run together.

Dedicated game servers are game servers running on dedicated servers and separately from the game clients. A dedicated game servers located in a data center can provide much more bandwidth and processing power to support a larger number of players. Generally, a good game server is a dedicated server with the right hardware, appropriate bandwidth and low latency to allow the game to run without a hitch. However, different games have different types of hardware requirements with games such as Team Fortress 2 needing a good dedicated Team Fortress 2 server.