RTMFP: Multiplayer games

Hi.
I have a lot of flash games and was always told that for multiplayer you needed to use things like smartfox server and other software.
I have just read about the RTMFP which was introduced in 10.0 and updated in 10.1 - does this mean that programming multiplayer has just got easy or have I misread the article.

RTMFP means that you are capable of building P2P multiplayer flash games that can be low-latency enough for realtime multiplayer games.
You'll still need to use a central RTMFP rendevous server like Cirrus, Flash Media Server, or the Open Source solutions (like Cumulus or ArcusNode) to establish the "handshake" that will allow clients to directly connect to each other over UDP and RTMFP.
In terms of difficulty it can actually be slightly more difficult just in the sense that you'll need to build some type of "lobby" service to matchmake players that want to create a game, also if you want to follow the P2P networking model that games like modern warfare uses you'll need some way to establish one of the RTMFP clients as the "host"/"server" so that you'll be able to run some type of consistent simulation (and possibly develop a fallback system in case the "host" drops and you need to promote another peer to be the host).
In terms of costing less to get a multiplayer game up and running RTMFP potentially provides that because you won't require a central server to run the games through only to provide the initial matchmaking and RTMFP rendevous.

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Multiplayer Game Theory using P2P

Hello. I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on how to go about creating a realtime multiplayer game using p2p.
Traditionally clients connect to a server, they make rooms, join rooms and start a game. Clients send data to a server, the server processes this data and sends it back to all clients. The server also processes game logic to keep clients in sync. The main job of a client is to render the world the server is processing and send updates about itself.
Now, when it comes to p2p there is no server to manage the game. So how do you go about creating a game where all clients need to stay in sync and no cheating can occur?
One method I can only think of is using a host system. For example, all players connect to each other, they are all clients. Each client does some small tests in order to determine the best location for the host so all clients have good latency with each other. After this communication a host is selected out of the clients and will process the game information. All clients are notified of this host and send updates to that host only. The host receives the updates and sends them out to every other client. The host determines game state so every other client only needs to worry about rendering the world. Clients also manage lag by doing some interpolation and guess work on positions etc. When the host leaves / disconnects another host must be selected and the current state of the world is set to whatever that client has rendered.
I think that method could work, the only problem is the host could cheat, one way around this might be to swap hosts every so often so no client can determine if they are the host or not. If all clients cheat then good for them :). Other than that the only option is to use a RTMP server, but this would negate the speed benefits that comes with RTMFP.
I'm quite new to this new network stuff so if what I say is completly wrong then please let me know, I would also love to hear any other suggestions you guys have. I know a lot of new things have been added such as multicast and groups, but I don't know enough about them to relate here.
Thanks.

Designating a "host" client is in no way better than the traditional sever/clients model due to the following:
a. you would have to either direct connect each peer to the host, which is innefficient for large groups and not always possible(see NAT issues), or route messages to the host which may turn out to be slow
b. average latency of clients-to-server vs one-client-to-all-the-others should be in favor of the former, given that a server is generally connected to a network backbone
c. individual P2P connections may fail and/or the group may "rewire" itself at any time so detecting when the host leaves is tricky; not to mention efficiently designating the host, rocket science may be easier
...and more
The way I see it, you have the following options:
1. Build it entirely distributed:
-each peer posts individual updates to the group
-everybody listens to all updateds and creates own copy of the state; processing overhead should be no bigger for any peer than if it had to be the host
-have the model loss resilient; some individiual updates may be lost to some, further messages have to be self-sufficient (i.e. declare absolute grid positions not step movement); timestamp every message, they may even arrive in reverse order
-obfuscate the data model to give cheaters a hard time; keep a backup (yet more obfuscated) data model and swap if the current is compromised; have each peer be suspicious about every update, as if it was the server and maybe report suspected illegal moves
2. Use RTMFP unicast with FMIS4(the $4.5k one)
-same client/server model as RTMP
-managed, no way to cheat (or is there?)
-lowest latency due to RTMFP yet slightly increased overhead due to encryption
-RTMP fallback may still be needed for some with firewalled UDP
3. Use a hybrid of managed and distributed architecture
-connect peers to the server and also with each-other into the mesh
-manage security at server level
-peers send frequent updates to both server and mesh
-peers receive frequent updates from the mesh yet unfrequent updates from the server; server copy of the state is both a backup for data loss in the mesh and a doublecheck of data integrity
-whichever individual piece of information is received earlier, via either mesh or server is assimilated to the local state and rendered
-have peers that have low latency in the mesh request server to update them more often
The choice from above depends a lot on the specifics of the application, maximum group size(for P2P bigger is better, huge is awesome), requested latency, reliability and security.
Good luck.

How to create a multiplayer game for steam using flash/flex?

Hi guys,
We've got a multiplayer game ready to go. Currently it is not multiplayer, but we'd like to get it to a stage where it can be played over the steam network by users of steam and owners of steam games.
We'd like to if anyone could briefly give us a breakdown of how to get out game up on steam and available for multiplayer?
Does steam host servers, and can we utilise a steam server to transfer data between players or would we have to run our own server?
Currently were using flash builder to publish via adobe air to a windows desktop exe. Can anyone briefly explain how - once a player has downloaded the game from steam we can connect two players? Does anyone know how to use actionscript 3 to access steam network?
Anyone have any experience developing multiplayer turn based game for steam using flash /actionscript 3 /adobe air?
Thanks for your help in advance,
i

You would want to use the SteamWorks API, which is available from Steam as a C++ library, but there is most likely an Adobe Native Extension (ANE) that would allow you to use the library in AS3.
I've never used SteamWorks but it seems to support peer-2-peer matchmaking (in other words, you wouldn't even need your own server, I think.)
SteamWorks API:
https://partner.steamgames.com/documentation/api
Search results for "SteamWorks AIR ANE":
https://www.google.com/search?q=steamworks+air+ane
-Aaron

How do I set up my Airport Extreme to best use multiplayer games locally

How do I set up my Airport Extreme to best use multiplayer games with my family. Everyone is located in the same house and uses the same router.
I have tried a few games but have not successfully connected 2 players

That is a weird question, as your GAMES could be interpreted a hundred different ways. Are we talking about third party devices here or what?

Building P2P Multiplayer Games | MAX 2010 Develop | Adobe TV

Learn how you can leverage peer-to-peer communication in Adobe Flash Player to enable multiplayer games on Facebook. This session will include an in-depth tutorial on peer-to-peer technology, a demo of how to use peer to peer in your games with Adobe Flash Builder and Flash Professional CS5, and deployment on the Facebook platform.
http://adobe.ly/zRYemH

Is there a transcript of this?

How to put pause in a multiplayer game on Texas Hold'em?

Anybody knows???

I don't know if you can pause the multiplayer game, you might have to start over. If the normal method of touching 2 corners doesn't work I expect there is no way.

Tool to help you write multiplayer games

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details of communicating with sockets, enabling you to focus on
your game code. Advanced Actionscript and PHP coding skills are
required:
http://flashmog.net

Apps have reviews. Check the reviews from the public and get a sense of quality from them.

A never ending multiplayer game?

Hi
I want to make a 2d spaceship multiplayer game (applet). The game should have lots of human controlled spaceships (and maybe some computer controlled spaceships if there are no human players). Each time a new user starts a game in its web browser, a new spaceship will appear in the game. The user will play until his spaceship is shot by another player. A shot spaceship will disappear from the game, and the player may choose to start a new game with a new spaceship. But the game on the server should never end. Each user will play in the same game on the server (but there may be a maximum number of players).
Is it possible to make a game that never ends? Which requirements apply to the server? Is it possible to use a normal web server (you have only FTP access to the server computer)?

this is a fast extract from my files, when you run Gclient the server will be launched and 2 clients will be opend, the red boxes are players
using the mouse you move the box, the change of location is propagate thru the server.
Server
import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
import java.util.*;
public class Gserver
     private int    players = 0;
     private Vector ones = new Vector();
public Gserver()
     ServerSocket servS;
     Socket       clnt;
     try
         servS = new ServerSocket(4444);
          System.out.println("Server Ready on port: 4444");
          while(true)
               clnt = servS.accept();
               System.out.println(""+clnt);
               One one = new One(clnt);
               one.start();
     catch (IOException ex) {System.out.println(""+ex);}
public void sendToAll(String s)
     for (int i=0; i < ones.size(); i++)
          One one = (One)ones.get(i);
          one.write(s);
public void sendToOne(One me)
     for (int i=0; i < ones.size(); i++)
          One one = (One)ones.get(i);
          me.write(one.data);
public class One extends Thread
     private Socket         socket;
     private BufferedReader in;
     private PrintStream    out;
     public String         data;
public One(Socket socket)
     this.socket = socket;
public void run()
     try
          out = new PrintStream(socket.getOutputStream());
          in   = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(socket.getInputStream()));
          ones.add(this);
          players++;
          int x = players*30-25;
          data = "P"+players+","+x+","+x+",";
          sendToAll(data);
          sendToOne(this);
          while ((data = in.readLine()) != null)
              sendToAll(data);
     catch (IOException e) {System.out.println("one!!"+e);}
     close();
     ones.remove(this);
public void write(String s)
     if (out != null)
          out.println(s);
          out.flush();
public void close()
     if (socket == null) return;
     try
          if (socket != null) socket.close();
          if (in     != null) in.close();
          if (out    != null) out.close();
     catch (IOException e){}
     socket = null;
     in     = null;
     out    = null;
public static void main (String[] args)
     new Gserver();
client GUI
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.*;
public class Gclient extends JFrame implements KeyListener
     private Component me;
     private Container co;
     private Gsocket   socket;
public Gclient()
     super("Glient");
     setBounds(1,1,500,200);
     addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
    {     public void windowClosing(WindowEvent ev)
               if (socket != null) socket.close();
               dispose();
               System.exit(0);
     co = (Container)getContentPane();
     co.setLayout(null);
     co.setBackground(Color.black);
     addKeyListener(this);
     requestFocus();
     setVisible(true);
     if (socket == null)
          socket = new Gsocket(this);
          if (!socket.isConnected())
               dispose();
               System.exit(0);
          else socket.start();
public void keyTyped(KeyEvent ke){}
public void keyPressed(KeyEvent ke)
     int kc = ke.getKeyCode();
     if (me == null) return;
     Point o = me.getLocation();
     Point p = me.getLocation();
     if (kc == 40) p.y++;
     if (kc == 39) p.x++;
     if (kc == 38) p.y--;
     if (kc == 37) p.x--;
     if (!p.equals(o)) socket.write(me.getName()+","+p.x+","+p.y+",");
public void keyReleased(KeyEvent ke){}
public void go(String s)
     StringTokenizer tokn = new StringTokenizer(s.trim(),",");
     String p = tokn.nextToken();
     int    x = 0;
     int    y = 0;
     try
          x = Integer.parseInt(tokn.nextToken());
          y = Integer.parseInt(tokn.nextToken());
     catch(NumberFormatException e){}
     Component com = null;
     for (int i=0; i < co.getComponentCount(); i++)
          if (co.getComponent(i).getName().equals(p)) com = co.getComponent(i);
     if (com == null)
          JLabel l = new JLabel(p);
          co.add(l);
          l.setName(p);
          l.setOpaque(true);
          l.setBackground(Color.red);
          l.setHorizontalAlignment(SwingConstants.CENTER);
          com = l;
          co.validate();
          if (me == null)
               me=l;
               setTitle(p);
     com.setLocation(x,y);
     co.repaint();
public static void main (String[] args)
     Thread t = new Thread()
         public void run()
               new Gserver();
     t.start();
     Gclient a = new Gclient();
     Gclient b = new Gclient();
     b.setLocation(b.getX(),b.getY()+220);
client socket
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.*;
import java.net.*;
import java.io.*;
public class Gsocket extends Thread
     private Gclient        client;
     public String         host;// = "10.20.2.58";
     private int            port = 4444;
     private Socket         socket;
     private PrintStream    out;
     private BufferedReader in;
public Gsocket(Gclient client)
     this.client = client;
     port = 4444;
     try
          InetAddress ia = InetAddress.getLocalHost();
          host = ia.getHostName();
     catch (UnknownHostException ex)
     try
          socket = new Socket(host,port);
          out    = new PrintStream(socket.getOutputStream());
          in     = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(socket.getInputStream()));
     catch(IOException ex)
          socket = null;
public boolean isConnected()
     if (socket == null) return(false);
          else            return(true);
public void run()
     try
          String data;
          while ((data = in.readLine()) != null)
               client.go(data);
     catch(IOException ex)
     close();
public void write(String s)
     out.println(s);
public void close()
     try
          if (socket != null)     socket.close();
          if (in     != null) in.close();
          if (out    != null) out.close();
     catch (IOException e){}
     socket = null;
     in     = null;
     out    = null;
}Noah

Multiplayer game programming - Code of a basic server

I'm a beginner in multiplayer game programming and I'm looking for the code of a basic server for a multiplayer game. I don't mind which kind of game (I mean: chess, ping-pong, battlenet...) The important thing is the code pattern abnd the server structure.
Could anyone help me?

If you want to have a look at a generic multi-threaded server, check out the Java networking tutorial.. there's a basic example server that responds to a "Knock knock, who's there?" conversation.. you can start off with it..
Of course it's not a game server but you could try sticking in a game engine to maintain the game world and change the user sessions to a proper game protocol.. e.g. sending key strokes or joystick movements. You could also get the server to send player and enemy positions etc...
Good luck!

Full List Of iPad to iPad Multiplayer Games?

Two friends of mine both have iPads. They want to know what games are available on the App Store that they can play together, in 2-player mode where each player has their own iPad. I tried searching on Google for an answer, but only found old outdated content.
Can anyone help?

I did a Google search using multiplayer games 2 ipads.
Here's a start http://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/04/30/the-40-best-multiplayer-games-for-iphone-a nd-ipad/
 Cheers, Tom

Can someone point in the right direction for how to make a multiplayer game over the internet

Hello,
I am looking into making a game where two people who can be in different places would log on to the app, log in and can play - i.e. they would be connected over the internet. I'm looking for a hint on what is the direction to take and which technologies.
For example is there a best practice for example if you make an app with DirectX and C++, and you use some kind of web service or something? or is it easier using C# and XNA? just looking for some pointers in the right direction. I have played around
with DirectX, far from proficient but have familiarity, I have no experience with XNA but hear it's less hardcore and easier going. I'm particularly interested in what the best way to connect over the internet.
Thanks

What you are asking is very complicated and one of the more difficult things you can do in gaming. I'd strongly recommend you start smaller to learn and then move up to multi-player games as your skills grow.
From the multiplayer client perspective it doesn't really matter which technology you use. You can write a multiplayer game in any engine or technology that can talk to the network. Choose the client technology that you are most adept at and interested in
and learn it. You can go straight to DX, use a third party library such as Monogame (XNA isn't supported for Windows Store apps), or a complete game engine such as Unity. Once you can write a decent one-player game you'll have the foundation to start on to
build a two-player game.
At that point you'll need to define the problem much more specifically. As you state it, it is really wide open. How do you want the users to connect? Directly machine to machine? Matched through a web server but running client side? Connecting to a game
running on a remote server? Something else?
The network connection itself is probably fairly straightforward, but where to connect and how to manage that can be difficult. You'll have to decide what properties you want. Is this an action game where responsiveness is important or
a turn based game where timing is less relevant?
Are the players connecting locally or completely remotely? If the former then they can probably connect directly over the local network (NFC is great here). If the latter then they probably will need to connect to a matchmaker service to avoid firewalls.
This can get very complex, but there are existing solutions you can use rather than writing your own.
--Rob

You are not allowed to play multiplayer games on this device

I can not play multiple games. I've searched for a solution and saw that
The solution is in general-restrictions-enable restrictions-enable multiplayer games.
But, multiplayer games and adding friends sections are greyed out! I can not enable them.
How can I enable them ? Why they are greyed out ?!

If your iPhone was provided by your company or another organization or is being managed by them (perhaps as part of connecting to the company's email system), they may have those features disabled. If that's the case, that's an issue you'd have to take up with your company.
Regards.

Making a multiplayer game

I am planning on making a multiplayer game, but the thing is
i have never made one before. I can use java with flash if that
helps. Does anyone know a tutorials i can use to help me learn.
Thank You

use google to search for tutorials.

Unable to play online multiplayer games!?

Whenever I go to play Town of Salem (online multiplayer game) or even any other gaming websites, it takes me to a page stating that I need to update my Flash Player to a version 11.9? or higher even though (triple checking regularly) my flash player is on version 17.1.1. I have uninstalled and reinstalled my flash player 4 times now and it still doesn't work and my Firefox is up to date too. Not too sure whether it is a problem on my side or just the flash player doesn't like playing games on my laptop anymore.
If it helps, I have another laptop (different brand) that has updated flash player and it plays games really smoothly.

Manufacturer: Acer
Model: Aspire 5253G
Processor: AMD E-350
Processor 1.60 GHz
Installed memory RAM: 4.00GB (3.73 GB usable)
System Typer: 64-bit Operating System
Flash Player Version: 17.0.0.169
Your OS: Windows 7 (64bit)
Your Browser: Mozilla Firefox, 37.0.2 (latest update)
My sister has also told me she had a very similar problem only that it was facebook games that weren't working. She fixed the problem by switching some option "on" that was turned off by someone else.

Multiplayer game applet

Hi,
I'm currently developping a multiplayer game as a personnal project. I thought of applet as an ideal mean of making this available easily from anywhere.
I designed the game, developped the core game code, and made a quick GUI. Then came the time to plug that together with a communication protocol.
Applets can only connect to the server it was downloaded from. No problem there, I can run the game server on the http server (the DB's there anyway).
I thought about RMI, but my first tests, although totally successful on my LAN, proved a nightmare when crossing the little familiar boundaries of my home network.
So I was wondering about writing my communication code using sockets instead and controlling my own game data frames.
So my question is, from your experience, what would you do to communicate between an applet and a server? RMI or sockets? Is there anything else which I haven't considered?
From what I read, RMI would require me to make the user install a policy file on their local disk, which is out of question.
Most communications will be initiated by the client, hence why I chose RMI, but I would have ideally to make some communications on the other side. Sockets would allow this two way communication, but from what I understood, it wouldn't work using RMI because this would mean for the applet to start a rmiregistry and listen on some ports?
I would really appreciate your input on which way I should head for my communication layer, which pitfalls awaits me and where I can get more details from similar projects.
Thanks!

Thanks for your input.
My problem is that I'm an utopist and want my game accessible to the most people possible. Everybody has a browser, but not everyone has web-start.
Having to install web-start or a policy file on their system might turn off some potential players from giving it a try. And in some environment, it may be simply impossible (my university's network admin won't let me install web-start, and this is the case in many other places for sure).
The sandbox is not a problem to me since I can run the game server from the http server and only connect to the server the applet was served from.

RTMFP: Multiplayer games

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