More Networking..

Posted September 21, 2008

Guess what… Networking is hard! Nothing really new on the UQM:XNA front this week, I have just been studying up on network programming.

I think I know enough to be able to make a basic client/server system, but without client prediction or lag compensation, it would be pretty hard to maneuver in-game. So right now I’m just working on a seperate client/server test, trying to recreate how a game like Quake3 works around lag. Here’s some of the links I’ve been reading.

http://trac.bookofhook.com/bookofhook/trac.cgi/wiki/Quake3Networking

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Lag_Compensation

http://www.flipcode.com/archives/Network_Game_Programming-Issue_07_I_bent_my_Wookie.shtml

Interesting stuff. I dont have a complete grasp on it quite yet but I’m starting to understand more.

Well, thats it for this week!

Oh yeah, the DBP contest (they are giving out free 1 year XNA trial memberships) is ending on TUESDAY. This is your last chance to sign up. Do it if you’re interested in playing the game on your 360. Personally I’m looking past the Xbox360 now and will be focusing on porting the game to SDL after I figure out this networking stuff.
https://www.dreambuildplay.com/main/default.aspx

2 Comments so far

  1. JamesH on September 22nd, 2008

    It’s too bad you’re thinking of switching from XNA, I think once v3 is out and they have the ‘ClickOnce’ deployment on windows it will make distributing UQM:XNA much smoother.

    Another path that would be neat for you to head down would be to replace the ships art/sounds/music, this is the only GPL restricted part right? Then you could release it on on Live via the Community Games stuff next year.

  2. Mr Brian on September 23rd, 2008

    Well, the goal of this project is to attract as many players as possible to the Ur-Quan Masters franchise. I love the Xbox360 but in the end the PC has the widest potential audience. Also in the long run, porting to something Mac/Linux friendly would be a large plus.

    Redoing all the graphics and audio would take a lot of work, and I dont think TFB would approve of someone reskinning their game and selling it. :) But once MS starts distributing free games on XBLCG, you can be sure I’ll resume working on the 360 version :)

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