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| Introduction | |
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| The Challenge of Game Networking | |
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| Types of Networking | |
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| Dial-Up and PPP Networking | |
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| Local Area Networking | |
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| The Internet and World Wide Web | |
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| Wireless LAN | |
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| Cellular Technology | |
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| Network-Gaming Models | |
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| The Client/Server Model | |
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| Dynamic (Real-Time) Network Gaming | |
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| Connectionless Network Gaming | |
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| Data Exchange in Network Gaming | |
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| Security | |
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| Split-Information Model | |
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| Balancing Data Exchange | |
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| Key Decisions | |
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| Types of Network Games | |
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| Multi-User Dungeon Games | |
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| First Principles | |
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| Text-Based MUDs | |
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| Possibilities Beyond Text | |
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| Arcade Games | |
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| Gaming Model | |
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| Security | |
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| Data Exchange | |
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| Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) | |
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| Web and "Through the Browser" Games | |
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| Text-Based Through-the-Browser Games | |
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| Flash-Based Web Games | |
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| Alternate-Reality Web Games | |
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| From Theory to Development | |
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| References | |
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| Putting Game Networking Technology to Work | |
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| Components of Network Gaming | |
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| Communication | |
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| Interaction | |
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| The Platform | |
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| Personal Computer | |
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| Console | |
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| Handheld Device | |
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| Multi-Platform | |
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| Complete System Architecture | |
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| The Front-End Interface | |
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| The Middleware | |
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| The Back-End | |
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| The Network | |
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| A Comparison of Network Game Types | |
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| Categorizing Multi-Player Network Games | |
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| Pseudo Single-Player Online Games | |
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| One-on-One Games | |
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| Team-Based Multi-Player Games | |
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| Map-Based Multi-Player Games | |
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| Real Time-Strategy Games | |
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| Massively Multi-Player Online (MMO) Games | |
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| Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) | |
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| Comparing Network Game Types | |
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| Turn-by-Turn Games Versus Real-Time Action Games | |
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| Multi-User Dungeon (MUD) Games Versus Real Time-Action Games | |
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| NPC Combat Games Versus Pure Multi-Player | |
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| Player Combat Games Versus NPC Combat Games | |
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| In-Browser Games Versus Standalone Client Games | |
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| Design Principles | |
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| From Single Player to Multi-Player | |
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| Adding Network Support | |
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| Adding Multi-Player Support to the Design | |
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| Testing Through Design | |
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| Choosing the Technology for Your Game | |
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| References | |
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| Creating Turn-by-Turn Network Games | |
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| Turn by Turn Defined | |
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| The Game System | |
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| Player Customization | |
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| Case Study: Project Rockstar | |
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| The Premise | |
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| Setup | |
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| Playing the Game | |
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| Solutions to Possible Problems | |
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| Alternative Approaches | |
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| The Fictional PlanetStar RPG | |
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| The Game Environment | |
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| Profile, Ship Design, and Customization | |
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| Update Cycles | |
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| Pre-Programmed Combat | |
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| Revenue Model | |
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| In-Game Currency | |
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| Advertising Networks | |
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| Direct Sponsorship | |
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| Commercializing a Turn-by-Turn Game | |
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| References | |
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| Creating Arcade and Massively Multi-Player Online Games (Real-Time) | |
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| Game Models Revisited | |
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| MMORPGs | |
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| Arcade Action Games | |
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| Anatomy of a Game Model | |
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| Client Software Structures | |
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| Building Server Solutions | |
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| End-to-End Networking Using IP | |
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| Revenue Models | |
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| The Direct Revenue Model | |
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| The Indirect Revenue Model | |
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| Merging Real-Time Gaming with the Internet | |
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| References | |
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| Improving Network Communications | |
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| Network Communication Issues | |
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| Packet Loss | |
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| Network Latency | |
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| Solutions to Network Latency Problems | |
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| Networking Topography | |
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| Design-Based Workarounds | |
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| Minimizing Exposure to Latency | |
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| The Principle of Minimum Data in Transit | |
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| Basic Data Reduction | |
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| Using Compression | |
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| Using Game Environment Prediction | |
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| Data Loss and Dropped Connections | |
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| Combating Data Loss | |
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| Combating Dropped Connections | |
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| References | |
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| Removing the Cheating Elements | |
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| What Is Cheating? | |
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| What Are the Risks? | |
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| Genre-Specific Risks | |
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| Global Risks | |
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| What Are the Solutions? | |
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| Detection Approaches | |
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| Prevention Versus Detection | |
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| Action Versus Inaction | |
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| Hacks, Cracks, and Cheat Codes | |
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| How Hacks and Cracks Happen | |
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| Types of Cheats | |
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| Bots and Automated Playing | |
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| Communication Layer Cheats | |
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| Data-in-Transit Cheats | |
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| Lookahead and Update Dropping | |
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| Intentional Disconnections | |
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| Solutions to Communication Layer Cheats | |
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| Logic Layer Solutions | |
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| Code Obfuscation in the Logic Layer | |
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| Identifying Bots | |
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| References | |
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| Testing Network Games | |
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| Principles of Testing | |
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| The Testing Process | |
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| Components | |
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| Types of Testing | |
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| Strategy | |
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| Testing the Network Layer | |
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| Simulating Network Issues | |
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| Load Testing | |
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| Sustained-Load Testing | |
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| Peak-Traffic Testing | |
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| Testing the Logic Layer | |
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| Simulating Player Interaction | |
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| Stress-Testing the Middleware | |
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| Stress-Testing the Database | |
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| Testing Non-Interactive Games | |
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| Testing the Client Software | |
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| Re-Using Prediction Code in Testing | |
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| Prediction Is Al in Practice | |
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| An Overview of Testing Options | |
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| Network Programming Primer | |
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| An Introduction to Socket Programming | |
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| Types of Sockets | |
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| Protocol Layers | |
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| Server-Side Sockets | |
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| Client-Side Sockets | |
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| Using Polling | |
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| Server-Side Polling | |
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| Client-Side Polling | |
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| Sequential Processing Techniques | |
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| Socket Polling Example | |
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| Enhancements to Basic Round Robin | |
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| Socket Programming | |
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| Data Types | |
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| Sockets and Ports | |
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| Sending and Receiving Data | |
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| Client Example | |
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| Server Example | |
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| Open-Source Code Libraries | |
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| MUD Libraries | |
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| Action Games | |
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| Web Gaming | |
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| Final Thoughts | |
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| References | |
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| Index | |