Help with multiplayer server setup

Alright, my title is a little miss leading, but…hey, I’m a misleading Guy!

What I want to know is how to go about setting up servers for multiplayer games…Online.

My whole plan was to build something like BeGone (It’s not FPS though) and to add a community behind it- get member’s to start sharing assets and such - then the game will be are game, Not just mine (Player participation = player interests)

But I’ve stumbled into a little bump. How will I go about server Setup?
not as In the user database and such- but as in where would the server be hosted?
Does nplay, pay £150 a month for a massive hosting service? if it does, I’m screwed.

I was hoping to host the unity player for the game on my website, which will soon be hosted by 123-reg and then let the player’s set them self as a server. the master server will then pick up the users servers and then it will try to “ship” other users to the IP of User servers?
is this possible? I thought a server has to have a REALLY good processor?
If I could do this, Surely it will stop 123-reg from complaining?

And what is this business with Photon and SmartFox server? I believe these are the Jam in the sandwich - it directs the users to the server, but it’s hosted on my machine? Hmm…

Anyway… it’ll be good to have the fog lifted on this subject!

the guys over at Unity forums helped me out : http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/95104-Requirements-for-Online-Multi-player-games