Terms of Service Question

[lewjum]

I was reading the TOS when I came across this:

Originally Posted by "Terms of Service

Examples of unacceptable material on all Shared and Reseller servers include:

IRC Bots, Proxy Scripts / Anonymizers, Pirated Software / Warez, image, filedump, mirror, or banner-ad services (similar to rapidshare, photobucket, or commercial banner ad rotation), topsites, commercial audio streaming (more than one or two streams), Escrow, High-Yield Interest Programs (HYIP) or related sites, Investment sites (FOREX, egold exchange), sale of any controlled substance without prior proof of appropriate permit(s), AutoSurf sites, Bank Debentures, Bank Debenture Trading Programs, Prime Banks Programs, lottery sites, muds / rpg's, hate sites, hacker focused sites/archives/programs, or sites promoting illegal activities, IP Scanners, Brute Force Programs, Mail Bombers and Spam Scripts. Forums and or websites that distribute or link to warez content are prohibited.

Does this mean no gaming in any shape or form can be hosted by a client on a Shared Server?

[GatorChrisD]

For the most part that is correct. Small single user games such as flash games, are fine unless they are causing a high load on the server or using too much CPU. Any multiplayer games and RPG's are banned due to the problems they have caused us in the past. Do you have a particular site in mind? Please contact us at security@hostgator.com to report any TOS violations on our servers. If you have any other questions, just let us know.

[lewjum]

Say this "game" is simply a PHP and MySQL application?

There's nothing in the TOS against PHP applications, so what if there is a PHP application hosted on a Shared Server that is labelled a game and used like a game? Then what?

[jrettke1]

lol... I'd say if it is raising that much concern with you, it's probably not a good idea.

From what I can gather from Chris' post is you'll probably be fine as long as it doesn't hog the CPU.

[GatorChrisD]

Well, most of these RPG's that I suspend (actually came a cross a few today) are php/mysql based. MUD/RPG's have consistently caused cpu/load issues and have been prone to receiving DDOS attacks in the past. Our experience has shown they are simply not suitable for a shared server. At that point its not effecting the one client running the game, but would effect all the clients on this server. It's just not a risk that is worth taking considering the amount of downtime that might occur for the entire server.

[whatrevolution]

If you want to develop and beta test this sort of game, run it on your own machine in your home/office. It will be safer there, than on shared servers. If you're ready to debut such a game, you simply MUST give the game its own machine. You can load down the machine with whatever else you like and have room for, but you need the option of clearing it back out and running the game ticker alone. Dedicated, is the way to go there.

[genjix]

what about mutliplayer flash game that you can play on smf forum message board?

[GatorChrisD]

Can you elaborate a little more on the game? Do you have a link where I could review the details?