ELECTROSERVER ADDS HTML5!

More extension points
We pioneered the concept of extending game server functionality with an interoperable framework of plugins, event handlers, and managed object factories. Now, ES5 adds even more extension points.

Bang, Bang ... UDP!
Need to manage high packet rates for your first-person shooter game? ES5 now handles UDP protocol.

Sleek Cloud Friendly Admin
Our new ES Admin Tool greatly simplifies cloud-based administration and adds new features like remote debugging and dynamic graphing of user stats.

Enhanced Security
ES5 sends hackers elsewhere with binary protocol, unique message numbering, built-in strong packet encryption based on the industry standard AES-128 method (also used by the U.S. government), and incredibly flexible control over user permissions.

Extensive Docs & Examples
ES5 comes loaded with documentation, tutorials, and over 30 examples, including several fully functional games using Flash and Unity3D.

HTTP Tunneling
Native ability to break through firewalls. No additional implementation or server re-installs required.

Unlimited User License
With a new simplified pricing and license structure, including the option for a license with no maximum limits on concurrent users (CCU), developing for massively multi-player experiences has never been more affordable.

Broad Compatibility
ES5 supports multiple server-side languages, such as Java, Javascript, and ActionScript.

Leading Innovation
ElectroServer has pioneered the most powerful innovations in game servers for almost a decade. With forthcoming releases of ES5, we've got even more tricks up our sleeves.

2nd-Generation Binary Protocol
Our 2nd-generation binary protocol is not only the fastest and most secure method of data transfer, but also yields benefits throughout the system and across platforms. For example, our binary protocol allows for more elegant multi-platform APIs. It also helps with security by facilitating unique message numbering and more efficient interaction with ES5’s built-in encryption algorithm.

Extensible Framework
ElectroServer pioneered the use of interoperable extensions. Now with more extension points than ever, developers can extend ES5’s functionality in nearly limitless ways. ES5’s interoperable extensions comprise plugins, event handlers, and managed object factories. Plugins allow for custom server or room level game logic, event handlers allow for logic to be applied as a result of an event, and managed object factories allow developers to create instances of objects that need to remain active over time (such as database connections). Together, these extensions offer incredibly powerful ways of boosting server capabilities and enhancing developer flexibility.

UDP Protocol
Need to manage high packet rates for your first-person shooter game? We’ve added support for UDP to our pre-existing TCP and HTTP transport types. ElectroServer's UDP support comes with the ability to fail-over to TCP when firewalls are encountered.

New ES Admin Tool
Our new ES Admin tool greatly simplifies cloud-based administration and adds new features like remote debugging and dynamic graphing of user stats.

Multiple Server-Side Scripting Languages
With Java, JavaScript, and ActionScript. ES5’s broader server-side compatibility greatly reduces barriers to development.

Native HTTP Tunneling
ES5 is built with native ability to break through firewalls. No additional implementation or multiple server installations are required.

ESObject
A class unique to ES5 that can hold almost any type of data and which exists in identical form on the server and the client. ESObjects allow for greatly simplified and incredibly flexible transfer of a large number of data types between the server and the client, and/or between clients. This is useful for the client or the server to pass additional information along to extensions, user variables, room variables, or tagged onto standard messaging. EsObjects also allow data to be sent across languages cleanly and easily. A plugin written in ActionScript can create an EsObject and send it to a Java client, and both sides will treat it consistently, thereby avoiding messy conversions.

Unique Message Numbering
ES5’s unique message numbering system virtually eliminates the two most common forms of Flash hacks, namely message injection and message modification.

Native Encryption
Built-in strong packet encryption using the industry standard AES-128 method. Also used by the U.S. government, among others.

Message encryption is just one extremely effective means in which ES5 secures client-server communications. ES5 also supports cryptographically hashing passwords used to log onto the system. In essence, ES5 and the client negotiate a dynamic key using the Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange algorithm, a well-established cryptographic protocol. Once the key has been established, the server and client communicate securely with native encryption.

Rapid Message Aggregator™
ElectroServer is the only socket-server that includes the option to aggregate messages, providing a key performance advantage for shooters and other game formats with high message packet rates. The Rapid Message Aggregator prevents the client from becoming overwhelmed with message traffic by aggregating multiple messages from various users, and sending them out to clients in less frequent, larger messages. Developers can also create size limits on message “chunks,” and can specify how often batches are sent to clients. Additionally, the Rapid Message Aggregator is intelligent enough to automatically expire redundant messages in its delivery queue, saving even more overhead.

Game Manager™
ES5’s Game Manager provides developers with pre-built code for managing key stages of a game, from creation, to options for how players are solicited and join, to managing finished games. For example, Game Manager facilitates efficient lobbying with solutions that can list in-progress and open games, and offers the ability to implement generic or customizable filters of those lists on the server before a list loads. ES5’s Game Manager also provides turnkey solutions for controlling how users create and join games. And when a game is over, Game Manager’s built-in functionality automatically cleans up dead files, minimizing memory leakage. These built-in tools can free up developer time, allowing you to spend more time building game content.

User Permissions
ES5’s user permissions govern the dozens of actions that a user can perform once connected to the server. Using the ES Admin tool, you can easily create permission sets that give you the power to allow or deny users access to each actionable item individually. During the login process the server assigns a default permission set to a user, and by using a Login Event Handler you can specify and control user permissions based on custom logic. This feature provides exceptionally granular control of user activity and can be used to create an additional layer of security.

The system employs inclusive “white lists” (typed words must match a list word) and exclusive “black lists” (typed words must not match a list word). It also includes options to strip out punctuation and white space, and perform sophisticated matching routines.

Flooding Filter
The Flooding Filter prevents users from abusing a chat room or game with a flood of messages. When the filter detects abusive behavior, it can automatically warn, kick, or even ban players. The specific settings for the Flooding Filter are managed via the ES Admin tool, and can be set for the whole server as well as for specific rooms. The system is flexible enough to support a different Flooding Filter for every room in the server, if desired.

Optimized Bandwidth Usage
ES5 greatly reduces bandwidth usage for the most common message types. In addition, the server has the option for messages to compress automatically compress if they exceed a specified size threshold.

Rich Moderator Abilities
The server supports a rich set of moderator abilities including kick and ban from a room, kick and ban from the server, add room operator, remove room operator, and more. The User Permissions Set enables fine-grained control over what a moderator can and cannot do.

Configurable Logging Capabilities
ES5 includes an easily configurable utility for logging server activity, allowing developers to efficiently capture the information they need on almost any type of activity taking place on the server.

Native A/V Streaming
ES5 enables developers to build scalable, Flash massive multiplayer online games, communities, and social networking sites that incorporate real-time Flash audio and video streaming via the RTMP protocol. Streaming audio/video is vital to developing gaming experiences with captivating and robust multimedia experiences. Players can engage in live streaming events, webcam chats, and audio and video recording.

User Variables
User variables allow the storage of user information on the server associated with that user in a name/value pair format. The value is an EsObject. As a user travels from room to room, other users see these user variables.

User Server Variables
User server variables are not seen by the client, but instead are convenience variables created by extensions on the server to maintain information on a user, such as a user's database ID. These variables are scoped to the user, but can be seen by any extension on the server. The value of a user server variable is an EsObject.

User Extension Variables
User extension variables are similar to user server variables, but they are scoped only to the extension that created them. The value of a user extension variable is an "object" of any type. These provide a simple way for extensions to tie data directly to users on the server.

User Plugin Variables
User plugin variables are not seen by the client, but instead are convenience variables that can be tied to a user by a room-level plugin. They provide a simple way to associate data with a user without having to keep track of when users enter or leave a room. The server will clean up automatically for the developer.

Room Variables
ES5 allows variables to be created and modified dynamically in a room on the server. Room variables are an easy way to create information in a room that can stay there after the player who created it exits. Room variables are useful in games, and can be used for things like a whiteboard or scoreboard. The value of a room variable is an EsObject.

Buddy List Support
ES5's Buddy List Support lets users/gamers register and track friends or “buddies” on the server. Buddy List Support makes it easy for players to find friends, meet new friends, and obtain additional information about buddy activities and locations.

Persistent and Dynamic Rooms
A room is a named group of users that can have many useful properties. Rooms are used when playing games and chatting with a group of specific players. They are created as needed and automatically removed when empty. Persistent rooms are created using the ES Admin tool and always exist.

Rooms have many configurable properties that are established when the room is created. A room can be hidden, password-protected, restricted to a certain number of users, and even contain hooks for creating video chat systems more easily. A room can be notified when a user in that space initiates or ends an A/V stream.

Zones
A zone is a group of rooms. A zone can be created for each supported language or game to help maintain server organization. Zones are kept separate; one zone does not receive updates about another zone.