1. A method of reducing burst usage in a networked computer system, the method comprising: transmitting over a network to a plurality of computers information regarding a future first time period when resource requests for a first set of resources will be accepted, wherein resources in the first set of resources are not allocated during the first time period; receiving a plurality of resource requests from a plurality of requesters during the first period of time, wherein the plurality of resource requests are received over the network, wherein the plurality of resource requests include a request from a first of the resource requesters for a preferred resource and an indication as to whether an alternate resource different than the preferred resource would be acceptable; during a second time period beginning after the first time period ends, processing the plurality of resource requests in batch mode using a processing system, the processing further comprising: ranking the plurality of resource requests based on one or more of the following criteria: corresponding locations for some or all of the resource requesters; history of resource requests for some or all of the resource requesters; allocating resources to at least a portion of the plurality requesters based at least in part on corresponding resource request rankings and availability of requested resources; transmitting a communication over the network to one or more requesters receiving an allocation, the communication providing information regarding the corresponding allocation; allocating the alternate resource to the first requester if the first requester indicated a willingness to accept the alternate resource, was not allocated the preferred resource, and if the alternate resource is available to be allocated to the first requester; and transmitting a communication over the network regarding the alternate resource allocation to the first requester.