Hosting: Prices Lowered, Panel Updates

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ID:92454
 
Mar 4 2010, 6:42 pm (Edited on Mar 4 2010, 6:56 pm)
Keywords: packages, panel
As some of you know, we've been discussing with our VPS provider about lowering the prices down a bit, and we've reached an agreement! Our new pricing is as follows:

Alpha Package: $3.00
Tau Package: $6.50
Phi Package: $11.00

Prices may continue to drop in the future, but we hope you're all satisfied for the time being! We've added a price comparison with Zen Hosting at our packages page if you want to make sure you're still getting the best bang for your buck (protip: you are!)

I'd also like to take this chance to further explain why ATP Host is your best choice for BYOND hosting: our easy to use and always accessible web panel. No more do you need to know SSH commands to start and stop your game, nor do you need access to PuTTy or an FTP client to maintain your server. Check out some of these screenshots (click to enlarge):


Your main panel page, where you can change your password and your panel stylesheet.


The game control panel page, to start, reboot, shutdown games, and read game log messages. You can view game resource stats in real time, and coming soon, a player count!


Upload games directly in the panel, no FTP necessary!


Even view your network stats by hour, day, or month!

Our panel is great because it's easy to use and portable. At your friends house and want to start a game? No need to download an SSH and FTP client, just use the web panel. Features are constantly added, and user requests are always taken into account.

Do know that you still have full access via SSH and sFTP if you like- we don't limit you at all. Web hosting and a SQL database is available (for free) upon request. Why pay extra every month for something that takes us two seconds to set up? Subversion repositories are also available for free upon request if you need to share code (or even just for personal revisioning) with teammates.


Still, we encourage you to take a look around. If you're thinking of going with a competitor, let us know why. We're certain we provide the best hosting on BYOND, so give us a chance to further explain.

All the best,
Joe


Mar 4 2010, 8:36 pm
So is ATP similar to Zen were you can log in host the server turn off my comp and have the game still running?
Mar 4 2010, 8:38 pm
Absolutely. The point of a shell server is that you're not actually hosting the game, you're just managing it. So our shell servers host your game for you and you're free to do whatever you wish with your computer. You can login to the server at any time and upload games, start them, shut them down, reboot them, view log messages, and even view resource stats in realtime.

Thanks for the question!
Mar 4 2010, 8:43 pm
Fabulous! This sounds like an extremely great investment. Now I checked the competitive pricing and Zen seems to offer unlimited everything for just 5 dollars more on the high server. Is unlimited unnecesary?
Mar 4 2010, 8:47 pm
To date I haven't had a client come anywhere near their limits, so I'd say that the unlimited is not necessary at all. Furthermore, what Kanak lists as "unlimited" can not simply be possible. There is no such thing as "unlimited" disk space, because disk space depends on a physical drive attached to a computer. There's no such thing as unlimited network throughput because this depends on the speed of a link over a period of time- a lot of transfer might be allowed, but not "unlimited".

When people market something as "unlimited", they're really saying "We have some high limits and we hope you don't hit them."

When it is valid to say something is "unlimited" is when it's not based on physical constrains- for example, Kanak and I both note that we allow unlimited instances of games to be hosted. This is possible because there is no physical limitation on the amount of processes the server can run. Now, will it actually run a thousand games? No- but we don't impose a limit because the amount of games a server can host depends on the specs of the server and the requirements of the games.

Thanks again, and feel free to keep asking away. If I'm not clear, ask me to rephrase.
Mar 4 2010, 8:49 pm
I actually understand completely. Now how does the ATPhost link to byond? Can you explain the hosting system? Do you upload host files and it funs them?
Mar 4 2010, 8:52 pm
You get access to the web panel (see screenshots in the above post), and all you do is login, upload the zip file for the game you want, and then hit the green "+" button in the panel and it starts hosting. It's as simple as that! Once you hit that + button, the BYOND software takes over and it announces that the game is live to the BYOND hub. Our web panel also provides you with a direct link to the server so you can join immediately and send it to your friends.

If you ever need help adding a game to your panel, we'll put it in there for you. Right now, you have to upload a .zip file, but coming soon, you'll be able to just give the panel a link to a hub (e.g., http://www.byond.com/games/IainPeregrine/plundergnome) and the panel will download that game right on to the server.

Mar 4 2010, 8:56 pm
Oh My Gosh! That is simply amazing! You definately have me hooked! Soon as my game is done I shall buy a ATP membership! It's easy simple and refreshing! The colors even complement each other so it wont be an eyes sore, and you guys are improving which really fascinates me! Thank you for this thorough explanation!
Mar 4 2010, 8:57 pm
Glad to hear you're excited- that's why we do what we do. Keep in touch and feel free to join the guild to follow our updates. Don't hesitate to ask anymore questions.
Mar 4 2010, 9:00 pm
Thank you I will and I won't. You guys informed me on everything I needed to know. Thank you very much.
Mar 4 2010, 9:18 pm
I'll be buying a package within the next few days, thanks for the info =]
Mar 4 2010, 9:26 pm
Oh and you might want to update your info on the site, when I mouseover "Packages" and go down to the specific package, it has the old prices posted. You probably already know this but just making sure.
Mar 4 2010, 9:26 pm
Thanks for pointing that out, I'll take care of it!
Mar 4 2010, 9:46 pm
Actually, I may need to buy one right now. I tried looking on the site for ways to pay but didn't see any. Do you have any links to where I can get the Phi package right now?
Mar 4 2010, 9:47 pm
We handle all payments manually through paypal, and servers take about 24 hours to come online (sorry, a restriction set by our provider). If you want to send payment to [email protected] I'll get it up ASAP. Please mark the payment as a "gift" (as stated elsewhere, we don't profit, and if it's not marked as a gift payment, we get charged fees).

If you need something hosted RIGHT NOW I can host it on my own personal server until yours comes online.
Mar 4 2010, 9:49 pm
Ok, I'll send the payment now, I don't need something hosted right now, I just need the server to be ready for use by tomorrow afternoon. I can wait for the server, thanks for your offer though! =]
Mar 4 2010, 9:52 pm
Payment sent, again thanks for the help. =]
Mar 4 2010, 9:55 pm
Great, package ordered, I will e-mail you with details once it's all good to go.
Mar 4 2010, 9:56 pm
If possible, can you send the details to [email protected]?
Mar 4 2010, 9:57 pm
Will do.
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