(Im just taking my idea from the "Interesting Servers" thread and putting it into its own thread since I felt it needed it)

Well Im only 15 so I wouldnt be able to manage the costs (not that I dont know how, but still), but what if someone did have the time and resources to just start a Q3 server running custom maps all the time, which would be changed frequently. (about every month) Could include a mix of newer maps as well as older favorites that probably few have heard of. Maybe a 10-map rotation which includes 5 newer maps in the ..::LvL listing and 5 oldies.

The reason for this is because the majority of Q3 servers, as many have pointed out, run stock maps all the time, and usually have Instagib or Excessive Plus enabled, with few servers catering to the vq3 crowd. Those that dont run stock maps usually just recycle ztn, hub, and the cpm / ThreeWave maps over and over.

It would be nice to see a server where you could actually have fun trying new and different things. It would also help support the mapping community as well. Im sure its discouraging that most new Q3 maps being released these days seldom, if at all, get played. I would definitely be up for some small FFAs on dONKEYs Steam Arena, or gauntlet-fests on sst13s Starforce. More people might get back to Q3 mapping knowing that theres a chance someone might play their creations against humans rather than just bots.

What does everyone else think?

(P.S. I realize that Maverick also has Q3 servers running custom maps, but it`s more of a "testing" server, the maps never change, and some are still in alpha or beta states)
Edited 3.23 minutes after the original posting.
Edited 5.1 minutes after the original posting.

I would love to see id Software, PlanetQuake or someone else with a little bit of time and reason behind them do something like this. Personally, I would really enjoy it but I don't really have enough time or a free server to do it correctly.

Any more updates Id Software would do to Q3 would have them running at a loss. Quake Live earns them money from advertisements and subscriptions, Q3 updates wouldn't benefit them at all.

I made a small mod a while back with some added functionality to the game. I added the basic coding for some gametypes (Clan Arena, Freeze Tag, Domination, Bombing Run), green armor, instagib mode, vampire mode, a bunch of extra cvars like item spawn control, author tags for map makers, QL-style loading screen, etc.. I never got very far with it, it's buggy and disfunctional as hell and it's dependant on Team Arena. I'll upload it if someone is interested, but I've moved onto a more interesting mod idea since then.

But yeah, Id Software will never in their right minds make another patch for Q3 - it'd be senseless from a business perspective to do so, especially considering that they've stretched their staff to the limit already.

On topic though: yeah this game could really do with some freash new servers spread around the world. If only someone had the resources to do that.
Edited 40 seconds after the original posting.

Hmm... Ive heard of a low-cost, high-quality server host called EscapedTurkey. Im not sure if it can be run on home connections though.

Is it possible to start a dedicated server though without spending money? If so I can put it up with a 10-map pool with a mix of recently released maps and obscure oldies.
Edited 51.07 minutes after the original posting.

A (good) home connection like ADSL2 or cable is more than fine to run a home server for a few (say 4 to 8) players. Many 'new' games (on PC and consoles) will create a local server and have the other players connect to 'your' local server. There is no remote server with some games that all players connect to, just a 'master' that will track who is connected where.

Q3A will run headless (no monitor) on a small Linux/BSD box without a problem, then set-up your network correctly (port forwarding / NAT) and away you go - your own home server that anyone can connect to.

There should be a few 'how to set-up a Q3A Linux Server' guides on the web.

Alright, I started a dedicated CPMA (so you can vote gametypes, etc.) server with the following maps:

Ballistophobia - jstrq3dm2
Concrete`s Contentment - q3ccg
Quake 3 Steam Arena - dk_dk
Somewhat Damaged - vdamaged
Starforce - 13star
Blast Radius - dc_map23
Onslaught - on_xctf4
Degree of Power - thunda3dm2
Out on a Limb - tig_out
Full Moon (Team Edition) - ts_dm5tmp

Let me know if you can see it since it takes a little while to have it appear in the list. Thanks. :)

What is the server name an IP / port?

Maybe make a new thread with a catchy title (like: Custom Map Server status and info) and I'll pin it.

Name: "Quake3Community Creations - New and Old" (green text)
Edited 2.85 minutes after the original posting.

IP: 192.168.1.4
Port: 27960
Edited 9.1 minutes after the original posting.

IP: 192.168.1.4 is an internal (local only) IP - no one outside your network (that is beyond your modem) can see the server.

You will need to set up NAT / port forwarding on your modem / connection. This will depend on your modem and how your ISP connects you to the rest of the world - I will not be able to help you much at all as every modem and ISP is different.

For example, I have a 'real' IP through my ISP (which is a very good thing for setting up a server). My modem calls the option to allow an 'internal' server to see the 'outside' world - Virtual Server. From this menu option on the modem I can set-up all the ports that are required to be forward and allow all the returns as well.

Got it forwarded. Let`s see what happens next. :)
Edited 30.35 minutes after the original posting.

Hehe. Now need the IP of your modem. You can get it from here (if you don't know): touch.whatsmyip.org/

Got the IP. When I type my IP though in "Server IP address" it says "IP must be a LAN IP address". I`m using a Netgear router. (It does work when I just use 192.168)

@Fist: Thanks. :)
Edited 1.07 hours after the original posting.

If you are running both the Client and the Server on the same network then you will need to use the 'local' IP to connect to the Server (I think, its been a few years).

If you have set-up forwarding/NAT at your modem and started the Server with "+set dedicated 1", then 'outside' people should be able to connect as well. If you post your outside IP, I'll try to connect if you like.

Here are some good server guides. For or Windows try:
www.killersinc.com...rver-howto.html

And for Linux here:
sp1r1t.org/network...erver_howto.php

Is it okay to share an IP address? I haven`t got many results on google... eh well I know Wikipedia records IPs publicly so why not. :)

74.192.105.68

All I'm getting is the 'Awaiting Challenge...' message. This happens if there is no map running or if the return packets are not sent (I think).

That`s odd... I have a 10-map rotation running so it should be running on one of them in the list I provided. Not sure about the return packets thing, could you describe what that issue is in more detail please? Thanks.

It would be cool to see maps like Hogwarts, Dangercity, Nu Clear Lunch time, and Gormenghast appear on a custom server. They are some of my most favorite maps.

In fact-I actually remember playing Nu Clear Lunch Time (ReqKitchen) On a server with people once. It was sorta fun.

I might consider adding those at some point in the feature. I checked out ReqKitchen abouth a few months ago and thought it was very well-made, think it would be quite fun. :)

@FistMarine: Reason I use CPMA for starting the server is for added customization. People can vote gametypes or rulesets, (the former of which allows me to string DM and CTF maps in one list without having to start two separate servers) and things like brightskins make it easier to see other players. But I agree that there are some things that I really dislike about CPMA, such as the community being very elitist and rude. Not to mention many CPM mappers don`t even bother trying to adjust their maps for vq3, forcing you to play it in the mod if you want a quality game.

Basically, I'm stuck at the screen when you first try to connect to a server - I never get beyond that part. This points to either the 'packets' (information sent from the server [you] to the client [me]) just never make it back to me. Or, my connection is not set-up correctly.

As I can connect to any other server, the problem appears to be at your end. However, my connect to you could be producing a large latency as well, this could produce the issue as well (maybe), but I would have assumed I would still connect, just have been laggy.

You would need to try and get someone close to you to connect.

That would be tricky. I don`t think I know of anyone in my area who has Q3A installed that I could ask to connect.

I'm currently running a '..::LvL Test Box' server from behind a ADSL2+ modem. I've placed the server in the DMZ, not using Port Forwarding (which means it should act like it is directly connected to the internet).

The maps are all from the map pack ..::LvL & PlanetQuake Pack 2: The Top Peg - lvlworld.com/review.php

Is anyone able to see the server in the server list? I suspect the connection speed will be slow as the server is in Australia :]

Im unable to see it in either QTracker or Q3. Whats the IP? Perhaps I can connect from there.

Thanks for setting up one btw. :)
Edited 39 seconds after the original posting.

Thanks for the info! That does point to a config issue at my end.

The IP is: 202.134.241.213 and the default port.

Okay, it connects now. Though I get an error saying "Server is for low pings only".

Cool, this is what I saw at my end:

broadcast: print "EmeraldTiger^7 connectedn"
broadcast: print "EmeraldTiger^7 disconnectedn"

Now, to work out why the server is not appearing on the server list.

I was not able to work out why my test server did not appear on the master server list or on sites like www.qxmon.net/ - If you put the IP in qxmon, the correct details where shown and the server was 'found' without a problem. But still no entry on the master list (that I could see). The server is off-line now.

The strange thing was did a test capture of network traffic (with tcpdump) and saw UDP traffic going both to and from the server, including traffic from the master server.

If I get more time in the future I think I'll come back to this issue as running a home server would be a good thing to do IMHO :]

That is okay. Its the thought that counts. :)

In fact, our wishes might have came true already. Theres a relatively new site called FragLove - fraglove.com/. It has a QL-style web browser interface but runs through CPMA. Its completely legitimate as you do need a copy of pak0.pk3 in order to properly use it, (though they claim its 100% free) so you still need to pay for the game. But the browser-based interface is really neat and there is even a universal chatbox which you can use to organize matches quickly and conveniently, unlike in QL where you have to open up quakenet.

The best thing is that it contains a large collection of custom levels, including the ones from the Maverick Summer 2011 Mapping Competition. They seem to add new ones to their servers periodically much like QL has updates. And they do get played - for example, Hipshots "Solitude" got 22 matches played, Kazs "Lost at Sea" got 36 matches, and the still-fresh "Ballistophobia" by Jester got played 41 times. It may not seem like much for now, but it might increase over time and compared to back then, custom arenas (especially the newer ones) might have never been played online.

It`s absolutely fantastic news for the community, both the players and the mappers. I can see more people getting into level design now since there is a much greater chance of their creations being played.

Let me add my 2 cents on this one. I still run a dedicated Quake 3 server, with the Threewave mod on it since many years now. I've bought and played Quake 3 since the first day it was released and now today I mostly play 99% on QuakeLive instead and I pay for the subscription on it also. QL is not making money, you can check this year's (2011) QuakeCon John Carmak keynote who mention it. Also ID CEO, Todd, gave an interview with more details regarding why it's not making money.

The biggest difference between the 2 is obvious, QL is centrally managed and all the files, updates, etc. are pushed to the users by the servers, so the user has nothing to do except maybe, click the update button in a webpage once in a while (hardwares, softwares, managing, people resources are all being paid by ID/Bethesda for this tough). Compared to the original Quake 3 Arena, the servers are run by the users (like me). But most important is that with the original Quake 3, for a server running custom packs, either it's maps, models, sounds, whatever, the user need to download these packs and put it in their baseq3 folder.

You can say, wait a minute, I know that there is a download feature in the Quake 3 engine when a user connect to a server and there is a custom map running on it, the server will push it to me, if it's enabled on the server. But since it's an old game, the way Quake 3 Arena pushes the files to the users are by the size of a game packet. They are very small so it takes forever to download a custom map.

Back in the days when there was only Quake 3 Arena, the users servers mostly had webpage proposing on it to download their customs .pk3 files before you could connect on the server. It was not bad but you had to know what you where doing, computers enthusiast could do it easily but for neophyte it's another story. It involved downloading and installing a server browser software, scanning the master server for all the game servers, choosing your server and checking the server's properties to see if there was a webpage announced in it. And don't get me started on the server browser softwares, there was so many that got develloped and never finished also. So a lot of peoples that played Quake 3 Arena even never tried a custom server.

The improved Quake 3 engine that RtCW : Enemy Territory is using has corrected this and can push the files needed by either http:// or ftp:// protocol which are much faster and efficient. An updated Quake 3 Arena with this feature would be the best, but I don't think this will ever happen. Or if a mod of Quake 3 Arena with this feature exist, we would still be back at the beginning, we would need to modify our Quake 3 installation before even started using it.

Fraglove looks to be a really good idea, but for it to work, every Quake 3 server's admin would need to register their server with this (but not necessarily) and I don't think you could put all the existing mods for Q3A on that kind of of platform without discovering some bugs. So we would need people time and skills for managing this, all for... free ? It may work at the beginning, but in the long run, I am not so sure. And at the moment it only propose CPMA, which is a really good choice. But nothing else.

In the end QL will prevail because it is so easy to use and all the players are on the same platform (the web page) but alas, with that you can only play the Quake 3 that ID is pushing you, no customisation for you, except what they propose. Most importantly, custom maps!