The online computer gaming market is expanding, with several million people from across the globe logging on monthly to play their favorite games. With each year that passes, more and more players log on; all of them needed a place to play. The Game Server market is experiencing an influx of customers, each with their own needs, wants, and inevitably, questions and problems. Because games are becoming increasingly more complex, with more options, game types and modes than ever before, it is important that the Game Server market adapts to be ready to help. A Game Server is nothing if it can't be used to its fullest potential, and Game Server providers cannot assume that the customers know every facet of all the games they play. With the developers busy creating the games, it falls on the community and Game Server providers to assist gamers as much as possible.

We are seeing an ever competitive market forming for Game Servers, which is a good thing. The old adage of "when companies compete, customers win" definitely holds true. Connection backbones are always being upgraded, and so is the hardware Game Servers are being hosted on. Reliability is the "in" word, and several companies, including Art of War Central, are all taking steps to maximize the up-time and quality of their Game Servers.

There has been a shift towards the consumer, and software to help manage Game Servers is always getting better. Even more promising is the steps several developers are taking to help make their games more accessible to the growing base of Server administrators. Game Server companies themselves are working with game developers to create partnerships all to help improve the experience for gamers.

While the industry as a whole is taking some great steps forward, there are still many areas Game Server companies can build on. I think a major lacking of many companies is comprehensive and available Technical Support. While developers are striving to make things easier to access, many players, even experienced ones, still have questions. More often than not, Game Server companies assume their customers are as knowledgeable about Game Servers as their employees, which just isn't the case most of the time. Additionally, customer service that is given is many times not given in either a timely manner or in a way that is helpful to the customer. Because the Game Server market is growing, it is important that the Game Server providers take into account that the background of their customers, at least in reference to their experience with Game Servers, is shifting away from the hardcore gamer market into a much broader population. Many customers are playing games online for the first time, and talking to them like seasoned Game Server veterans is not very constructive.

I think the major frustration for Game Server customers comes when trying to customize their Game Server to their tastes and play styles. Many companies do not support modifications to the servers directly, and the user is left to their own devices when trying to make things work. Fortunately, companies like Art of War Central now support nearly all modifications for all the games they host, and work their hardest to make sure the Game Server is running just as the customer wants. Additionally, many Game Server companies do not offer tech support during peak hours, if at all. Art of War Central, for example, offers 24/7 phone support as well as a support ticket system to help accommodate their customers schedule and needs.

Another notable trend is the lack of awareness by many companies when dealing with older or more obscure games they host. While some games may not be at the top of the industry in terms of number of people playing them, many games that have died down in hype still have a loyal following of customers who rent Game Servers. Unfortunately, many companies bandwagon on the most current and popular games, forgetting and casting aside other games. Again, companies like Art of War Central have taken the initiative to stay current on what many consider "out-of-date" games, providing Reliable and Knowledgeable support for their Game Servers.

I think customer service has to survive if the Game Server industry expects to continue to thrive and to grow. We are dealing with computers and people simultaneously, and when the two meet, there are bound to be problems, no matter the expertise involved. While automation seems to be paving the way in many areas of our lives, not everything can run seamlessly and automated. Questions will still need answered, and the last I checked, my computer wasn't a very good conversationalist. There is something about dealing with another human being that cannot be matched by a computer. While several Game Server companies are switching to automated systems to cut down on costs, companies like Art of War Central continue to push on with personal customer service for their Game Server customers. Regardless of what some Game Server companies do, I cannot foresee a day when automated customer service takes over the Game Server market as a whole.