how does Civ do multi-player (very technical)

[mardukes]

I need some basic information to start my search.

If I were going to write a program that allowed users, connected via the internet (or otherwise but internet for sure), to communicate with each other WITHOUT a server

kind of like multiplayer Civilization

how would I implement it?

Alright, you don't have to tell me how to implement it. Just tell me what it is that I would be implementing. I prefer to work in c# but I'm not talking about ASP. I'm looking to open direct channels of communications among applications running on connected pc's where all services are provided by the group or one of the group.

I know there are some game programmers out there!

 

[Moonsinger]

Originally posted by mardukes
If I were going to write a program that allowed users, connected via the internet (or otherwise but internet for sure), to communicate with each other WITHOUT a server

WITHOUT a server??? Impossible!!! I think you misundertand the concept of a "server". A server simply means that it's an application that listen and processing incoming information. For example, when you talk, I listen, then I reply; when I talk, you listen, then you reply. Basically we are both a server and we are both an indvidual program. Therefore, it would be impossible for us to interact without one of us taking turn serving the other.

 

[bobgote]

Civ uses a server, it's called the "host" which the others link into. (Not using a server means a peer to peer connection and i don't know of any games that do this, although they are probably out there)

Anyway, if you want to look into multiplayer connections, i'd suggest having a look at some games that have become open source, such as doom or duke3d. Not sure if there are decent strategy games that have done so. This should give you some kind of idea into what you have to do. pretty sure they had tcp/ip connections as well as ipx.

 

[ainwood]

Try some programming forums. Some have dedicated gaming sections, so they would probably be much more helpful. Eg www.visualbasicforum.com is VB-orientated, but the principles behind network communication are language-independent.

 

[mardukes]

Originally posted by Moonsinger


WITHOUT a server??? Impossible!!! I think you misundertand the concept of a "server". A server simply means that it's an application that listen and processing incoming information. For example, when you talk, I listen, then I reply; when I talk, you listen, then you reply. Basically we are both a server and we are both an indvidual program. Therefore, it would be impossible for us to interact without one of us taking turn serving the other.

Thanks but, I think your connotation of the word is much less common than the one which indicates a computer over which the user has no control short of requesting services.

BOBGOTE:
Are you sure? Are you suggesting that there is a giant Civ multiplayer server somewhere? Or do you mean that the computer belonging to one of the players serves as a server--which is more or less peer-to-peer.

I've been looking into the tcp/ip but, not having tried it, I'm wondering if there are complications that have to be dealt with considering all the aliasing and routers out there.