GSP Idea based off Server Modifications

[CrimsonGT]

So about a year ago me and a friend of mine were going to start a GSP. Basically I was going to be the brains behind the outfit, and he was going to front the money to get the project rolling. Long story short is, his business went under a couple weeks after we had started, and everything we had done basically went down the toilet.

Now, its been some time, and as I am a server junkie, I have considered restarting this project. For the past 4-5 years I have basically spent most of my time (12+ hours a day) online making money doing coding projects for serverside mods and so on. It occured to me that that not only am I a very experienced srcds user, but I am also one of the top modders for the game as well. I have created a lot of stuff that has never been done before, and really theres maybe 2-3 people out there who can do it. On top of this I have worked for GSPs in the past doing volunteer support, and other odd jobs.

So I started thinking this might be one of those ideas that would set me apart from other GSPs. Basically offer servers with this modifications as side packages for extra cost. Originally I was just going to sell the code, but I had no way of keeping one person from buying it then distributing it everyone else for free. This way, it could be easily managed from my end and not risk anyone redistributing it.

Bottom Line
I am a bit more level headed than these kids that pop on here with 20 bucks and no server knowledge and want to start a GSP. I would classify myself as a professional which I think goes a long way in this industry. So with this I am thinking if I wait for 2-3 months, and do some side jobs to fund all of the necessary starting tools such as...

1) Kayako eSupport
2) TCAdmin Purchased Liscense
3) Professionally designed Website
4) 1-2 Dedicated Boxes in probably Texas and on one popular location (NY or Chicago)

I would have a pretty good start to go with, then I could spend my time advertising and supporting new clients. So what are thoughts on this? Would I be better off just trying to find a GSP that would hire me to do jobs like this, or go ahead and make the leap and do it myself? I have always been fairly business minded, and would enjoy running one, but with how many GSPs already exist sometimes it doesnt seem worth it.

Also kind of curious about how the economy is affecting server sales right now.

[ComputerHelper]

assmunk Wrote:Personaly I aplaude you, starting a gsp is a lot of work, not only would you need a Control pannel and espport, but you also need a billing interphase. I'm sure your aware though you need a bussines licence, and if your going to do things such as vent you need a licence too. All in all just be prepared, with out a doupt a lot of customers aren't going to know how to add a map let alone install a mod or script

amen

[CrimsonGT]

Yeah, im glad you mentioned the billing, forgot to add that to the list. Sadly I think the most complicated part is going to be getting a business liscense as I know very little about that, and dread dealing with the government.

The customers not knowing anything is fine. I dealt with that plenty when I did volunteer support, and I still deal with it to this day. Im a moderator at Sourcemod forums and I have a massive friends list on various messengers of server admins who contact me constantly asking me how to do this or that

[cookies911]

CrimsonGT Wrote:So about a year ago me and a friend of mine were going to start a GSP. Basically I was going to be the brains behind the outfit, and he was going to front the money to get the project rolling. Long story short is, his business went under a couple weeks after we had started, and everything we had done basically went down the toilet.

Now, its been some time, and as I am a server junkie, I have considered restarting this project. For the past 4-5 years I have basically spent most of my time (12+ hours a day) online making money doing coding projects for serverside mods and so on. It occured to me that that not only am I a very experienced srcds user, but I am also one of the top modders for the game as well. I have created a lot of stuff that has never been done before, and really theres maybe 2-3 people out there who can do it. On top of this I have worked for GSPs in the past doing volunteer support, and other odd jobs.

So I started thinking this might be one of those ideas that would set me apart from other GSPs. Basically offer servers with this modifications as side packages for extra cost. Originally I was just going to sell the code, but I had no way of keeping one person from buying it then distributing it everyone else for free. This way, it could be easily managed from my end and not risk anyone redistributing it.

Bottom Line
I am a bit more level headed than these kids that pop on here with 20 bucks and no server knowledge and want to start a GSP. I would classify myself as a professional which I think goes a long way in this industry. So with this I am thinking if I wait for 2-3 months, and do some side jobs to fund all of the necessary starting tools such as...

1) Kayako eSupport
2) TCAdmin Purchased Liscense
3) Professionally designed Website
4) 1-2 Dedicated Boxes in probably Texas and on one popular location (NY or Chicago)

I would have a pretty good start to go with, then I could spend my time advertising and supporting new clients. So what are thoughts on this? Would I be better off just trying to find a GSP that would hire me to do jobs like this, or go ahead and make the leap and do it myself? I have always been fairly business minded, and would enjoy running one, but with how many GSPs already exist sometimes it doesnt seem worth it.

Also kind of curious about how the economy is affecting server sales right now.

We shall talk

[helio]

what kind of server modifications are you talking about?

[cookies911]

The economy is effecting gsp sales atm, from my point of view, not so much, but there is still like about 10-30% i believe. Most professional gamers want sponsorships.
Also getting sales is hard, especially when your starting a "new" gsp that is not as known as gameservers.com or counter-strike.com ( even thought their servers blows ). so yes....

[assmunk]

so how is it going for ya?

[CrimsonGT]

Pretty good, so far worst part is trying to find a decent name

[cookies911]

CrimsonGT Wrote:Pretty good, so far worst part is trying to find a decent name

CrimsonGT, reply back to my private messages please /
I also know of many other decent names.

[dualcore1289]

It all depends on what you want to do, if you want to front the money for stuff, and want to work alot, then hell go at it. But if you expect to live off of this, gameserver hosting is not the way to go, if you want to start making big bucks, its to host webhosting, dedicated servers and VPS (Virtual Private Servers).

[loopyman]

Agreed with dualcore1289... I ran a crappy GSP for a little bit, and decided it wast something I wanted to do. I got tired of dealing with children who wanted me to do everything for them and expected me to for their lousy 11 per month for their little 12 slot server or something.

Ask cookies, he was there... He was one of the above mention children to deal with...

[cookies911]

loopyman Wrote:Agreed with dualcore1289... I ran a crappy GSP for a little bit, and decided it wast something I wanted to do. I got tired of dealing with children who wanted me to do everything for them and expected me to for their lousy 11 per month for their little 12 slot server or something.

Ask cookies, he was there... He was one of the above mention children to deal with...

The hell you talking about, i know more about servers then you'll ever know.
Any who, how is it going for you.

[loopyman]

Well, first I'm not an attention grabbing whore. I'm going to college soon. Life is going good, Looking for a Chicago apartment. I love the city

And, the hell you talking about? I never said you were a retard, I just said you were a little annoying kid who needs to go play with his hot wheels track and shut the fuck up.

And I'm sorry that my post got a little messed up. You are one of the above children, you didn't do exactly that, you were just annoying, lazy, and a waste of my time. You say you would do something and never do it, then you run to somebody else and bitch about me.

I stupidly trusted you do so something and let you help out, but I guess I'm a retard for even remotely thinking that you ( cookies ) could finish some simple task without bitching about it or waiting a week.

However, I learned my lesson, game server companies require alot of work ( let that be a warning to you newbies ), I find photography much more enjoyable... Smiling faces.

ALSO:
If you know so much about game servers, please give me one company name that you founded your self, run your self, and is currently active with more than 10 customers all that would say that you are a decent provider. - Good Day

[dualcore1289]

Owned?!?!?!