A Source dedicated server is a game server for games that use the Source engine. It allows multiple players to play competitively and can be operated by an individual or hosting service. Dedicated servers are more efficient than listening servers and can be managed in real-time through a web application. The dedicated Source Server (SRCDS) application can be downloaded for free, and the Source engine was created by Valve Corporation in 2004 and is commonly used in first-person shooter games.
A Source dedicated server is a dedicated game server for any game that makes use of a three-dimensional game engine called Source. This type of server allows many players to play competitively at the same time. A Source dedicated server can be operated by an individual over a residential Internet connection or by a dedicated hosting service. The server is dedicated, so clients can connect and play with other clients whether or not the system host is in the game.
Unlike a listening server, where one of the players in a game hosts the game for the others, a dedicated server is a server where the host is not actually playing the game but is simply running a relatively lightweight application to maximize system resources. This allows a single server system to host a number of individual game servers if desired. It’s usually the most efficient way to host a game for others.
While any home user can run a dedicated server, due to high bandwidth and hardware demands, many people choose to use a dedicated hosting service instead. Such hosting services are generally inexpensive, although this can vary depending on the number of users and other factors, and allow the user to configure the server to any specifics they want, including game types and the use of mods. . The server can then be managed by the user in real time from a simple web application.
For Source games, the application for running a dedicated server is called a dedicated Source Server (SRCDS). Any user who wants to start a dedicated server can freely download and run the application. With the SRCDS program, a host can launch, configure, and manage a dedicated Source server without ever logging into the game.
The Source game engine was created by Valve Corporation and released in 2004 for the first-person shooter game Counter Strike: Source. It has since been used in several other high profile games and is commonly used with various types of first person shooter games. In early 2011, Valve Corporation continued to develop and support the Source engine.
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