21.01.2011, 19:16
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Last edited by Hudgens; 26/07/2012 at 12:49 AM.
)
I'll keep this simple, I will add some dots on how you can achieve a high player base on your server. These guidelines have helped a LOT of active servers today, it's worth the effort but if you can't put down time on it, don't launch a public server.
I also want to add that I am not a owner of a community, even though that I've been partwise administrator on a few, I've played for a long time to understand what players want and how servers actually are operated.
The reasons why I am not an owner of a community is because I simply don't have the time to put down on it.
1. Customized script is the basic, downloading a gamemode will increase the change that you won't receive any active players(because the gamemode is used to frequently).
2. An 24/7 uptime, you can of course start off with an cheap host, or host at your own house until you reach a higher player basic. The SA-MP Community has players from all over the world, that play during different timezones, example China and the US doesn't have the same timezone, yet there's players from both countries.
3. Don't rush, example setting your slots to 500 won't make any use, and I'm also suggesting that you don't buy the most expensive host during your first month(s) as it might cost you more than what you have thought off.
4. A good promotional video(trailer) is a great way of gaining players, but remember, keep up to the features that you offer or players will get dissapointed.
5. Be accurate on what you offer to the players, if it's roleplay then don't try to make and trailer where it's only shooting in it, as it's not that much RP.
6. A good administrator team is always important, having admins who barely knows proper English nor the server's system might be chaotic.
7. Don't give the 10th first players faction leader rights, admin, helper or whatever premium rights you got to offer (you might find more experienced admins/leaders/helpers within a near future and you regret your deeds).
8. Keep the server simple in the beginning, don't promise to much if you know you can't live up to it, players WILL get dissapointed.
9. Stick with the rules, even if there's 5 players on stick with the RULES, otherwise the server will develop under a bad rules guideline and when you suddenly start to be a lot more stricter people will leave as they might feel disrespected.
10. Come up with something new that no one else has thought of, for example roleplay servers and stunt servers are getting out of hand and mostly there's none online due to the amount of RP/Stunt servers today.
11. Don't be to harsh with your players, try to have a friendly relation with them all the time but make sure they still follow the servers rules. A good leader is supposed to be neutral as well.
12. Take insults, threats, and any sort of harrasing problems SERIOUSLY no matter what! People might feel disrespected if no admins interfer! (Threats, should even be reported to the proper authorities).
13. Recruit proper scripters(if you don't want to script for your own) and put demands on them.
14. An active forum with daily updates and numerous categories to keep players busy even when their offline (creates an atmosphere in the community).
15. Try to get a donation system up and running as soon as you feel that you are starting to get more and more active players, but don't give every donator to many premium rights(Admin rights is the worst thing you can give for a donation).
16. Don't give out free items, let people work for them (example if it's a DM/Stunt server host an event) //Mr187.
17. Don't allow hackers or any 3rd party software that can give a player more "advantage" than others.//Mr187
18. Treat all the players the same, don't favorise players and choose the correct punishment based on the rule the player broke and not on how good friends you are. //Code_Red
19. Do not spam with adverts on sa-mp forums, it makes your server look poor. Send only one advertisement per month, but make it look good and contain all of the important information.
I will add more tips within a near future, other members on SA-MP can of course post their own suggestions and I will add them(Including credits).
I also want to add that I am not a owner of a community, even though that I've been partwise administrator on a few, I've played for a long time to understand what players want and how servers actually are operated.
The reasons why I am not an owner of a community is because I simply don't have the time to put down on it.
1. Customized script is the basic, downloading a gamemode will increase the change that you won't receive any active players(because the gamemode is used to frequently).
2. An 24/7 uptime, you can of course start off with an cheap host, or host at your own house until you reach a higher player basic. The SA-MP Community has players from all over the world, that play during different timezones, example China and the US doesn't have the same timezone, yet there's players from both countries.
3. Don't rush, example setting your slots to 500 won't make any use, and I'm also suggesting that you don't buy the most expensive host during your first month(s) as it might cost you more than what you have thought off.
4. A good promotional video(trailer) is a great way of gaining players, but remember, keep up to the features that you offer or players will get dissapointed.
5. Be accurate on what you offer to the players, if it's roleplay then don't try to make and trailer where it's only shooting in it, as it's not that much RP.
6. A good administrator team is always important, having admins who barely knows proper English nor the server's system might be chaotic.
7. Don't give the 10th first players faction leader rights, admin, helper or whatever premium rights you got to offer (you might find more experienced admins/leaders/helpers within a near future and you regret your deeds).
8. Keep the server simple in the beginning, don't promise to much if you know you can't live up to it, players WILL get dissapointed.
9. Stick with the rules, even if there's 5 players on stick with the RULES, otherwise the server will develop under a bad rules guideline and when you suddenly start to be a lot more stricter people will leave as they might feel disrespected.
10. Come up with something new that no one else has thought of, for example roleplay servers and stunt servers are getting out of hand and mostly there's none online due to the amount of RP/Stunt servers today.
11. Don't be to harsh with your players, try to have a friendly relation with them all the time but make sure they still follow the servers rules. A good leader is supposed to be neutral as well.
12. Take insults, threats, and any sort of harrasing problems SERIOUSLY no matter what! People might feel disrespected if no admins interfer! (Threats, should even be reported to the proper authorities).
13. Recruit proper scripters(if you don't want to script for your own) and put demands on them.
14. An active forum with daily updates and numerous categories to keep players busy even when their offline (creates an atmosphere in the community).
15. Try to get a donation system up and running as soon as you feel that you are starting to get more and more active players, but don't give every donator to many premium rights(Admin rights is the worst thing you can give for a donation).
16. Don't give out free items, let people work for them (example if it's a DM/Stunt server host an event) //Mr187.
17. Don't allow hackers or any 3rd party software that can give a player more "advantage" than others.//Mr187
18. Treat all the players the same, don't favorise players and choose the correct punishment based on the rule the player broke and not on how good friends you are. //Code_Red
19. Do not spam with adverts on sa-mp forums, it makes your server look poor. Send only one advertisement per month, but make it look good and contain all of the important information.
I will add more tips within a near future, other members on SA-MP can of course post their own suggestions and I will add them(Including credits).