Lag Compensation Solutions for a True Real-Time Multiplayer Experience

Determining what information should be sent to the server with the purpose to replicate a true real-time multiplayer experience is the foremost step in the direction of designing effectual networking communications. Of course, there are many key facets to consider before a game developer actually gets there.

Here in this article, we will be discussing a few important topics that are important in Multiplayer Game Development. We will cover-

1. How lag affects games?
2. Why is it important to address lag?
3. And a few lag compensation techniques

What is Lag Compensation?

Before actually moving to lag compensation, let’s understand a few basic concepts, which eventually will help in dealing with lag compensation issues:

1. Round trip time or the RTT – As the name suggests, round trip time is the amount of time a packet of information takes to travel from client to server and back to the client. Here the processing times are not considered.
2. Lag – Again, the name says it all. Lag is the time delay that occurs when the player sends the “action” and when he/she receives the “reaction” from the server. Here the action can be - jump, shoot, duck, etc. and the reaction from the server can be – avoid the hit, shoot the bullet, etc.
3. Lag Compensation – The role of lag compensation is to minimize the discrepancy caused by the lag in the response time and offer uninterrupted gameplay. Depending on the type of game, this technique can be applied either at the server level or at the client level.

These were a few basic definitions; however, it is important to understand both client-side lag compensation and server-side lag compensation if you want to learn Multiplayer Game Development at its best. Let’s explore each of them one by one –

Client-side lag compensation

With the aim to solve lag issues from the client, the developer could work by means of an interpolation system for setting the game characters. The approach aims at delivering simulation from the clients, which is a few steps behind what is received from the server. For example – When a server sends data, like – the position of an enemy – the client simulation won’t be updated instantaneously, but it counterbalances seeing the lags from other clients.

This can even be extrapolated in a manner that – the client envisages the next possible position of the character and correspondingly revises the position when the updated data is received from the server. This also means that the client presumes that if a character is moving in a specific direction, the same will keep moving in that particular direction.

Server-side lag compensation

The client-side lag compensation solutions cover a very limited number of situations and for many developers, these solutions do not work for most of their multiplayer gameplay experiences. For such situations, server alternatives are some better options that aim at achieving better lag compensation. However, just keep in mind that these solutions can lead to complications as well.

There are three ways of compensating lag from the server-side-

1. Deterministic simulation – This solution aim at handling all the simulation in the server, based on the inputs client send to the server. This way similar lag is experienced on all the clients, thus reducing the compensation issues. The negative aspect of this approach is that it affects the player’s interaction with the game, resulting in slowing down the player’s perception of the response time. Reason being – the user sends the input, the server receives the data, sends back a response – this wastes time, causing lag. Quite evident to the player.
2. Reliable protocols – Another approach is to use a reliable protocol, like TCP – which ensure reliable and correct ordered data packet delivery. This ensures simple and quick processing both on the client side and on the server side. For more advanced networking, one can even opt for sophisticated, custom game protocol with lighter encapsulation for reducing the inherent overhead bracketed with TCP.
3. Send all simulation state – In this very solution, the total game state is shared. However, it should be ensured that only one client is allowed to modify the game-state at any given point, that the state is atomic in operations. Doing this will ensure that both client (or even clients) and the server will have the latest game versions at all times and hence can perform actions accordingly.

This was all for this article, for more information on the topic and where to learn Multiplayer Game Development, 

Visit http://mages.edu.sg/

Role and Types Of Advertising In The Video Game Industry

Advertising has a major role to play both in the success and failure of a product in the gaming industry. Yes, nothing new, it is common to every field, every industry and to every product. Thus, video games should be taken as any other product and need to be advertised in a manner that the potential consumers know exactly what the product is before they actually decide upon buying that product, which here is a video game.

In recent years, even the video game industry has realized the importance of advertising and start relying all the more vigorously oan it for growth. Also, with buyers becoming more alert and connected and the world of gaming encountering rapid technological upgrades, the video game publishers will just keep on harnessing the potential of advertising.

The advertising market for video games, however still in its early stage, has become gigantic over the past decade. This growth in the market is creating some crucial job opportunities for the advertising experts with expertise in the video game industry. For anyone who wants to make a career in video game advertising, must enroll for an advertising course that incorporates teaching various parts of a brand’s marketing system.

Now let’s see what is the current scenario for advertising in the video game industry-

Interstitial ads

These are full screen advertisements that cover the interface of their host application. These advertisements are normally displayed at natural transition points in the flow of an application. A few examples here include- between activities or during a pause between different game levels. These advertisements give users the choice to either view the advertisement or close it and return to their host application. The direct call to action and the full screen size are some of the attributes that make these types of advertisements one of the most effective ways of video game promotions.

Reward-based ads

Also called by the name ‘Incentivized Advertising’, the name says it all. The Reward based advertising offer its player an in-game currency. This type of ads market has grown substantially, owing to the popularity of smart-phones and in-app purchases. The advertisements shown here are either game-based or random and not customized to the player’s preferences. Also, keep in mind that these types of ads work in particular set-ups, where the reward or the incentive is sufficiently great for the gamer to need to make a purchase.

Native Ads

Native advertising is the latest trends in the video game industry, the types have reaped a lot of attention after these have been utilized as a part of US presidential campaigns in the year 2008 and 2012. Coming back to video game industry, native advertising is as useful as these are for other industries, as it offers the players with a real-life experience, which eventually make them more connected to the game. This connection between the gamer and the game lead to improved sales and hence the motive of the advertisement is achieved.

All the advertising types mentioned above reflect the fact that the traditional advertising model has grown from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ methodology to a more personalized and engaging one. Video games are no longer seen as the product for youngsters and young adults alone, in fact, the latest studies show that the average gamer today is 35 years old. Moreover, it’s not the men who dominate this gaming zone, there is a significant increase in the number of female players and this increase is growing and will grow over the next few years.

To put it plainly, the gaming industry has become a mainstream medium for entertainment, mainly because of the creative ways by which they are being advertised to the world.

How to Get into a Game Business Management School the Works for You

Game Development

The world or art and design offer a variety of highly lucrative professional options in the form of graphic designing, game art and design, animation, film making and more. If you feel that you have the aptitude for this vocation and wish to nurture the right skills to make a living out of your passions, it is time to work towards getting into the best game business management course.

What kind of Education do you need?

Before you start applying to game management schools, assess whether you intend to pursue a full-time degree or take a few short courses that help you test your creativity and interest in this field. If you wish to make a living out of your gaming design skills, having a degree from a reputed school can take you places. There are a number of schools in Singapore that offer pathway degree programs where you get to spend your final year in another country. Choose a program that helps you develop the right business skills that complement your technical know-how while also opening doors to new professional connections in the field of your choice.

Which are the Right Schools to Apply to?

Spend time researching the different schools that you can apply to. Go through their websites to understand the different majors that they offer. You may also be able to attend college fairs and seminars specifically for aspiring or existing art school students to get a better idea on the academic options you have at hand.

Do you Need a Portfolio?

Many schools may expect their students to submit a basic portfolio for the admissions committee to assess. Committees understand not to evaluate your portfolio solely on the basis of demonstrated skills and by the potential you present as a gaming professional. For students who have had access to art instruction in the past, it is expected that they showcase better skills than applicants with a modest exposure to the field.

School Tours

Set up an appointment with the relevant people within the game business management school to tour the campus, assess their infrastructure, speak with the teaching and non-teaching staff, and also give an interview if required. Make sure that you arrive with a list of informed questions that you may have about the school, its offerings, and its teaching methods and the prospects its offers at the completion of your program. 

When applying to some of the leading schools sure that you are also prepared to receive some creative feedback about your work you present in your portfolio. This can help you enhance your chances of getting into other good schools that you may be applying to.

This piece takes you through the various steps to take when applying to a design school in Singapore.

Your Guide to Great C++ Coding

Are you doing C++ programming course? C++ developers encounter several errors while coding. If you are working with this language, it’s important you know about these mistakes beforehand so that you can make full use of it. Here are a few pointers that can guide you along the great experience with C++. 

Useful Programming Tricks for C++

• Statement for Smaller Programs

The std namespace operator in C++ features data-stream objects, such as cin and cout. So when you write a code, you put it this way:

std::cout << "Hi." << std::endl;

It’s slightly tedious. You can replace the above code with the following statement in the beginning of most of your programming work:

using namespace std;

• Local Variables over Global Variables

Most coders face this confusion whether they should use local variable or global variable. The simple solution is:

1. Use global variables when several functions need to share information. This implies define them outside all functions.
   
2. If a variable stores information to be communicated between several functions, either make it global or pass the information by showing the variable in a parameter (part of an argument list).

According to seasoned programmers, being very selective with the use of global variables is better. When you use global variable, the internal action of one function can meddle with the internal action of the other function. In case of long coding work, it turns out to be a common problem. That’s why use of local variables in most cases is recommended.

• Use of Classes and Objects 

As a beginner, you are taught to declare data structure into a class and every function as a member of that class. In the era of 90’s, this practice was widespread. However, in recent times, programmers have realized that using unnecessary classes can consume more space. In GUI like model, using object or class is necessary in order to generate accurate responses for the requested services. But, in other cases, you can do with the basics of class and object syntax. This will help you to use the Standard Template Library (STL) in the most efficient way, making your programming job easier. From lists, stacks to strings, you will be able to access all the facilities of this library.

• No “Magic Numbers”

Undocumented literal constants that are declared in a program are referred to as “magic number”.  For example:-

char input_string[81];

81 is a “magic number” since it’s not self-explanatory. You can manipulate the use of numbers with #define or enum statements using symbolic names, such as SCREEN_WIDTH. Here is an example:

#define SCREEN_WIDTH 80

SCREEN_WIDTH makes more sense than 81. By chance, you have to reset the width later, you can do it by changing just one line in the code. It will reflect in the statements this way:

int input_string[SCREEN_WIDTH + 1];

Minor Errors to Avoid

Apart from them, there are a number of other rules that may sometimes slip your mind, resulting in bugs in the program. For instance:

1. Not using the word ‘public:’ in classes may turn everything into private
2. Forgetting to use parentheses with functions that have no parameters
3. Not applying semicolon at the end of a class declaration
4. Confusing Test-for-Equality (==) for equal sign (=) when you use if statement or loop

Summary

A certified C++ programming course can help you with coding and being more careful about possible errors.

Thinking and Communication beyond the Scope

The fundamentals of Graphic Design Course is for budding professionals who want to learn the basics of design concepts, along with principles to help build confidence and awareness of guidelines and theories. Graphic Design Courses Singapore is a discipline that focuses on communication as well as presentation.

The designer has to deal with the transfer of information in the form of communication. The person should fathom the functioning, codes and the language. Each and every symbol has a special meaning which the receiver needs to know. Graphic designing includes different types of visual elements. They are:

Lines- This is the most fundamental and basic element of designing. Lines are beautifully used to separate content and headings. They are useful to divide the space and locating to a specific location.

Colour- It is an essential element for the user and the designer. Every colour has its own significance and can be applied to backgrounds or any other elements.

Shapes- There is a vivid variety of shapes like circle, square, oval, diamond and so on. One should have a blatant vision about these shapes and how actually they are interacting.

Texture- The look and appeal of the websites depends entirely on the texture. Textures help to create different kinds of pictures whether it is three dimensional or two dimensional.

Graphic Design Courses Singapore has a strong foundation in technology and provides the skills and knowledge needed to become ingenious thinkers, polished practitioners and well-informed designers. With a distinct emphasis on understanding branding, the Diploma gives a commercial edge to budding graphic designers. It always gives emphasis on the conception, creation, planning and realization of visual solutions.

Graphic design can serve many functions. Just a few of the uses of graphic design include:

• Corporate identity
• Packaging 
• Printed materials (books, magazines, newspapers)
• Online blogs
• Websites
• Newspapers
• Album covers
• Film and television titles and graphics
• T-shirt and clothing designs
• Greeting cards

In a nut shell, Graphic designing is a very creative process to convey a particular message to the recipient. The designer can use variety of tools to convey the message and have a communication. Graphic designers work with illustrators, clients and photographers to help get the point.

A common use of drawing in graphic design is to sketch out a conjecture to get an immediate sense of its potential worth. Graphic designers may also be involved in the printing process; they are sometimes responsible for choosing paper, as well as making sure proofs and colour separations.

Introduction to Unity & Game Development Courses – the First Step towards a Hotshot Game

Developer

The game development industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world with no indications of slowing down in the future. This, undoubtedly, makes it one of the most promising careers to go for. However, developing an all-appealing game is not as easy as playing one. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, focus and of course, expertise. Perhaps you already know these. So, if you are an aspiring game developer, Introduction to Unity & Game Development Courses are the best options to bank upon.

Go for the right game engine

As far as game development is concerned, selecting a suitable game engine from so many available options is very important. The options range from simple and basic 2D game engines to feature-packed 3D options as well as free of cost to highly expensive powerhouses. And for obvious reasons, choosing the right one might be a bit hard for you. Confused, right? Don’t worry - there is a solution to all your confusions. It is the ‘Unity’, an amazing game development platform.

What is Unity?

Well, launched in the year 2004 by Unity Technologies, Unity is considered to be one of the best game engines so far. You would be surprised to learn that there are more than 1.3 million Unity developers (registered) and over 3 Lakhs active developers/month. According to a survey conducted an esteemed game magazine in the year 2012, it has been found that near about 53.1% of the mobile developers make use of this platform for making games.

What makes Unity so popular among game developers?

You might be wondering – what is so special about this game engine. Here are the answers – 

• Pricing – There are a number of game development platforms available in the market that come with super-expensive price tags and absurd payment plans. However, Unity is quite straightforward in this respect. It comes in two variants – Free and Pro. The former is obviously free of cost and no, it’s not at all a gimped version. In fact, Free Unity is a feature-packed version and allows you to develop games commercially without any compromise. In case, you want more professional features, such as Path-finding, LOD (Level of Details) support, etc, you can go for Unity Pro for a price of 1,500 dollars only.
• Easy to use – Everything in the Unity platform is so visual and thus, easy to use. This platform mainly focuses on simplifying the main aspect of game development, that’s seamless workflow. It provides you with an instant insight on what you are developing. 
• The freedom to script – Unlike most of the other game engines, object behaviors are not restricted to engine-integral modules when it comes to Unity. Rather, the latter allows you to write powerful object behaviors using JavaScript, Boo, and C#. 

So, there are three of the main features of Unity. However, that’s not all. This gaming platform offers much more. Although Unity is mainly used for developing 3D games, you can also make 2D games using this platform. It also allows you to develop multi-player games. One of the best things about Unity is – it is a multi-platform (Android, iOS, Windows, Xbox, etc…) game engine.

Learning Unity

In order to master this game engine, the need for Introduction to Unity & Game Development Courses cannot be overlooked. That’s because - without professional training, you won’t be able to go far in this career. So, get yourself enrolled in an esteemed institution and begin your journey as a hotshot game developer.

4 Reasons You Should Choose Advertising as Your Career Option

Advertising is quite a lucrative career option nowadays. Advertising is used by all the institutions irrespective of the fact if they are small or big. There are different types of advertising and with the advent of internet and computers, the advertising industry has undergone huge changes. Advertisers are assigned with the task of introducing any product in the market and stimulating the people to buy the product. In this, the advertising course plays a very important role. 

The advertisers are assigned with various different tasks like, 

• Introduce a new product in the market
• Expansion of the market
• Increase the sales
• Fight competition
• Enhance goodwill
• Educates the consumers

and many more such tasks.

In order to gain a competitive edge over its competitors and make sure that they are able to tap into the hidden potential of the market, there is a huge demand of the advertisers. This is expected to increase a lot further in the years to come. Hence it is advised to choose the option to opt for the best institute as the preferred option for the advertising course. If you are looking for a good institute for the advertising course in Singapore, look no further than Mages. 

Here are some of the reasons due to which you should choose advertising as your career option. 

Vast opportunities available:

The advertisers are provided with vast employment opportunities. It is because of the fact that the number of companies are increasing day by day. Hence it provides a number of job opportunities to the candidates. 

Good salaries provided:

With the passing of time and based on the knowledge and experience of the candidates, the companies provide hefty salaries to the deserving candidates. It becomes necessary to gain a competitive edge over the other candidates to gain such positions offered by the companies. 

Quite a creative career:

The job of advertisers requires a lot of creativity and a proper understanding of the consumer behaviour. In this field the knowledge about different fields like copywriting, copy editing, storyboards etc. are necessary. 

Job opportunities in a number of diverse fields:

The advertisers are able to get jobs in different industries like  Television, Media, Films, Photography, Advertising Agencies, Design Studios, Print and Publishing, Animation, Web, Internet, Interactive Multimedia, etc. Hence the people are able to get experience in a number of fields. Hence it is advised that one must have a proper knowledge of the different fields. 

Summary:

The advertising industry is quite a lucrative career option and helps a lot of users to give a massive boost to their career. But, in order to make it big in the industry, it is advised that you choose a good institute for the degree. Mages provides the best advertising course in Singapore and has helped a number of students to make it big into the advertising industry. Here the knowledge is provided by the industry experts. These help them to provide a detailed knowledge of the advertising industry and guide you to land lucrative jobs.