SITREP - Week 012

Heks I know you've decided to go with Unity's built-in networking, but in a likely futile attempt to persuade you otherwise, here's an article you might find interesting if you haven't already read it:

http://gafferongames.com/game-physics/netwo
rked-physics/

i only see you nominated in best indie game, not best browser game.

@MaGNUs_Andersen: We've received an official EGA email revealing both nominations; I guess only time will tell which is wrong; the email or the web-page! :)

@spectre1989: I only just glanced over the article you posted (I'll read it ASAP!), but what exactly is it you think that's wrong with staying in-engine compared to using a middleware such as Photon?

Just to clarify a bit on my ramblings; I'm coding a system from the ground up that will facilitate authoritative servers, client-side prediction, client-side simulation of other players' actions and possibly server rollback (at some point).

Unity is a closed-source engine which (on the surface) makes it harder to pull off than an one where you've got engine source access, but using a middleware only increases this complexity as far as I can see, since I not only have those challenges, but I also have to "reconstruct" an abstract world simulation model in the middleware engine, for things like physics and geometry checks, throttling and relevance sets.

I've got a fair bit of experience from coding on previous multiplayer titles where I've worked with in-house, id's and Epic's engines, so I *think* that what I'm trying to achieve is the best option, given the restrictions and options we have with developing in Unity.

I'm genuinely interested in knowing more about what reservations you have in mind in regards to me choosing the built-in networking, and I admit upfront that I most definitely could've overlooked something! :)

congratulations guys!!!!!! really proud to know that im supporting such a hardrworking and enterprising team!!! cant wait for IM deadlock now after seeing the fantastic concept art ( well done cotta ;) )

So exactly how big is this underground training facility?

@Heks: Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't suggest Photon as a satisfactory alternative, I'm generally not a fan of RPC-based middleware, and found Unity's built-in stuff to be pretty sluggish and laggy. I've also never seen any particularly good examples of client-side prediction in Unity, I'd assume this is largely down to the inability to control the physics simulation, I've had to get around that in the past by porting a heavily simplified version of rigidbody from bullet to c#.

However, I've never shipped an FPS title, my experience of network programming has been purely in MMOs, which as I'm sure you'd agree is an entirely different (and much simpler) animal. Having said that, I understand that with a programming team of 1, you have to assess these things on a time vs rewards basis.

Spec

@ZPS: Congrat with the award(s)!

@voyager33mw: How big do you want it? :P I'm thinking a session should take less than 30 min. Should be just enough for a lunch time adrenalin kick :P

Congratulations on the nominations! Hoping Deadlock will keep some room for longer epic intense battles, after playing Red Orchestra with it's longer "wars" it really makes me want something that isn't quite as casual and quick as COD's multiplayer.

*counting how many SITREPS* Sitreps,sitreps, and oh MORE DAM SITREPS.HOW MANY ARE THERE LEFT!!!

Congratulations to the nominations. I am looking forward to see how the training level looks like.

gz