Thread: Game Networking

Hello!

I'm developing a game with a team, and I was wondering what sort of networking support we should use.

At a basic level, it's a shooter where players would be able to chose from and enter multiple game rooms set up by other players, and each room would host a game. At the end of each game, player stats would be sent to a server and the player profile would be updated.

What's the best networking method to use? Should the code be drawn from scratch or is there an API that suits these needs?

Thanks!

There are several things to consider in the design:
What kind of data: String, int, images, ??? would be sent between the PCs?
What would be the source of the data? For example an image from a data base or directory.
How frequently would the data be sent? Would the server need to save data between games?

Well images are all going to be stored on the client, but I guess something like when Computer 1 fires a weapon, Computer 2 also needs to see the bullet. Is it best to do this directly between the two PCs or through a server?
Yes, data would be saved after every game- scores, etc.
Data would have to be sent every time a player performs an action.

Ok, thanks! I guess I should stick with the default Java networking api?

I should stick with the default Java networking api

I'm not sure what you mean there. What other choices do you have for your project?
Again it depends on what your requirements are and if you can find existing packages that will do what you want.

I was wondering if something like Kryonet or other might be suited to my needs, but I've decided to write from scratch!

That being said, as an aside, what's the best way for a client to run a procedure on a server?

what's the best way for a client to run a procedure on a server?

Sorry, I have no idea what the best way is. What are the criteria that determines "best"?

Most efficient and universal!

Those two criteria could be mutually exclusive.
What about easy to use and cost?

Sure, that could work!

Or How about most features and reliableness.

Soon we'll need a spread sheet to list the features for each way of doing it. I've never needed one and don't have one.

I just need to execute a procedure on a server using only primitive data.

Does the data come from the client? How much data is there?
Perhaps you need to define a protocol between your client and its server.
In the message, the first item would be the message type that tells the server what data is to follow and what the server is expected to do with it.
Make a list of all the things the client would want to ask the server to do and what data would need to to with that request. Then you need to define the types of messages that the server would send back to the client.

I know what sort of data I want to send and receive, I just need to know the actual code that executes a method on the server with the given data.

If you write the server code, then it is 100% under your control. You would call the method with the data in the normal manner.

If someone has written the server code, then you need to read the doc for the server and see how to make it do what you want it to do.