Section 8 Will Let You Run Your Own Servers on the Xbox

[DoctorFinger]

Every day we get a little bit closer to the convergence of PC gaming and console gaming. Now even console gamers will have the chance to host their own servers for the upcoming FPS, Section 8.

Developer TimeGate Studios has announced that the game will support X Server Functionality on the Xbox 360. That means that gamers who want to can run their own dedicated servers on a Windows-based PC. These dedicated servers will allow an expanded player count - 32 players vs. 16 on a regular Xbox Live server. Gamers running a dedicated server for the PC version will also get an increase, from 32 to 40 simultaneous players.

Interested parties just have to download the client at the Official Section 8 site (http://www.joinsection8.com/).

Section 8 will be released on the Xbox 360 and PC on September 1.

[Goronmon]

This would be the first instance of user hosting of 360 online games, wouldn't it?

Will be interesting to see how this works and if it results in a better experience for the 360.

[Yeti2005]

This would be the first instance of user hosting of 360 online games, wouldn't it?

Will be interesting to see how this works and if it results in a better experience for the 360.

Didn't the Xbox 1 allow you to host certain games for other Xbox users? I thought Rainbow 6 had this option.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how this play out with the 360. I wonder if you'll be able to pick your server from a browser. If so this could open scenarios where people mod the server side to give themselves and advantage on their own PC machine.

[Karak]

Didn't the Xbox 1 allow you to host certain games for other Xbox users? I thought Rainbow 6 had this option.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how this play out with the 360. I wonder if you'll be able to pick your server from a browser. If so this could open scenarios where people mod the server side to give themselves and advantage on their own PC machine.

Right.
But he asked if it was the first 360 version.
Which it is.

[Bone]

On one hand, I love this idea. It's great to be able to add server-class machines and make bigger, more stable servers.

On the other, it's only a short matter of time before a hacked server.exe is out there, allowing exploits/hacks/whatever.

I hope it's more of the former than the latter- this could be a great thing.

[Kryopsis]

On the other, it's only a short matter of time before a hacked server.exe is out there, allowing exploits/hacks/whatever.

Can't you just avoid these servers?

I've had Section 8 pre-ordered, something I usually avoid doing. The title has potential and as far as I know, there is only one way of knowing whether TimeGate is up to something or this is yet another average shooter.

[Yeti2005]

Right.
But he asked if it was the first 360 version.
Which it is.

I wasn't saying he was wrong. I was just pointing out a precedence has already been set with Xbox 1.

[MosBen]

Yeti2005: for the Xbox 1 games, didn't they host on your Xbox and not on a PC server?

[Johan]

PC gaming will never die! It will just slowly merge/migrate with consoles, like the Borg. :D

[Gorvi]

On the other, it's only a short matter of time before a hacked server.exe is out there, allowing exploits/hacks/whatever.
It's worked fine for Warhawk for 2 years now, it should be ok for Section 8.

[digitalErich]

I was in the closed beta for this game and it's a blast...I can't wait.

[Bone]

Can't you just avoid these servers?

The danger would be 1. not knowing until later that people were cheating and maybe 2. achievement/stat padding servers.

It's not a huge fear, just a likelihood when you introduce Windows binaries into what was previously a pretty closed system.

[digitalErich]

While I'm already buying the game on the PC, if I were buying this on the 360, I would trade some more openness for server hosting any day. I hope more games do this.

One of things I still love about PC gaming that console gaming has no concept of is a "home" or regular-hangout public server. I like that for a given game on the PC, I can find a server that I have good latency on, that has a good group of people that play on it regularly, and that I can keep this server as my default anytime I want to play.

[DoctorFinger]

I could never get the PC beta of the game to work for me. Still looking forward to it.

[Yeti2005]

It's worked fine for Warhawk for 2 years now, it should be ok for Section 8.

Warhawk is hosted on consumer PC servers? That's pretty cool. Maybe there's hope after all.

[Gerbs]

Not interested in server mumbo jumbo, but this title is on my watch list for sure.

[Orca]

Warhawk is hosted on consumer PC servers? That's pretty cool. Maybe there's hope after all.

I think Warhawk's dedicated server option runs on your PS3, I don't recall a PC client being released.

I'm sure there have been games that allow you to set your 360 as a dedicated server for others, but I can't think of titles offhand - Rainbow Six maybe? I think this is the first to allow you to set up a PC to act as the server though.

[Gorvi]

Warhawk is hosted on consumer PC servers? That's pretty cool. Maybe there's hope after all.
Oh, this is on PCs that they're allowing hosting? I had assumed it was just letting people use their 360s as dedicated servers. That's how it works with Warhawk. There I go not reading the article. :p

[Inspector Fowler]

This is badass. Purely badass. The best gaming experiences I have ever had were at dedicated PC servers. Having a community with some investment in the experience makes all the difference in the world.

Having peer-to-peer is great for pick up and play. But if you want a really fun time without all the fucking assholes, you find a great server/set of servers that are high speed for you, have clear rules, and a set of fair but firm admins. The experience is so different it's like playing different games.

I wish more console games did this. After I quit gaming for a while and came back, I'm gaming only on the PC. On of the primary reasons is that I like having my voice chat open but I just can't stand all the assholes on Live that I simply can't avoid. One day I got so angry at a child I said some simply terrible things. I realized I needed to put things on hold for a bit. Now that I'm back, it's PC only because the PC experience doesn't eliminate those assholes, but it does give you a chance to make sure the assholes leave the server while you stay there having a good time.

[Spectre-7]

The title has potential and as far as I know, there is only one way of knowing whether TimeGate is up to something or this is yet another average shooter.

As of today, there are two ways of knowing. Section 8 went open beta today. (http://www.joinsection8.com/region-select/)

The open beta will offer a look at the multiplayer mode with one of the maps from the final game, as well as all the weapons and a variety of vehicles, deployables, dynamic combat missions, and equipment. Players will immediately get to experience custom loadouts and the sensation of burning-in from 15,000 feet as they survey the battlefield.

Section 8 gives players the opportunity to call their own shots as they battle in the farthest reaches of the galaxy. With the ability to drop from the sky to anywhere on the battlefield, customize your soldier’s equipment, and dynamically manipulate the flow of combat with strategic asset deliveries, each soldier’s Section 8 experience will be completely different.

Personally, I think it's yet another average shooter, but there's no reason not to check it out for yourself.

[digitalErich]

I think it's much better than average, but I'm a huge Tribes and BF2 fan.

[txshurricane]

I think it's much better than average, but I'm a huge Tribes and BF2 fan.
Being able to host dedicated servers for Tribes Aerial Assault and the Star Wars Battlefront games on PS2 was such a great feature. This support alone makes me more interested in Section 8...and hopeful for similar support for SWBF 3 (whenever that will be).

[digitalErich]

If you enjoyed the gameplay of the games you listed, you'll probably dig Section 8.

[Kryopsis]

Personally, I think it's yet another average shooter, but there's no reason not to check it out for yourself.

You should really give it a try, Spectre-7, it's far from average.
I can see myself enjoying this for a long time, judging by the limited Open Beta.

[digitalErich]

I got almost to max rank level in the closed beta, so I'm taking a break until the retail release, but I'm curious what map they released with the open beta. Which one is it? It is the one that centers around the Arecibo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arecibo_Observatory)-like dish?

[Spectre-7]

You should really give it a try, Spectre-7, it's far from average.
I can see myself enjoying this for a long time, judging by the limited Open Beta.

Already did. I played for the better part of a week in the closed beta, and I left feeling it was an almost perfectly average shooter. Each to their own, I suppose.

[Kryopsis]

Hm, strange. I would've assumed that 'Section 8' would be a great match for 'Spectre-7'.

Oh well, guess I won't see you in-game, then...

[Wackman3000]

I am trying to play the open beta... but after entering in the cd key, it asks for usename and pass... I put it in and it tells me what if I don't enter in info stats and stuff arent tracked, and asks me to repeat.

Not sure if I fucked up somewhere along the line or what, but awesome beta. :)

[Spectre-7]

I am trying to play the open beta... but after entering in the cd key, it asks for usename and pass... I put it in and it tells me what if I don't enter in info stats and stuff arent tracked, and asks me to repeat.

Not sure if I fucked up somewhere along the line or what, but awesome beta. :)

It's your Fileplanet login (username, not email address, if memory serves). Took me a while to figure it out, too. ;)

[Wackman3000]

Ya, got it working.

I liked the little bit I just played now, but I wouldn't mind joining a game with someone who knows what's going on to show me the ropes. I can shoot people just fine, but the objectives had me confused.

Also, why can't I throw grenades? It says I have 3. If anyone wants to play just hit me up on steam and we'll organize.

[Spectre-7]

Also, why can't I throw grenades? It says I have 3.

They're special equipment. You need to make sure they're selected, and then hit your use special equipment key.

[Kryopsis]

'F' by default. Press 'Q' to cycle between your two equipment slots.

[Wackman3000]

'F' by default. Press 'Q' to cycle between your two equipment slots.

Thank you... I'm gonna go play some more now. :D

I've never played Tribes or any other jetpack FPS game... It's a blast flying in the air while shooting people, can't believe I havent done this before.

[Kryopsis]

Here is a tip, in case if you didn't know: if you zoom-in onto an enemy with any weapon, press E to lock-on to the player, essentially getting a few short seconds of auto-aim.

[digitalErich]

And another pro-tip, the sensor jammer prevents people from locking onto you.

This game really shines in small groups that know what they are doing. One person fires a portable sensor array ahead of the squad, painting the CP with enemy locations, squad goes in through two doors, another person pops a sensor jammer to prevent them from locking onto anyone in your squad and you just chew them to pieces.

[digitalErich]

Another aspect that will make or break you as a player is the shield penetration. Do you notice how sometimes the reticule will change slightly when you are close to someone? This means your bullets are bypassing a portion of their shields and doing direct damage. All guns have a different range at which they will penetrate shields.

In the closed beta it went, from longest range to shortest, Pistol>MG>AR>Shotgun. When you first start playing you'll question why you would ever use the MG in place of the AR and this is why right here.

[Kryopsis]

In the closed beta it went, from longest range to shortest, Pistol>MG>AR>Shotgun.

So that's the utility of the pistol! Thanks, I was wondering if it had its uses...

[Gerbs]

This game sounds like it uses some interesting mechanics. Anything else besides the mentioned penetration and lock on / jammer tech? Is there upgrades? Is anything persistent?