gameservers.com says they host NS2 servers. $2 per month per slot on a public server, $1.50 per slot per month on a private server. Maximum 16 slots, $32 per month. Don't know how well it works. Hosting it on Amazon would cost > $100 a month, but would be guaranteed to work fully.
Really, the only economical way to do it is for someone with a fast Internet connection, like a college or FIOS, to host it on a spare computer.
I think because of a reddit thread and some such that a bunch of newbs have influxed into NS2. This is good and bad.
One is that I am a god now of NS2. I frequently have the most kills on my team, and when I don't I'm second or third.
Two is that now winning is determined by which team has the fewest nubs. Even with even teams, all the nub players may as well not be there. I played a game this morning that looked like it was 6v6, but it was actually 1v3. I was the only alien on my team capable of biting anything. I had double digit kills, and everyone else on my team had 3 or fewer. The marine team was almost just as sad, but they had three good players and a bunch of nubs.
I also learned that I can kinda sorta be the commander. I had never really tried in the past because my RTS skills are low. But in NS you don't have to command the units so much with clicking as with talking. I still had trouble controlling while being the commander, but my knowledge of NS means I can do a sufficient job if the players are competent.
Netcode isn't that bad these days, at least not if you play on a really low-ping server. I must admit, I have a lot more fun playing alien than I did in the original NS.
Comments
Really, the only economical way to do it is for someone with a fast Internet connection, like a college or FIOS, to host it on a spare computer.
April 1st.
Gorge hats.
One is that I am a god now of NS2. I frequently have the most kills on my team, and when I don't I'm second or third.
Two is that now winning is determined by which team has the fewest nubs. Even with even teams, all the nub players may as well not be there. I played a game this morning that looked like it was 6v6, but it was actually 1v3. I was the only alien on my team capable of biting anything. I had double digit kills, and everyone else on my team had 3 or fewer. The marine team was almost just as sad, but they had three good players and a bunch of nubs.
I also learned that I can kinda sorta be the commander. I had never really tried in the past because my RTS skills are low. But in NS you don't have to command the units so much with clicking as with talking. I still had trouble controlling while being the commander, but my knowledge of NS means I can do a sufficient job if the players are competent.
I like the Halo interface.
It also shows how letting the marines get any degree of map control is a bad, bad idea.
Haven't tested the latest build yet, hopefully the stutters have gone.