Help With Server Suggestions?

Hello everyone!

I’ve been in the process of working on my second game for a little while now and I’m coming to an area that I have little to no useable knowledge; the server.

My current project is designed to have an optional multiplayer gameplay, but I’m not really certain how to best handle it. I’m sure I can figure out the AS3 side of the coding and have experience with PHP, Java, MySQL, and a plethora of other languages, but I’ve never really tried to run my own server before. Ideally, I would like to setup a secure high score setup, separate from Kongregate’s API (though I will be implementing that), with the added ability to have things like forums and a game website of sorts. In order to accomplish this well, I know that I’ll need access to a server, but am not certain if there are reliable hosts out there to fill this need or if I’ll need to set up my own.

Security is my major concern here, as I want the highscores to be as untouchable as it can be without spending gobs of money on expensive software.

Does anybody have any suggestions for websites, servers, software, or anything else that might help me accomplish this? What do you use for your games?

Thanks,
Aaron.

Really? Nobody has any thoughts or suggestions? ><

I actually have a decent level of programming experience and have exposed myself to as much of the software that I figured might be helpful as I could… but I’m just not sure what the next step is. Really just looking for host links, tutorials, or any other info that might be helpful in learning what I need to know.

Please help if you can!

Thanks again,
Aaron.

I’ve used Project Darkstar before at it seems to work quite well. It’s a free open source java server that has several AS3 APIs . For websites/hosts etc I have no idea, I think you might be better off asking in a webhosting or networking forum if you want a serious answer. It’s pretty much all the same regardless of what the client is written in.

Sweet, thanks! I’ll be sure to look into that :)

I’ve used hosting websites in the past for website development, but I’m not sure that one of those are suitable to be used as an actual server for game content and such. I think I’d rather prefer that form of hosting for the whole project, to prevent sucking up my personal bandwidth, increasing security risks, and the need to really learn a whole new OS.

I kinda looked through all of the forums I could find here on Kong before choosing this one to post the question in. I figured that this would be the best place to connect with experienced game devs who’re likely to have already run into this issue. If there’s another forum that would be better suited to that, then for the love of all that is holy, please point the way! :D

Thanks!
Aaron.