Plug-replaceable consistency maintenance for multiplayer games

Consistency maintenance of replicated data in multiplayer games is a challenging issue due to the performance constraints of real-time interactive applications. We present an approach which separates game logic from consistency maintenance code through the use of reusable, plug-replaceable concurrency control and consistency maintenance (CCCM) modules. Using plug-replaceable consistency maintenance strategies also permits rapid comparisons of multiple approaches, which facilitates experimentation. We conduct a case study to illustrate how multiple consistency maintenance strategies can be applied without changing the original game code. Categories and Subject Descriptors D.2.2 [Software Engineering]: Design Tools and Techniques—modules and interfaces, object-oriented design methods. General Terms Measurement, Performance, Design, Experimentation Keywords Consistency maintenance, multiplayer game, workspace model

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: NETGAMES
• Authors: Robert D. S. Fletcher, T. C. Nicholas Graham, Christopher Wolfe
• Keywords: Computer Networks, Consistency Maintenance, Consistency Maintenance Code, Consistency Maintenance Strategies, NETGAMES 2006