Starting point for multiplayer development needed!

[neuronich]

Hello!
Can Someone suggest me how can I introduce multiplayer in my game. Somehow I can't find anything to start with.
I NEED SOME NICE OVERVIEW with routes to follow.
Does LibGDX have anything to do with it?

Thank you in advance!

[Nyhm]

Could you elaborate? Are you looking for technical assistance regarding network programming?

[neuronich]

Something like this.
I want to learn common methods for network programming. What language, packages are used? Where can I find the introduction, manuals and so on to finally implement my knowledge into multiplayer game?

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[sproingie]

90% of what you need is simply the standard library for Java.  For a networked multiplayer game, the obvious thing to learn is networking, and for that you need to learn basic IO.  There are dozens of tutorials at http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/ that can get you started.

LibGDX does not contain any networking classes.  For that you'd use the Android platform APIs which are pretty much the same as what's in the standard Java SDK, plus some extras like Apache HTTPClient. 

[Nyhm]

Start with the java.net.Socket class.

[kappa]

A nice clean and simple networking library that I can recommend is KryoNet, if I was going to make a networked games its what I would use.

Also just by way of information since you asked about LibGDX, the above library was created by one of LibGDX's main contributors.

[kalkitus]

If you have never touched sockets before, I suggest you try implementing a chat server, before you undertake a multiplayer game.

http://pirate.shu.edu/~wachsmut/Teaching/CSAS2214/Virtual/Lectures/chat-client-server.html

Also +1 for the KryoNet library

[Nyhm]

I just had a look at KryoNet - looks like a well designed library. I'd be interested in trying it.

[neuronich]

Wow! Thanks for this fruitful discussion!
It's a good idea to make a chat!
Kryonet looks also nice!

[DzzD]

I would advice to start by trying & playing with standard network object (Sockets) than once you understand how it work you may want to switch to a library (as it is IMO always important to understand how things works).

Also start with TCP it is a lot easier, you should be able to build you first client/server pretty quickly with a good tutorial

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[Nyhm]

I would advice to start by trying & playing with standard network object (Sockets) than once you understand how it work you may want to switch to a library (as it is IMO always important to understand how things works).

Also start with TCP it is a lot easier, you should be able to build you first client/server pretty quickly with a good tutorial

I second all of this advice. Always start at the bottom and work your way up. Once you understand how basic sockets work, then you can decide whether you want to (a) keep using them, (b) learn a new API, (c) write your own library, (d) switch to someone else's library. TCP is definitely the way to go for almost all applications. Certainly read about UDP in order to learn the differences, but focus initial coding on TCP sockets.

java.net.Socket and java.net.ServerSocket will get you along way toward your goals.

[ChexWithRaisins]

I'd like to second the recommendation for KryoNet.  I am using it in my own game and it has greatly simplified the process of setting up my game for multiplayer support.

There's still a learning curve for it, but I'd recommend just looking at the source code for some of the example programs that are on the Kryonet site and just modify them to suit your needs.

[evilfrenchguy]

I did a small MMO demo with a few classmates in college using just the standard java stuff.

The number one thing I learned is to keep the number of server-side objects to a min. Strings are the number 1 culprit...Bastards. (Can I say that?)

[msiggy]

We just finished networking for our game. I strongly recommend using Kryo to make your life easier, unless you want to challenge yourself and write your own Socket code. Here are a few articles that we based our multiplayer framework on.

https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Source_Multiplayer_Networking

https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Latency_Compensating_Methods_in_Client/Server_In-game_Protocol_Design_and_Optimization

http://gafferongames.com/networking-for-game-programmers/