Serverhosting.....Splatterladder....., 4 years have gone... some thoughts Options

[schnoog]

Hi folks,
mid of February 2014, SL started the server hosting project.

The idea behind it was, to offer a self charging server hosting, with very low fees.

Now, 4 years later, I'm thinking about shutting down this service.

The primary reason: It was never self charging.
During this 4 years, a total of 2395,2 Euro was paid to the hosting company for server rent.
In total 977,40 auf server fee was earned.
The difference of 1400 Euro were paid by me.

But this is not everything I mediate on.

In addition to the hosting difference 100 Euro / month for hosting the Splatterladder and the backup system are on the bill,
150 Euro draining out of my pocket month by month (tbh. the server also hosts Wolffiles and ETKey).

This for hosting a game tracker for a game, I've played for less than 10 hours during the last 5 years.

Guys, I'm really thinking about shutting off the whole thing, pushing all the code (without any database content) to Github an pulling the plug.
It's not a fun challenge to perform the at least weakly maintenance of the server (there are security nightmare popping up on daily base), but hey, at least it's a challenge
But I need to explain my lady, why she is driving a 9 years old car and "I throw the money out the windows for a game which is not even installed on any of my devices".

What will I do? What shall I do? I'm not decided.
But honestly, I'm thinking about it..... and it's hard for me to convince myself to keep the things running as they are.

Cheers
Schnoog

[Medelwr]

Schnoog, I can honestly say that I saw this coming at some point and don't think it were just me though probably others also.
Splatterladder has been a great service, community to the players and supporters whom have come and gone but mostly to those who remain and have servers through your host, websites, including a TeamSpeak server for all to use.
Without a doubt I could guess that some people have taken the absolute piss, however 150 a month is a lot to be paying out in order to keep this entire thing running and it isn't fair that you have to do some or most of it out of your own pocket. Though to shut everything down would be a major blow for everyone, so I say you could keep it going though just pull the plug on what services you cannot afford to keep forking out for as the community / the file base is the one thing that matters along with the server and or player tracking, in my opinion.
Would hate to see this great thing end though I suppose that some things do come to an end at some point, however some things can be rescued ^^

If the entire community bands in together and all chips in on this, then Splatterladder could survive.

{WeB}*Reaper*

This post has been edited by Medelwr: Feb 1 2018, 09:19 PM

[Wolf Enstein]

I don't know what to say here, Schnoog bro, you've been so kind and considerate towards our Wolfenstein Community for years, always "picking up the tab" too when there's a shortfall in the cash donations, but we can't expect you to keep on doing this indefinitely. Like Reaper said in his post there, could parts of this wonderful set up be saved, such as the "Wolffiles" website? I feel it would truly be a tragedy to lose this amazing filebase for all things "Wolfenstein".

This website has been a huge part of my life and my Clan's life for the past 13 years, therefore, I personally will be very sorry to lose our Wolfenstein online home. Whatever you decide to do, we will support you, mate, you owe us nothing.

[{WeB}*DoG*]

Schnoog we of course would never wish to see SL gone but no reasonable person can or could expect you to continue subsidising a project that's shelf life is coming to an end. Whilst there are still large communities playing and modding and mapping we have to be realistic and accept that short of someone porting this into a newer engine we will probably never see the numbers that once graced these boards. A sad day indeed, but this also should be a celebration of the friends made, battles fought, arguments discussed sometimes reasonably, sometimes not, but all exhibiting passion. Gangsta and I have been here for many many years and have been hated by some lauded by others but I hope no one can doubt our love of Wolfenstein Enemy Territory. I hope there is a way we can help, subsidise or save at least the SL name as well as Wolffiles for those that wish to continue using these hugely helpful resource sites. We contributed over the years probably less than we should because of 2 factors 1) We never made funds contributions part of being in the clan, 2) We, like most took SL for granted and were not in a position to fund stuff, until this year with our general migration this year to Day of Infamy this is the first year we have been happily solvent. But voluntarily getting money out of gamers is a bit like winning the lottery.... you know someone does just never you!

We will endevour to cover wolffiles and perhaps SL we would love to see it go on...
kindest regards
As always
Dogster

[$mart]

You took the right decision schnoog, absolutely normal xD
Thanks a lot to for all the work you done !
V55

[macbeth]

Schnoog
i will do mine best to help you : myself i have to pay 90 dollars /month for the site and servers
so i understand how you feel

i have to pay alone for so many years : ET is a free game but guys have no idea how we do the clans owner trying to keep ET alive
after our site, Splatteladder is the second site i visit everyday

king regard Schnoog

[Topcat]

Will be sad to not have the site anymore but of course understand where you're coming from, is a lot of money for you to pay every month. Maybe a donation or something could be set up if there are guys who wants to help you out in order to keep the site alive.

This post has been edited by Topcat: Feb 2 2018, 12:24 AM

[macbeth]

Will be sad to not have the site anymore but of course understand where you're coming from, is a lot of money for you to pay every month. Maybe a donation or something could be set up if there are guys who wants to help you out in order to keep the site alive.

Here Topcat

http://et.splatterladder.com/?mod=donation

[daredevil]

schnoog - for security challenges - I suggest giving access to Kai - he is experienced admin for it and best for maintaining SL servers.

For hosting charge wise - I have sent you PM to discuss more detail so we can lower the cost for SL. I feel ya man. You and SL team have done outstanding job.

This post has been edited by daredevil: Feb 2 2018, 02:32 AM

[N3rwitZ]

Dogster talking things like SL closing the curtain. While its defo a pity for some internet service to go forever, that can not run on its own, its coming down to everything operating in the web. With such a massive work done by one, it comes to the right moment to drop the ball. Moreover, if the bill is bigger than the outcome you make to finance that given service, so it is then reasonable to let it go.

SL whatsoever may have better future taking less resources/monies to run with.

Schnoog will find a way to connect our minds in ET insomnia whatever happens tommorow, the next week or decade.

P.S. for the lazy fella TIL: SL own server hosting portion is done with, not SL itself...

P.S.2.: ...not yet...

This post has been edited by N3rwitZ: Feb 2 2018, 07:36 PM

[schnoog]

Thank you all for your nice words.

Reading your statements bring me to tears.

I have not decided anything yet.
It's very likely, that I'll shut down the server hosting, because this post on the bill is the one which seems to have the lowest impact to the community.

When I wrote the post yesterday, I just needed to inform the people that I'm thinking about it.
I would not be bastard enough to decide this finally and declaring the SL dead, without any indications what's going on.

Believe me when I say, I'll evaluate any idea or offer which could keep SL alive, and that the whole story is not a topic to rush through for me.

Cheers
Volker

[Nico'x]

Hello Volker,

I can tell you that you are absolutely right, you gave me free server for what I can tell you, Thank you! I had fun, now its off, Im not really having time for game because of exams.
If people aren't paying for the server that splatterladder hosted them, without any thinking, you gotta shut it down, it's not okay to pay from your pocket to someone's server, like you did for me for example, I'm not sure how this system works, but if you paid for mine then I am very grateful, I just wanted to try out with servers and learn a little more about it.
Splatterladder host is really nice have been testing it out, and I share the same opinion with you, if you are tired of this, shut it down.

One more thing, if SL shuts down, TB is terrible, I think that I will leave this game and move to Batallion or Pubg, enough from me...

Hearty greeting,
Nico

This post has been edited by Nico'x: Feb 2 2018, 09:44 PM

[N3rwitZ]

Hello Volker,

I can tell you that you are absolutely right, you gave me free server for what I can tell you, Thank you! I had fun, now its off, Im not really having time for game because of exams.
If people aren't paying for the server that splatterladder hosted them, without any thinking, you gotta shut it down, it's not okay to pay from your pocket to someone's server, like you did for me for example, I'm not sure how this system works, but if you paid for mine then I am very grateful, I just wanted to try out with servers and learn a little more about it.
Splatterladder host is really nice have been testing it out, and I share the same opinion with you, if you are tired of this, shut it down.

One more thing, if SL shuts down, TB is terrible, I think that I will leave this game and move to Batallion or Pubg, enough from me...

Hearty greeting,
Nico

Quite surprised you can turn down on the game for a terrible, if you say so, stat tracking website not so popular among Enemy Territory gamers, if they decide it Splatterladder is more crowded & active. For what is worth, Battalion is the same face-in-the-neck type of game bromance with single to no point in what you do than any other game. I'd switch over to ETQW (Enemy Territory QUAKE WARS) than some PVP turd game.

I believe your right for TB being terrible (not an user of that)

[kajto3]

I've been using SL since I started playing ET. I can't really imagine how big blow it would be for ET players if it was shut down completely. Thank you so much for your effort to keep the game alive. It's sad that money still contributes to ET's fall to such a great extent.

I suggest to keep the tracker and filebase running, forget about hosting. There are still plenty of different places where you can rent a decent ET sever.

Take care and best of luck.

kajto3

[N3rwitZ]

I've been using SL since I started playing ET. I can't really imagine how big blow it would be for ET players if it was shut down completely. Thank you so much for your effort to keep the game alive. It's sad that money still contributes to ET's fall to such a great extent.

I suggest to keep the tracker and filebase running, forget about hosting. There are still plenty of different places where you can rent a decent ET sever.

Take care and best of luck.

kajto3

My words!! Impose a risk of mass players leaving because fraggers a stat addicts. Least players you can enjoy a game with than NO players at all.