It's been a long time coming! We know you've been absolutely aching to read them... well, ache no more! Here they are; the winning essay, and the runners up of The Group Thing's Win Left 4 Dead 2 essay contest!
The winning essay by eQ Shiv
Gaming has enabled me to live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world and spend 10 hours a day, everyday, staring at a screen in a dark room.
My addiction to gaming started early, one of my oldest and fondest memories is sitting behind Dad as he battled bats and demons in a fantastical underground dungeon. I was barely old enough to understand what was going on beyond the pretty colours and explosions but that didn't matter. I wasnt even playing, that didn't matter either. it was like watching the best movie ever and someone in the audience is in control, you can give them input and react to the enviroment with them. It was my faveourite part of the day, Dad would explain things in the game to me and I would point out that a bat is hitting him and he really ought to wack it back before his mighty character topples.
The Group Thing congratulates eQ Shiv for writing a winning essay and thus recieving a copy of Left 4 Dead 2! We would also like to thank the runners up for their great submissions.
Four years ago on this day, the 6th of January I received the kind of telephone call that no one ever wants to receive.
Broken with tears, an anguished voice called out my name across a telephone line and told me that my very good friend Jon Bridges had died.
Jon Bridges, also known online as eQ eVilAsmo was an aspiring artist of significant talent, who was about to be promoted to junior director in the company Pivotal Games.
He was driving from his home in the south of England to visit his girlfriend, close to where I live in South Yorkshire when the police think he had what is called a micro sleep, he strayed from his side of the motorway and hit an oncoming vehicle.
Jon died instantly in the impact, the only fatality, I won’t describe his wounds as I noticed them when I saw his body later at the hospital, but I will remember them forever.
Jon was a gamer, an artist, a game designer, a good man and he was my friend. He was eQ, we all knew him and some of us loved him very dearly, he was ours!
When he left us we all felt a hole in our lives that echoed with the ghost of his humour, his laughter, his gentle wry sarcasm and the unique point of view that he carried.
Jon would dearly have loved TGT, the mild blend of insanity, camaraderie and talent that we have here. His chastisement of my more lunatic behaviours now goes unsaid, except in the quiet words of Salteh and SylvanFae who loved him as deeply as I did.
So on this cold and snowy winters day, I would like to take a quiet moment to remember Jon “eVilAsmo” Bridges and to share that memory with all of you.
Take a moment after reading this to consider your friends and loved ones, how much time you have spent with them recently and whether they understand how you truly feel about them.
A few moments, a few words can last at least one lifetime.
To you Jon, wherever you are my friend, we remember.
I was prompted to write this short and simple guide for all the members as a good friend, who has been around gaming all his life recently showed some confusion about the different types of server.
Dedicated Server:
TGT owns and operates a dedicated server, this is basically a high powered PC that is dedicated entirely to running game servers, and lives on a rack in a data centre.
It is accessible via remote control programs allowing the admins to install, update and configure game servers and other programs as needed, exactly as you would on your home pc. Dedicated Servers are capable of running a number of Game Servers depending upon the power of its processor, size of memory, hard drive and bandwidth.
Without a Dedicated server clans have to use Rented Game Servers.
Game Servers:
A game server is basically an installation of a game that runs on a Dedicated Server, situated normally on a rack in data centre. On your home PC this is similar to downloading “Game Server Files” such as the standalone ET:QW server files, or the L4D standalone files and running them. The server runs unattended on the dedicated PC, and players connect via the same IP, but via a different port.
The IP stays the same for all servers on a dedicated server, but the port is altered so that the game on your PC knows which game server hosted on the Dedicated Server to connect to. These servers are stopped and started in the same fashion as you would on your PC, with the addition of specific software designed to keep it tidy.
Game Admins may use rcon (Remote Console) to change maps, game modes and kick players, in TGT we use HLSW for this purpose. Creating Gameservers on a dedicated server costs nothing provided you own the game, or there is a standalone server (such as the L4D servers). Rented Game Servers:
These servers are exactly the same as a Game Server running on a Dedicated Server, except you cannot access anything directly. Starting, stopping and configuring your server are all done by web interface, administration is done by ftp upload and you pay a set amount for each slot on each server.
Game Admins may use rcon (Remote Console) to change maps, game modes and kick players.
Peer-to-peer:
Peer to peer servers are hosted on a players home pc, and via his home internet connection. Performance of the server is often poor, due to lag issues caused by software running on the machine, bandwidth limitations, and ping issues.
If the host leaves a p2p server, then the game session ends, likewise if the host machine crashes, the session ends.
Over all the performance in peer-to-peer servers tends to be far less than a server running on a dedicated machine in a data centre.
Admin rights are generally set by the host, and rcon is not available mostly.
Matchmaking:
Matchmaking, such as the system in Left 4 Dead uses a combination of all the above servers which leads to a “Pot Luck” approach to finding a game. There is no rcon available, most basic admin functions are done by voting, you cannot chose where you are connecting to, and if you get a random player he can often ruin the game.
Matchmaking systems use game servers, but you cannot specify where you connect unless you have paid for and configured a Game Server.
Summary:
A Dedicated Server is a PC running many Game Servers.
A Game Server is a game package set up to be a permanent host for client games.
A Rented Game Server is the same as a Game Server but you pay per slot.
Peer-to-peer servers are hosted on someone’s home PC and may suffer from lag, ping and other issues.
Matchmaking systems use game servers, but you cannot specify where you connect unless you have paid for and configured a Game Server.
About Deep Thought:
TGT has a powerful Dedicated Server, nicknamed “Deep Thought” and hosted for us in a data centre on a 100MB pipeline by Alpha Networks.
If there is a specific game server that you would like to see us hosting on our Dedicated Server, please speak to a member of staff. We do not pay charges for our game servers as we have a dedicated server and our hosting is sponsored by Alpha Networks.
In the first competition running between now and the release
of Valves Left 4 Dead 2, TGT is giving away a copy of the much anticipated
zombie shooter Left 4 Dead 2.
The challenge is to write a balanced, planned and well
rounded essay for publication on the TGT main site on how gaming has changed
your life for the better.
The essay will be no less than 1500 words and no more than
3000 and should cover your personal experiences of online gaming, games and
camaraderie. Pictures, videos and screenshots are not allowed, you have to use
words entirely to convey your thoughts and concepts.
To enter the competition you must be a member of TGT, active
on the TGT forums, be capable of writing a well planned essay and be legally able to own the game in your country.
Once submitted your essay will be judged by a panel of three
judges all of whom are experienced writers and published authors.
The competition closes on Wednesday 28th October at 18.00hrs (6pm) GMT, the winner will be announced on Halloween (October 31st) at 18.00hrs (6pm) GMT.
The decision of the judges is final and may not be appealed, all entries must be in International English.
The winning essay will be published on the main TGT site and
in the forums as a forum post; TGT will assume universal rights for its
publication and continued use.
You may win this competition and chose to give the game to
another person, the responsibility for all hardware required is yours, and the
game will be delivered digitally through Steam.
TGT holds no responsibility for the game not functioning,
being released late, or causing your social life to evaporate into a haze of
zombie killing mayhem.
Entries may be submitted via e-mail to: admin@thegroupthing in .txt or word .doc format, please preface all entries with:
Your online nickname.
Your real name (Will not be published).
Your Steam name.
A full wordcount.
TGT reserves the right to alter any of the rules associated with this competition without notice.
