Mod/Addon Developer Site HostingPH

[Reven 0]

All mod and addon makers for OFP are eligable to receive free hosting from OFPFiles.

You may have a site but are annoyed with the massive string with your host's name in the URL, or could already have a domain but are paying for it. OFPFiles are offering free hosting of all of the OFP-related files you create.

You may think there is a restricting bandwidth limit too. There isn't. We give you unlimited bandwidth, so as many people can visit your site a month as you want.

You can have either an XXX.ofpfiles.com URL or choose to have your own domain but have our hosting (domain names without hosting are incredibly cheap).

With my (Reven's) permission, I can give you site access to OFPFiles so you are able to upload your own files without a site staff member doing it. This makes adding your files a painless process.

With this you get unlimited storage space. The server has Terabytes of free space waiting to be filled with quality addons.

You may think there must be a catch. I can say now, there ISN'T. No banners, no popups or scams. All we ask is that you place a small string or graphic at the bottom of each page on your site saying "Hosted by OFPFiles.com". Not much for something that usually costs Å20 a month, eh?

Our hosted sites have free access to the use of cPanel - one of the most technically advanced web hosting tools on the net.

With a hosted site, you get great email support too. You'll be able to forward emails to other accounts automatically, create scripts that auto-respond to certain types of emails (eg. emails that feature "I need information" can be automatically sent information) along with a fully-programmable spam filter.

Full PHP, Zlib, Gzip, GD and MySQL support.

Email Accounts, Spam filtering, E-Mail forwarders, autoresponders and much more email related features.

You can even host your own forums, or have a forum made for you on GF (Gaming Forums) with more than 100,000 members and a world of visiters able to see your work. You will have full moderating and editing rights on your forums.

Interested? Then find out more here.

Thanks alot!

Reven | OFPFiles Site Manager

Hosting Offer

OFPFiles

[Gordy 0]

Too bad I can't make any websites.

[Silent N Deadly 0]

Nice, but this would go under Fan & Squad Pages.

[Reven 0]

It doesn't seem to have been... if it needs moved then sorry for it being in the wrong place.

[benu 1]

As there is php and sql support, does this mean one could install a cms there? Then everyone would be able to "make webpages"...

[Silent N Deadly 0]

Full PHP, Zlib, Gzip, GD and MySQL support.

I think it does support that.

[benu 1]

Yes, technically it would be possible, you only need webspace with php and a mysql account/table. I just wanted to ask if it is ok with the hoster. Cause it is really easy to get a decent looking site with some cms. They maybe should think about a standard installation for people without the knowledge to install one themselves.

[Billabong81 0]

Yes, technically it would be possible, you only need webspace with php and a mysql account/table. I just wanted to ask if it is ok with the hoster. Cause it is really easy to get a decent looking site with some cms. They maybe should think about a standard installation for people without the knowledge to install one themselves.

Cpanel has an auto PHP-Nuke installer in its scripts library . Reven said they have Cpanel, so they should have the Nuke auto-installer as well .

[benu 1]

Hmm, and php nuke has a history of security flaws I would prefer something like e107 or similar...

But i do not plan to use this service anyway, i am no addon developer and already got my own site. I asked more because of people like Gordy who said he can make no websites himself

[Reven 0]

I am not sure about the specifics, as I am not the one in charge of adding the sites - it's my network boss ;). I do think, however, that you can use a different manager if you want as long as you get it your own way (we pay for your use of cPanel).

[kegetys 2]

I'd watch out a bit on what you upload to ofpfiles, they are already selling addons on their site using the CD delivery service (9,95$ for a CD) and all your uploaded files would apparently get the same treatment. I requested my addons to be taken down from the site a few months ago, and they did, but now they have added them all back again. Very nice "service"...

[llauma 0]

I'd watch out a bit on what you upload to ofpfiles, they are already selling addons on their site using the CD delivery service (9,95$ for a CD) and all your uploaded files would apparently get the same treatment. I requested my addons to be taken down from the site a few months ago, and they did, but now they have added them all back again. Very nice "service"...

That's really bad.. 9.95$ for a CD has to mean that they earn at least something otherwise they wouldn't have such a service.

But it's a good idea to have a service for those who are not able to download FDF mod or something else big but then it should be non-profit and they should definitly ask the makers for their permition.

[benu 1]

I really have not much of an opinion about selling cds with free addons for a small amount. I have a dsl flat, so i wouldn't buy one, but i know of enough people who would. We also burned and shipped cds with addons or missions for some people on dialup. And if take into account the internet cost and time to download 700mb on dialup then $10 may not be much for a commercial service. They sure aren't when you take the working time of burning, packing and shipping the cd into account.

I'd say, as long as it is legal and somebody wants to buy those cds then let them.

But if anyone objects and does not want to have his addons hosted there like Kegetys i can understand too.

[Reven 0]

I have said this lots of times before. The CD service is for dialup users to avoid days of downloading for big mods. Do you really think we make profit out of $10 after shipping, staff costs for the service, packaging, CD costs and other charges? Even if we do, the site does not get given any money. We are part of a larger network called FilesNetwork. I'm sure you've seen at least a few sites called XXXfiles.com.

We can do this sort of hosting because FilesNetwork are such rich bastards and have lots of uber servers waiting to be used.

And Ketegtys - I don't know anything about the file removal request (it wouldn't have been me dealing with it at the time). If you want your files removed, just contact the site through the contact page and I'll tell the staff. Thanks.

[kegetys 2]

Do you really think we make profit out of $10 after shipping, staff costs for the service, packaging, CD costs and other charges?

I thought it was 9,95$ + shipping... Out of that, maybe 0,5$ is for the CD-R. Staff costs etc. do not count since anyone shouldn't be making a living out of other people's free work (It's supposed to be a "good will" service, right?). So thats 9,45$ of profit per CD. If its not you getting that, then maybe you should be wondering about who exactly it is you are "servicing" here by admining the site.

Quote[/b] ]We can do this sort of hosting because FilesNetwork are such rich bastards and have lots of uber servers waiting to be used.

Now where did all those "rich bastards" get their money

Quote[/b] ]And Ketegtys - I don't know anything about the file removal request (it wouldn't have been me dealing with it at the time). If you want your files removed, just contact the site through the contact page and I'll tell the staff. Thanks.

I have and its the second time already. In fact just keeping the downloads on the site is illegal as I have terminated all rights from filefront or its associates from distributing material copyrighted to me. But I bet it'll be a few months and they will be on the site again... And my nick is spelled "Kegetys".

[philcommando 0]

A balanced objective view:

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Businessman

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over million fans....free weekly addons - a recipe for riche$$ for any businessman worth his salt.

How to tap? - minimum capital - cheap servers from failed dotcom enterprises - $5,000. Cant charge for freeaddon, cos that would not be gentlemanly, but sure can charge for services cos some addons sure are heavy on download time for 56k. Overall percentage of broadband vs dialups = at least 40% of folks still on dialups = 400,000 potential clients outta a million fans, translating to est $4million per compilation sold at $9.95 per cd. Some and part of the millions will definately rub off into profits despite and no matter how 'non-profit' it may be, afterall..its $4million per compilation, with never ending source from addonmakers - u get the money first then make the cd and sell....hell! no further investments! How much better can this biz get?

Addonmaker

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Why use servers?..firstly and lets be blunt - its the challenge that u can go beyond (not necessarily better) than the developers. Secondly, an opportunity to be taken noticed of in the event talent scouts are out there from the world's gamming community. What better way than to make use of free servers to display yer talent at no other cost to yourself other than the effort at addon creation? ( in truth, how many were ever selected? but just like the olympics, we know there is only one price - gold, but did that stop others from trying?)

My advice, and this my only one in all these years here - just dont be conned by sweettalk and promises which only strings u along by so called talent scouts or someone who claims to have ears to the bigwigs. You need to eat too, and sure cant eat on empty promises.

Dial up users

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It is hell sometimes to download addons, more so if islands or missions require u to do so. For example i downloaded the sebnam pack - a whopping 76mb, even with broadband, in hours...only to find that it cant load due to server error! Imagine the dial up user - and the costs he will incur, and it aint cheap if it runs into hours - just for the sebnam pack alone! Makes more sense to buy the cd with up to 600mbs of extras for sure!

Legal issues:-

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addon - nope, u cant certainly charge for it cos u are using a free software from bis to make it, unlike if u made it from 3dmax and hell if 3dmax says no u cant sell 3d u made. A weapon addon cant be sold, true........but the service to distribute the addon can be priced.

There is a difference in the legal term between ' i made this addon' and 'i mailed this addon'...the creation is free but the service to send the addon is not free. Just like donations - the services to distribute and administer the money is not free. You may donate your organ but the medical fees to plant the organ is not free.

Game developer:-

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Will they gain?...lol! OF COURSE!!....their game cd will definately sell more and as more interest in the game picks up, they will be able to springboard to their next release easily as they would have a loyalty base - its all about branding, thats why mac and coke have done well...we may drink water sometimes, but coke and a mac will never die as long as billiant and talented addommakers/missionmakers/scripters are encouraged.

Summary:

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I have stated once in these forums that as long as there is money to be made, issues such as these wont be the last, and more will rise, so best to confront them maturedly.

Ultimately, market forces will determine the level which servers such as opfiles survive or die. Its the level of service and trust that will make addonmakers port to them - what kind of offerings that they can give while others cant, comp support, gamming bigwigs connections, no crap, low cd prices, etc. No one is truly a fool to pay for something they can get it for free, but will pay if he can get the article stressfree.

It will go the way the book publishing biz started. Mankind are doomed to repeat history - everyday.

[Reven 0]

It's a real shame about it. I would remove the CD thing just so we could have your files on the site (because there's no question that FDF is the best) but I'm not allowed and I'm not in charge.

I have one question though - do you not want us mirroring your files due to copyright restrictions; the cd service charging money for free work; or just because you don't like us?

[benu 1]

Regardless of whether they are earning any money on it i see it as a SERVICE. You know, as in: nobody forces anyone to order a cd at the site. But maybe some modem users WANT to order a cd for $10, maybe they are even HAPPY about it as it saves them dialup costs and time.

Not to say Kegetys point of view is wrong. But there are countries where you can't get cheap internet and i have in the past been asked multiple times if i could burn a cd/dvd for someone and mail it to them. Even for me downloading 15gb of free addons with my dsl connection is no fun, i'd rather burn 3 dvds.

[kegetys 2]

I have one question though - do you not want us mirroring your files due to copyright restrictions; the cd service charging money for free work; or just because you don't like us?

The CD service was the original reason. When I asked the files to be removed a few months back, they (or "you") refused to do so. After that I no longer liked you. Then my only option was to terminate the rights from filefront to distribute my stuff, after which the copyright law restricts you from distributing them legally in any way.

[Reven 0]

Well I wasn't working on the site a few months ago, but I think I know who was.

So to get this straight - it is now illegal now that you have terminated the rights, but it wasn't illegal before (you only made it illegal as you didn't support the CD service).

So if I was to arrange for the CD service to not be allowed to be used with any of your files, would you be willing to allow us to host them again?

[kegetys 2]

Regardless of whether they are earning any money on it i see it as a SERVICE. You know, as in: nobody forces anyone to order a cd at the site. But maybe some modem users WANT to order a cd for $10, maybe they are even HAPPY about it as it saves them dialup costs and time.

Nobody forces you to buy anything, no matter if its a service or a product. What if they would be charging 50$ for it? or 25$? Most propably there still would be people who would happily pay that. Would you still consider it to be ok? Or where would the limit be? What if they would be selling addon CD's in a store and say that when you buy it for 25$, all you pay for is for the service to print the CD and ship it to the store?

To me, the limit is the fact that they are clearly making profit out of it since there's no way it would cost them 9,95$ to burn one CD and package it. For something like 1$ + shipping I propably would have no problems with such service as it would most likely really be a "good will" service and not an attempt to milk money from people who do not have fast internet access.

Quote[/b] ]So if I was to arrange for the CD service to not be allowed to be used with any of your files, would you be willing to allow us to host them again?

No.

[Chiefy 0]

We at OFP Files are sorry about this whole episode.

I was the one who removed your files this time, and I have to say it was with great regret as they're some of the best stuff around.

Had we been the team running OFP Files when you first requested that your files be removed, we would certainly not have turned you down and they would have been gone as fast as we were able to, or removed from the CD service. The person who turned you down before was very much in the wrong, they no longer work for the site though, it's under an entirely new team.

The present team were not told of your changes to the copyright, by anyone, and they therefore added your files as normal without knowledge of this. We apologise if you've made this clear in any of your readmes, it has been missed if that is the case.

Filefront make no profit from the CD Delivery service, it is provided by an external company who set the price of $9.95 for whatever reasons they have. If it were at all possible we would love to host your files without the CD option and we're sorry that this is no longer the case.

I can give you a guarantee that I will try my utmost to stop any of your files being inadvertently added to the site, all staff have now been informed of this.

There is an option of hosting a description of your files on OFP Files, but linking to another location for the download such as your personal webspace or another OFP Fansite. I would implore you to consider it, as the people who lose out are OFP fans looking for some high-quality addons, but I can understand that your opinion of us has been tarnished and will understand if you refuse.

As an on-topic response, I would urge any modders out there to seriously consider the offer, it's extremely generous in my opinion and presents scope for creation of fantastic webspace. I know I would use it if I made mods, anyway.

[Reven 0]

Just to clarify things - Kegetys - we are able to add an information page to our site but link to another off-site download location such as your own personal site for the addons when the "Download Now" button is clicked.

Will you allow us to do this? This way, it is impossible for any of your files to be put on a CD or sold in any other way. Your site, or a site of your choosing will receive the user from our site so that they can download the file.

[Chiefy 0]

Just to clarify things - Kegetys - we are able to add an information page to our site but link to another off-site download location such as your own personal site for the addons when the "Download Now" button is clicked.

Will you allow us to do this? This way, it is impossible for any of your files to be put on a CD or sold in any other way. Your site, or a site of your choosing will receive the user from our site so that they can download the file.

That's what I said, isn't it...?

Quote[/b] ]There is an option of hosting a description of your files on OFP Files, but linking to another location for the download such as your personal webspace or another OFP Fansite.