GameSpy is closing ALL of their game servers, which would include the UT Master Server that powers the ingame server browser!

Luckily for UT, there IS a way to use a different master server, and there currently is one fan-made one thats in an early beta. http://333networks.com/masterserver Of course this is all ran by one guy with one computer, so it can't be 100% stable, but atleast its something. (Would be cool if someone like GameServers could host one, but hey I can dream.)

Switching your UT over to another master server is a piece of cake. All you do is add a line or two to your UnrealTournament.ini. (You can try this NOW. GameSpy's will still work until they close it down on May 31.)

Example of UT ini for a player: (Italics are the changes)

[UBrowserAll]
ListFactories[0]=UBrowser.UBrowserGSpyFact,MasterServerAddress=master0.gamespy.com,MasterServerTCPPort=28900,Region=0,GameName=ut
ListFactories[1]=UBrowser.UBrowserGSpyFact,MasterServerAddress=master.333networks.com,MasterServerTCPPort=28900,Region=0,GameName=ut
bFallbackFactories=False
bKeepMasterServer=True
----------------------------

To make your UT server use this new master server, just add this ServerActor to the Server.ini and/or UnrealTournament.ini.

ServerActors=IpServer.UdpServerUplink MasterServerAddress=master.333networks.com MasterServerPort=27900
------

EDIT: Check out the current servers on 333networks. That just makes me excited thinking of the possibilities for GameTracker if ClanServers would host a Master Server. That would be sweet!

Hello there GF-Rex, nice to see you spreading the good news.
Actually it is rather stable and many of us have been using it for a while.
The beta was the new version that has just been released, and is now available to DL.
It should be considered "RC" release candidate.

Darkelarious had planned on the need for more serious hosting power, but minimal data is sent so as long as start setting up their masters

I would recommend that until we know if Epic have abandoned UT99, we leave the utmaster entry and add a ListFactories[2]

So people know what the other settings are I'll explain.
bFallbackFactories=False
bKeepMasterServer=True
Those settings will stop it overwriting your changes if it fails to see a master.
When that happens it will copy the info from the "default.ini" file.

You really need to update the default file, and this can actually be the easiest way to install it.
If you update your default instead, when the Gamespy master fails, it will automatically update your main config.

NOTE: If you use the rather excellent Xbrowser replacement, you will have to update the Xbrowser.ini

Yes Gametracker could indeed host their own masterserver and show you live results inside the games, rather than just syncing your favourites (and only if they are registered).
Possibly we can arrange something if Gametracker are interested, though they may be able to work out the integration by just grabbing the code now (the docs are not finished).
It is also built to feed data to the 333networks web interface http://ubrowser.333networks.com so it should be no problem for giving data to the GT site, or for mod makers to have their own custom version on their project page.

333networks is currently listing a whole lot more live UT servers than most people realise exist. Compare the results with what you currently have, and with what you can see on Gametracker.

I made a more in-depth post here, as 333networks has extended support to include many more endangered games.
http://www.gametracker.com/forums/forum.php?site=1&thread=92917#post358726

Good to see the word getting out.
Jim DLD-RABBIT

ncunit33 wrote:
Good to see the word getting out.
Jim DLD-RABBIT
Yes, BRAVO !!! - Thank you Dr.Flay for posting this!
Been using 333Networks for a few years now myself - works great!

hookii wrote:
Been using 333Networks for a few years now myself - works great!
Yeah the future is with http://333networks.com/
Please click on his site and follow his info on how to update your .ini file to keep us up to date
I would like to publicly thank , Darkelarious & all the team there for there dedication towards UT

...we can stop holding our breath now.
Everyone should now also be receiving a list from the fixed Epic master.
Check your ini file and make sure you can see an uplink and downlink for
utmaster.epicgames.com

It is an old version of the masterserver, but it is now working.
Not as fast or as many servers showing as 333networks, but it will have to do for a backup

Work in the 333 hub continues, as newer faster versions are built and tested.

Looks like 333 will stay the master of choice for the discerning gamer

hey, burn said that you have hard rules for ypur 333networks customers here: http://www.gametracker.com/games/ut/forum.php?thread=93703

But isn't the masterserver free to use?

3 points, and as you so kindly immediately locked the thread, these matters of inaccuracy cannot be corrected there.

1) I request that you retract your accusation that we charge for our service, as that is a falsehood.
Unlike Gamespy, 333networks is a free Open Source project, allowing game publishers to host their own services. There are no "customers", only "providers" and "users".
Just like Gamespy, 333networks is integrated to the games and is part of the actual game configuration.

2) Security and true data is what the software houses want from us. It is also what the players want.
We would rather get an email from an angry server admin using hacks, than emails from unhappy players and game authors.
We get neither.

Part of the nature of the master server is defined by security and accuracy requirements required to maintain a reliable service.
It is the glue between the gamers, and if you break it the gamers don't get to play.
GameTracker does not have that problem, as it is not the mechanism that connects things. It is an optional addon service, so things like data injections and game server hijacks pose a low "risk" to it, and are just an inconvenience.
People have to hack the GT site or services to cause a threat, but people can hack the game to cause a threat to us.

A master server is the equivalent of the DNS for games.
To those that run a master-server, the presence of any injected false data is a threat, and is treated as seriously as any threat to the security and stability of any network.
The system is simply designed to self-repair, and when game admins remove cheats and hacks, their server will automatically list again.

When unknown threats are reported to us, we take a sample and see what it does. If it is deemed a threat, then either black-listing or filtering is applied, and requirements are then factored into the next master server build.
All standard procedure.

3) Bots and fake-players are very different. Bots/AI are part of most games, and the player gets to interact with them. The more, the merrier. Giving no complaints.
This is a standard game function.
Fake-players are non-existent bots and players, created by the use of server hacks, and the gamers never get to interact with them. Giving lots of complaints and forums at each-others throats.
Server hacks are not standard game function, and we will not tolerate their use on our networks.
Our new system can thankfully tell the difference between a bot and a fake-player.

I hope this clears up any misunderstanding you may have.