NEWS FLASH: Stomped is not only offering free hosting now, but we will PAY YOU as well. (depending upon traffic levels) Check out the full details on the payment plan.

Stomped is always looking for high quality web sites to host that would interest gamers. We believe in providing a free home for the vast community of web sites so that they may be easily found and accessed by gamers every where. This page details the policies of hosting on Stomped. If you have any questions, please, completely read this page and if they are not answered here, contact us.

WHAT KIND OF SITES DOES STOMPED HOST?

Primarily we are looking for sites that focus on various aspects of PC based multi-player gaming. We are also open to other areas that are related to gaming in general (for example: http://lamerkatz.stomped.com). If in doubt, feel free to apply. We are not currently hosting clan sites, but will be doing so in the near future. We'll post it on Stomped and announce it everywhere when we do.

WHAT DOES STOMPED HAVE TO OFFER?

To be perfectly honest, you could always have your page hosted at GeoCities instead of Stomped. Of course, there you are limited to about 2MBs of web space, and you usually end up with some long, hard to remember URL. Or you could try to find hosting at some of the other large gaming sites that offer it, but they do not offer the same benefits and dedication to hosted sites as Stomped does. At Stomped, we try to offer a little more:

• Web Space - While we expect your web resources to be within reason, there is no limit on web space. If we find that we are running short on disk space, we simply install more drives.
• FTP Space - Stomped maintains a dedicated FTP server. Hosted sites may have a directory structure dedicated to them. Again, there is no practical limit to the allowed disk space.
• Bandwidth - Stomped web and FTP servers are on a dedicated T3 connection. Response time is excellent. Stomped will allow a site to use as much bandwidth as they can generate. Should the bandwidth start to peak beyond the T3, more bandwidth will be allocated from Spacestar's OC-12.
• E-Mail - Your site can have multiple e-mail addresses on our server, so you can use yourname@stomped.com (or if you have your own domain, yourname@yourname.com). We can setup full e-mail accounts or it can forward to your current address. Mailing lists also are also available.
• UNIX Servers - Stomped's web and FTP servers are high performance FreeBSD systems. This allows the best response time under high load situations while maintaining excellent security and reliability. Since UNIX is the standard on the Internet, you will find it compatible with web components that are freely available.
• UNIX Accounts - There are several levels of accounts that are available to your webmasters. These include forwarding, e-mail only, FTP, and shell. The type of account is dependant upon the requirements for the user.
• Services - Stomped provides a large number of services so that you may make your site the best it can be. These services currently include: SSI, CGI, Perl, PHP, MySQL, and FrontPage extensions. If there are other services that are required, request them and we will see about installing them. Cold Fusion will be available in the near future.
• Components - Stomped provides a number of ready made components to enhance your web page. This includes such things as a finger service, web boards, couters, and a news posting front end. If there are components that you would like that you think may be of service to all sites, let us know and we may develop them for our growing library.
• Domains - Sub-domains of http://yourname.stomped.com will be provided for all hosted sites. Additionally we can host you under your own registered domain such as http://www.yourname.com. In some cases we may pay for the registration fee.
• Sub-Hosting - Hosted sites may host other sites. This is particularly useful for sites that cover a broad spectrum and have their own registered domain. They may have hosted sites at http://subhost.yourname.com.
• Statistics - On-line statistics of your web logs are provided for you use. This allows you to focus your site to target your audience. You can use either our log ananlyzation program, or download the logs and use your own. The statistics are updated daily.
• Resources - Stomped provides several resources for the hosted sites. This includes such things as contact lists, mailing lists, and a message board. If there isn't a resource we are providing that can be, it will be added.
• Uniqueness - Stomped is dedicated to each hosted site providing unique content. This means that Stomped will not dilute or split your audience by hosting sites of the same content. While we may host sites that have content overlap, or a different spin, we will not host sites that are in direct competition to yours.
• Exposure - Your site will be given as much exposure as possible by Stomped. You will be listed as in our Network on Stomped and other hosted sites. Site happenings can be announced on the Stomped front page. Millions of people visit The Stomping Grounds, and we'll put your site in front of them. We will also be implementing a Site Spotlight and Network Happenings section on Stomped to provide further coverage in the near future. We are also looking at banner rotations and an image of the day. We are always open to suggestions.
• Prestige - There is an element of prestige that comes with being associated with Stomped, the grand-daddy of gaming sites. With your site domain and e-mail address proudly displaying the Stomped.com domain, this will earn some effect.
• Support - Stomped has three administrators for their two servers. As such, around the clock support is available. You can contact the administrators via e-mail or IRC. A paging service is also available for when you need immediate support. Stomped is dedicated to providing the best support available.
• Reliability - From past experience, Stomped has learned the importance of uptime. As such all servers are monitored and the admins will be paged if a server goes down. Remote reboot and control capabilities are available and full daily backups are made. In the near future, Stomped will be mirroring their servers so should a server go down, the mirror will instantly jump in and replace it. Death before downtime.
• Dedication - The Stomped team is dedicated to provide the best home for all of it's web sites. We are also dedicated to expanding the Stomped name and image, including all of the hosted sites. We have full time members as well as part time members that are available at all times to help you make your site and Stomped the best it can be.
• Money - And the newest reason is that we will now pay you to host on Stomped! (depending upon traffic levels) Check out the full details on the payment plan.

WHAT DOES STOMPED EXPECT FROM A HOSTED SITE?

As with all hosting sites, Stomped has certain expectations of a hosted site. There are certain guidelines that must be set to ensure that a site maintains the level of excellence that the Stomped Network has. However, there are not many and they are easy to follow. We try to keep them simple:

• Hosting Recognition - Stomped requires that a hosted site prominently display its hosting status with Stomped on its main page and carry a button that we provide that links back to us.
• Integration - Stomped requests that a site attempt to integrate within the Stomped Network as much as possible while maintaining its individuality. This can include carrying the Stomped Network listing and following the Stomped style. Various levels of integration are possible here, entirely at the hosted site's discretion. Most likely the more integrated you become, the more that you will feed off of the visitors that Stomped receives.
• Banner Ad - Hosted sites are required to carry a banner ad toward the top of all their pages. We allow you to fit it into your design. Or you may carry it in a refreshing frame. To get an idea of the size of the banner ad, please look at the Stomped main page. We know that banners are ugly, but we've got to pay the bills around here somehow.
• IGN Logo - Hosted sites are required to carry the IGN logo toward the top of their main page. To get an idea of the size of the logo, please look at the Stomped main page.
• Appropriate Content - While Stomped believes in freedom of speech, it has a standing to maintain in the gaming community, and this means a standard level of excellence must be maintained. Hosted sites must not provide information on or links to warez (software piracy), cracking (cracks or serial numbers), pornography, or anything deemed illegal. Swearing must be kept at a minimum. Stomped will be deemed final arbitrator in these issues.
• Up-to-date Content - Stomped requires that sites keep their content updated. Nobody likes a stale site. We do realize that people have real lives and that some content doesn't require updating as often as others, but do maintain that sites should stay as up-to-date as other sites of their genre.
• Cooperation - Stomped expects that hosted sites will cooperate in the few instances that something is required of them. This includes admin changes, assisting other hosts, and providing information.
• Discretion - Within the Stomped Network much information is passed around. Some of this information is sensitive and private. Including such things as e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and site and industry information. Stomped expects that a hosted site will use their best discrimination before disseminating such information.

HOW DOES STOMPED JUDGE SITE APPLICATIONS?

We look for a number of things in a prospective Stomped Network web site. There is no point system or concrete judging method. The Stomping Grounds' staff relies on its many years of experience in the web gaming community to judge sites. However, there are several areas that we look at that we have found to be very important:

• Content - As they say, content is king. Stomped is looking for sites that have accurate, timely, complete content. We are looking for the best content in the subject area. When judging a site we look at similar sites to rate the content level. Unique content is a big bonus.
• Design - While content is king, it is important for a site to be professional looking and attractive. While it is important to present a good look, it is not required.
• Navigation - The ease with which a user can find information at your site is taken into account. You can have the best, most attractive content in the world, but if the user can't find it, it doesn't matter.
• Image - A site's style and distinctiveness are considered. How it presents itself to the user and how it fits in with Stomped's style. Its standing in the community.
• Uniqueness - If a site covers content that few if any sites cover, this increases our desire to host that site. Stomped is looking to form a complete well-rounded network. Any site that can assist toward that goal will be looked on more favorably.
• Heart - A key ingredient we look for in site is dedication and determination. If a site is not quite where it wants to be, but we can see that the team behind it is devoted, this goes a long way.
• Deliverables - Sites that present deliverables they have created, such as conversions, levels, utilities, etc. are more likely to be hosted. These are sites that present something the user needs that they can get nowhere else.
• Traffic - While it is not required, existing site traffic makes a site more desirable. These sites not only will grow by joining the Stomped Network, but will help Stomped grow as well.

HOW DO I APPLY?

So, you are ready to join our Stomped family? Great! Just follow these simple steps:

1. We must see your site before we agree to host it. Have your site in its final form, uploaded to an account somewhere where we can access it. If this is not possible, zip up your site and send it to us. It is a rare circumstance for us to host a non-existant site to have it created on our network.
2. E-mail us with the location of your site, the general purpose and content of it, the size of your team, the current traffic level, and any other details that you think we should know when evaluating your site.
3. Wait. We will evaluate the site and respond as soon as possible. All applications will be considered and recieve a response.

Again, we have attempted to make this page as complete as possible given the number of hosting questions we receive daily. However, if you have a question that is not answered here, please contact us.