Type and specific of game network servers

Created by Ruslan Yavdoshak for Nikitova Games, 2008

Massively multiplayer online

• Game hasn’t finish.• 1991 Neverwinter nights – first “big” commercial

game• 1991 – 50 online, 1995 – 500, 1997 – 2,000 on

Ultima Online. Record was saved: 41690 client in one world (EVE Online)

• 12 millions WoW subscriber • Non MMOG has less 50 player• Social, Economic

Type of MMO

• MMORPG (WoW has 60% subscriber of MMO)• MMOFSP (World War II, The Agency, PlanetSide)• MMO Rhythm (MMORG. Idea was influenced by Dance

Dance Revolution)• MMOMG (Manager game.)• MMOR (Racing. Test Drive Unlimited. Darkwind: War on

Wheels)• MMOT (Tycon. Browser base game)• MMOS (Social. Second Life. Club Caribe)• MMOVS (Virtual Sex. Middle of RPG & Social give

primacy of some aspect of sex and sexuality. Red Light Center has 300,000 subscriber and is in in betta)

• And other: Card, Puzzle, simulators)

FPS :: First person shooter

• Valve, Unreal, Battlefields

• Transport: UDP

• Lag compensation (Zero Ping)

• P2P, Dedicate server, broadcast

• Send timestamp

RPG :: Role-Play

• TCP

• Rare UDP in battle (exmp: DAoC server)

• Active Walk System

• Multi servers

• MMO, MUD category

• Most popular in GameDev

RPG :: Role-Play

Clients

Login Server

Network server, Connection

Keeper

Game server (dedicated for

Zone/Scenario)

Game server (dedicated for

Zone/Scenario)

Game server (dedicated for

Zone/Scenario)

Communication channel

Database server

Distributed file server

1st connection:Authorization, Get available

(less loaded) network servers list

2nd connection. Game data flow (event,

states, etc)

3rd connection, on-demand. Get new/modified files.

Logic Servers

General conception of the MMO servers

File servers

Storage player information. Logs

Game server: Process game logic. Send game event to

Network server.

Network server.Receives data from clients.

Resends client packet to Game server who serves the

current clientReceives events from Game server and resends to client

or clients group

Network server, without reconnection, softly switch

Game server for client.

Network server keeps only one connection to each

game server (on-demand)

RTS :: Real-Time Strategy

• UDP – snapshot of current location

• TCP – Global Game event

• BattleNet

Race Server

• UDP/TCP• Most difficult for creation• Has several stream with different priority• Inertia• Lot failed projects• Event in future

• EVE Online – not RC, but is best “live” example satisfy all benefits of RC server

EA Library

In general network (online) is used in such tasks:

• AI Cover + Network physics • Exchange messages and data block • Data Sharing • Interface of file handling • Multimedia

Network uses the game modules: • Allocator • Sku - Part of SKU uses as config of network.

Atum/NUN Server

• Homemade MMO server

• Server without rollbacks

• Enhanced game security

• Using multiprocessors technology

• Fast

• C++ primitive, strict module system

• Investigated popular technology

Atum/NUN server

NUNWorld server

ATUMGame processing

server

IPC: Shared memory, Mapped files. Semaphores

XML

Binary

Scripts

SQL server

WORLD

Scripts

Read Only

AtumINMulti Con -> Single con

Atum-RA Atum-RA

Crypt, Compress

Atum-RA subscribed to “Region event” if one if client need it. Receive breadcast information and resend to

“client”

Auth Proxy system

University Network:

• 4000 workstation

• 36000 students, scientific, other worker

• Limit internet channel

• More system where registration is required (Library order, Testing, Access to some material)

• Need logs for all them

Structures

Authorization

Allow, get flags, permition

Problems:

• More than 1000 (TCP) connection

• Database locking

• One host

Rewritten to :

• SSL authorization

• UDP exchange message

• Multi servers support