Quick Start Guide:
1. Make Friends
2. Get maps and gametypes
3. Have a complete night planned
4. Choose a good time to play
5. Make a good thread
6. Be thankful
Intro:
There are several posts on here with people asking how to get others to RSVP for their games. I am making this post to act as a guide for would be hosts. I will try to cover all the techniques, but if I miss something let me know in the comments below, and I will add it here.
Network:
This is the best place to start for all inspiring hosts. There are tons of people out there wanting to play in your customs, but they don't know you exist...YET. Join lobbies similar to the one you would like to one day host. Look at the upcoming games section to find them. Talk to the people in the lobby and ask them to be your friend on XBL, facebook or to follow you here. Once you have a collection of friends at your finger tips they will be more likely to check out your games.
Be Host Worthy:
Lots of people want to host because they have a map they would like to test. This is not why people are on this site. They want to join a lobby that has a lot to offer. If you only have that map and that's all you plan on doing, chances are you'll have a poor turnout. What you want to do is build your map database during the networking phase and have testing be just a segment of your overall plan. As you play games you like from other people's lobbies save them to your Xbox from the recent files list. You can do this right after the game while they are still hosting. Make sure you have a nice description, so you'll know what the gametype/map is when you look at it in the future.
Choose Your Time Wisely:
XBL has higher and lower traffic based on the time you play. Trying to schedule games when most people have work or school is detrimental to turn out.
Here is a graph of a weekday population in matchmaking (images from halocharts.com)
Here is a graph of a weekend population in matchmaking
*times are central standard time
Make a Brilliant Post:
So now you have some players, you have the time and some content... you are ready to host!
-Make a post!
-Make the post at least two days in advance. People need time to make time.
-Add some formatting, pictures and links to entice would be players.
-Have a catchy title to grab peoples attention.
-Make sure you notify your network and get them to RSVP. RSVPs are contagious!
-If you'd like to do testing make sure others can test too.
-Most importantly thoroughly explain the awesomeness of the night you have prepared.
Here are some examples of posts based solely on their original post:
Not So Good Thread:Crazy Kustom Games
OK Thread: MelnykMachine's Lobby
Better Thread: oomish's youtube footage lobby!!
Great Thread: Halo 4 Daily Customs!
Follow Up:
After your host, maybe the next day, make a post on your thread thanking people for your turnout and that you're excited to play again. Once you get 25 good host votes you will be highlighted in the upcoming games forum.
Pro Tip: Simply click the
at the top of the page. Then in the reply box 'right click' > 'paste' and voila everyone's halocustoms name will be linked to that post and they will be alerted to it.
Any additional tips that other hosts have used would be appreciated! Thanks for reading!
1. Make Friends
2. Get maps and gametypes
3. Have a complete night planned
4. Choose a good time to play
5. Make a good thread
6. Be thankful
Intro:
There are several posts on here with people asking how to get others to RSVP for their games. I am making this post to act as a guide for would be hosts. I will try to cover all the techniques, but if I miss something let me know in the comments below, and I will add it here.
Network:
This is the best place to start for all inspiring hosts. There are tons of people out there wanting to play in your customs, but they don't know you exist...YET. Join lobbies similar to the one you would like to one day host. Look at the upcoming games section to find them. Talk to the people in the lobby and ask them to be your friend on XBL, facebook or to follow you here. Once you have a collection of friends at your finger tips they will be more likely to check out your games.
Be Host Worthy:
Lots of people want to host because they have a map they would like to test. This is not why people are on this site. They want to join a lobby that has a lot to offer. If you only have that map and that's all you plan on doing, chances are you'll have a poor turnout. What you want to do is build your map database during the networking phase and have testing be just a segment of your overall plan. As you play games you like from other people's lobbies save them to your Xbox from the recent files list. You can do this right after the game while they are still hosting. Make sure you have a nice description, so you'll know what the gametype/map is when you look at it in the future.
Choose Your Time Wisely:
XBL has higher and lower traffic based on the time you play. Trying to schedule games when most people have work or school is detrimental to turn out.
Here is a graph of a weekday population in matchmaking (images from halocharts.com)
Here is a graph of a weekend population in matchmaking
*times are central standard time
Make a Brilliant Post:
So now you have some players, you have the time and some content... you are ready to host!
-Make a post!
-Make the post at least two days in advance. People need time to make time.
-Add some formatting, pictures and links to entice would be players.
-Have a catchy title to grab peoples attention.
-Make sure you notify your network and get them to RSVP. RSVPs are contagious!
-If you'd like to do testing make sure others can test too.
-Most importantly thoroughly explain the awesomeness of the night you have prepared.
Here are some examples of posts based solely on their original post:
Not So Good Thread:Crazy Kustom Games
OK Thread: MelnykMachine's Lobby
Better Thread: oomish's youtube footage lobby!!
Great Thread: Halo 4 Daily Customs!
Follow Up:
After your host, maybe the next day, make a post on your thread thanking people for your turnout and that you're excited to play again. Once you get 25 good host votes you will be highlighted in the upcoming games forum.
Pro Tip: Simply click the
Any additional tips that other hosts have used would be appreciated! Thanks for reading!
