Server-Side Games and Performance

[townivan]

Hi guys,

Are you planning any more "learning/tutorial" materials on server-side games?

I would buy a book that just talked about pixel cannon and alternate networking protocols through plug-ins (faster than XML) stuff.

I want to learn more and more about server-side plugin games with ES but it's a lot to absorb at one time for us semi-programmers that are new to flash.

If I had a wishlist I'd love to see stripped down examples (to keep from overloading us newbs) on things like:

1. xml tile-based maps and setting player starting locations.
2. basic server-side character movement
3. server-side timers (game clock, etc)

[webgeek]

Hi Ivan; we are actually in the process of creating multiple new tutorials. You should expect to see them coming online regularly. Your ideas for new tutorials are good ones, I'll pass them along and see if we can't incorporate them.

As for the books, Jobe's game books cover XML maps a bit, particularly as it relates to pathfinding. It would be worthwhile to get one as it has a ton of useful information on many game-related topics. The math reference, if nothing else, is a good reason to keep it handy. Thanks!

[townivan]

I do have Jobe's macromedia flash mx game game design demystified book. It is indeed a great resource for XML maps.

I think it also can serve as a student motivation for teaching trig.
"Games are somewhere you use trig in real life"

Thanks for the quick replies btw.

[townivan]

Another good one would be "Game Rooms and PreGame" using plugins.

1. Start with Basic Chat.
2. From the Chat lobby: Create Game.
3. This creates your GameRoom in the GamesList which people can join.
5. When people join your GameRoom they see the PreGame settings.
6. In PreGame players can chat and/or flag that they are ready to play.
7. In PreGame host(who created the room) can alter game settings. (# players, map, start game, boot player)
8. in PreGame if each player is ready and host starts game proceed to game.

Extra: Update Lobby Game desc as players join PreGame room. "Game1 [1/4]"