Multiplayer Game Development: Step By Step Tutorial

Video games are very popular in the market. Children or adults, irrespective of their ages, love to play video games.  Usually, they come in as a single player activity mode where the player has to play against a few pre-programmed challenges or a multiplayer game mode in which more than one player can play the game. Internet gaming has a strong growth by introducing such multiplayer games. Most of the top rated games on mobile and computers are now multiplayer enabled and it is always interesting to play a multiplayer game. Here we will talk about how to learn multiplayer game development and implement them on a network.

Understand the concept of networking

A simple way to connect players in a multiplayer environment is peer to peer architecture. Here, the concept is that two or more nodes (computers, mobiles, etc.) are to be connected to each other without a centralized system and control. Each peer having the same function, they consume the same data and share the same data with other peers.

Once each player establishes the connection with each other, the information is passed through the network to other peer and he is now aware of the decision taken by the opponent.

Benefits of peer to peer system

• Fast transmission of data
• Simple system 
• Reliable to players 

Peer to peer network architecture is very powerful to generate multiplayer games. But javascript enabled games are using client-server architecture networking for game development.

Understand the concept of the game server

The game server is responsible for connecting players from various nodes into a single gaming environment. Game servers are mainly two types:

• Authoritative game server: In an authoritative game server, the logic of the game is in memory of the server every time. Client report various details to the server through messages and the game server updates the state of the game correspondingly. The server sends back the updated state of the game to all the clients including the original sender.

• Non-authoritative game server: In a non-authoritative server, the client’s involvement is very high because the client can send updated state of the game to other clients and to the game server at the same time.

Understand the concept of game clients

Game clients act as an interface between the human and the game software. The game client is responsible for collecting the input from the player and also is responsible for receiving various game states from the server. In the world of dynamic multiplayer games, clients are very responsible for dynamic changes happen in the gaming environment.

Challenges in developing Multiplayer games

Multiplayer game development is very expensive. And also it has very high chance of failure. After the development of the game, it will move to the testing phase. The testing phase is very critical in the multiplayer game environment. But the real test occurs when the game come to the live population.

Summary

Developing an online game is very interesting as playing it. We are in the golden era of multiplayer game development. It is an exciting task to learn multiplayer game development with all its challenges. Synchronization and concurrency control are the two important things that a game developer needs to take into consideration. 

Using Serious Game Design to Enhance Product Knowledge via Online Training

Online training for product knowledge is often considered to be dull and boring among most employees. To be able to change this perspective, it is your job as a designer to find an innovative way to integrate serious game design techniques into your client’s online training strategy.

Making Product Knowledge Fun

The key is to find ways to help employees brush up on the product specs in an engaging manner through online training simulations and presentations that are interactive and complete with game mechanics. You need to go beyond forcing employees to simply read out features and give them a chance to explore the product in an immersive environment. Here are a few things you need to consider when working on a product knowledge project after completing your serious game course in Singapore –

• Making the Game Mobile Friendly and Bite Sized
  

The most effective serious games in the market are the ones that are convenient and quick. Most modern learners don’t have the inclination, concentration span and time to engage in a game that drags on for hours. Even if you are offering them critical skills and information in exchange, you want to make sure that the micro-learning online training courses are easy to access and digest.

Your game should be engaging enough to motivate employees to repeat them again and again for the purpose of learner retention and reduction of cognitive load.

• Focusing on Product Specifications and Features 

It is obvious that the focal point of your serious game needs to be on the features, specifications and benefits of the product. A common mistake developers make is to prioritize game mechanics over product knowledge. The idea is to make sure that every eLearning situation, character and challenge is linked to the product and game design elements are used as purely a performance support tool to make the process more engaging.
 

• Encourage Competition with Leader Boards

Competition can be powerful motivation tool. It often drives employees to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Leverage this core human nature by putting up a leader board. Employees who know the product or take the time to get to know it better will rank better. This provides a great source of motivation for employees on the top as well as bottom end of the leader board where the leaders will want to keep their spots while the others will want to prove themselves to their peers.

• Incorporate Sales Skills
  

Understand the difference between learning about a new product and learning how to sell it. Your online training serious game should be able to explore not only the features of the products but also provide tools that help employees to negotiate various aspects of the transaction. You could find ways to help employees re-enact common sales challenges allowing them to deal with difficult clients, enhance communication, etc.

By channelling the right skills from your serious game course in Singapore, you will be able to help you clients create the perfect product knowledge training solution for their employees. 

Impacting Game Design with Accessibility

The developers and publishers of video games prefer focusing on features like graphics and audio that will make their titles noticeable to the mainstream gaming community. Besides the mainstream community, there is the accessibility community consisting of gaming enthusiasts with disabilities. The video game developers and publishers should also consider these people with disabilities and add features that will help these people to enjoy the games. The game developers should have in-depth knowledge and training to know what features should be added to ease the job of the accessibility community and how to include these features in a game. In order to gain the knowledge and have required training, one should pursue a course from a game design institute in Singapore.

 

Know What Accessibility Is
When the word “accessibility” appears in the mind, many people think of objects like wheelchair ramps as these are commonly used by those with disabilities. But, in reality, the accessibility features are not merely included only for people with extreme disabilities. People also use these features because of the impairments that may affect computer use.  With respect to video games, including accessibility means turning a title usable to those with hearing, vision and similar disabilities.

Preventative Play
Physical impairments, as already stated, affect people playing a video game can prevent them from playing the games in specific instances. There are many cases where specific designs which are not game accessible have forestalled the players to continue the game. These issues are often overlooked by the video game developers. These are various action-based games where the gamer needs to think fast and act promptly. Those with arthritis often find it difficult to play these games unless they use a regular controller.

QTEs are features that often turn a game less accessible for those having repetitive stress injuries. Features like control mapping can prove useful in this case. Control mapping enables the player to change the control scheme to a mode that he finds easy to use. There are games that are equipped with microphone-based designs. These games have become very popular now-a-days. Some examples would be creating sounds to make certain things occur on screen or blowing into the microphone to play an instrument. However, this can be challenging for people with asthma and allergy issues. Proper accessibility features should be added to the game to help the asthma patients play the game without discomfort.

If you want to know about the accessibility features in videos games and how to integrate them in the games, pursuing a course from a premier game design institute in Singapore would be wise.

Avoiding Common Graphic Design Mistakes

No one likes to make mistakes. It is completely unprofessional, especially silly little ones. Sure when you just get out of graphic design school you are bound to make mistakes because you are eager to get to work and express your creativity. But did you know that those mistakes can cost you? You may have gone to graphic design colleges in Singapore, but the sooner you learn what to avoid these mistakes the better it will be.

 

 

1. More isn’t always a good thing!
This is one of those less is more situations. When it comes to the design format, do your best to keep it clear and easy to understand. Overloading it with too many fonts can be very distracting for the end reader/ viewer. Avoid using lots of typefaces on one page. Stick to the rule of using just two different fonts. Keep one as four main font and the other to add emphasis and highlight the main message you want to get across.

2. Not really understanding the brief
Make it a point to thoroughly understand what the client wants. If you haven’t grasped the basic concept that the client is looking for then it will affect the final outcome. You will be working towards something that is entirely different from what is expected. As a result you have wasted your resources and your client’s time. To prevent this from happening, make sure you ask questions to clear your doubts, take down notes and inform the client about the progress you’ve made so far.

3. Not proof reading
Most people are racing against the clock in an attempt to meet client deadlines, because of this they end up forgetting to do one very important thing. Proof reading! Once you’ve completed your work you reed to check it. Not once but twice. Get a fresh pair of eyes to look at it too. Other people can often spot or mistakes better than us. Doing a thorough check will help you catch any mistake or imperfection before sending your work. Remember it’s the simplest things that can lead to your demise.

4. Not taking shortcuts
Yes you need to use shortcuts! You can save time and energy by learning keyboard shortcuts, when using different software. It may seem like a lot of work at first, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be able to work quicker and finish way before the actual deadline, leaving you enough time to review and check for errors and mistakes.

5. Failing to consider the context
Irrespective of the logo, icon or text you are designing, you need to think is the final product capable of being onto other different mediums – digital and analogue. The factors that go into making the overall design like color, size and intricate patterns should allow you to print the design onto various materials like – T-shirts and signs. It should also allow the client to display it across various technological fronts like computers, mobile phones and other devices.

By simply making a checklist of all the areas that need double checking can help you save time and resources and come across as a professional. It will help you stay out of trouble and keep your work on track.

Going to graphic design colleges in Singapore can help you learn everything there is to know about graphic designing, even the tiny little details that most people would hardly stress on.

Perancangan Grafis untuk Proyek media sosial

Tugas seorang grafis desain semakin luas dengan internet membawa peluang merek baru. Jika anda bekerja dengan perusahaan pemasaran digital atau satu merek, anda juga ingin mengabungkan beberapa kreativitas dengan yang anda pelajari dari institut desain grafis di singapura untuk menciptakan artikel yang terkenal. Maksudnya adalah agar menemukan cara untuk membuat gambaran yang dapat disebarkan, berkemampuan dan menarik.

• Pengunaan kontras

Cara termudah untuk membuat grafis media sosial anda menarik adalah dengan menggunakan warna warna yang kontras. Jika anda menggunakan latar belakang yang berwarna gelap, gunakan warna huruf yang lebih terang untuk menyampaikan pesan anda.

• Memilih huruf palet yang tepat

Jika merek yang anda kerjakan memiliki standar huruf untuk merek tersebut, anda ingin memastikan bahwa anda memilih huruf palet yang konsisten untuk sebuah merek. Ini adalah cara yang terbaik untuk membantu angota audiens yang berkaitan dengan grafis, dengan membangun keakraban dan akhirnya menjadi asosiasi merek. Saat mengerjakan suatu grafis pilih judul, teks penerjemah dan isi huruf teks. Huruf teks yang tebal paling tepat untuk judul.

• Memilih Skema warna yang tepat

Pofesor desain grafis institusi di singapura tidak dapat menekankan betapa pentingnya bagi pendesain untuk memilih skema warna yang tepat agar membuat gambar lebih efektif. Jika merek yang anda kerjakan memberikan pandangan segar dan menyenangkan, anda harus memilih warna yang mencerminkan kepribadian tersebut. Ini adalah sangat tepat untuk memulai dengan sekitar 2 atau 3 warna utama dan kemudian mengelolahkannya.

• Menghindari gambar terbuka

Sebuah unsur utama dalam desain grafis media akan menjadi gambaran yang anda gunakan. Dengan alat alat moderen menciptakan penampilan profesional dengan sangat mudah. Cara yang paling mudah untuk melakukannya adalah dengan menggunakan bingkai atau jaringan bila memungkinkan. Kebanyakan alat alat desain grafis dilengkapi dengan pilihan ratusan jaringan dan bingkai.

Pada akhirnya, anda ingin memakai gambar yang sesederhana mungkin. Meskipun mungkin mudah terbawa hanyut dengan semua filtur yang bagus dan perangkat lunak desain anda memastikan bahwa grafis anda sederhana dan tidak berantakan. Intinya adalah untuk menyampaikan pesan anda dengan menjaga bentuk, warna, huruf dan bingkai yang tepat.

Ringkasan

Belajar bagaimana merancang gambar terbaik untuk ruang media sosial dengan panduan dasar desain grafis 101.

Game Development Insights-What to Look Out For in a Game Development Education: Part I

Hi all!

Today I’d like to share a little bit about gaming courses in Singapore.

When we speak about game development education, what comes to mind is usually in line with either game programming, design or art—so depending on what your niche is, there are several things to look out for. To prevent an information overload, we shall separate it into three posts, starting with Game Design, before moving on to Game Art, and then Game Programming.

Gaming Courses in Singapore

There are several reasons for one to come to Singapore to study, so much that not all can be covered in detail. What aspiring game designers should know is that Singapore provides a safe, convenient and optimal learning environment. Furthermore, the Creative Technology industry in Singapore is quickly gaining prominence in Singapore, with the government raising its budget to support industry. As a result more jobs and opportunities have been created, making it the perfect place to start a career and education in.

As quoted by Singapore’s minister of Finance in the Budget 2014 debate, “There will be many jobs that involve working with technology and using technology to gain a competitive advantage. Jobs in engineering… Jobs in programming, data analysis, ICT. And jobs in the creative industry.”

A recent survey showed that from the period of 1986 to the year 2000, the creative cluster has been shown to be growing faster than its overall economy, with an annual growth rate of 13.4% as per compared to the national economic annual growth rate of 10.6%. 

There are other numbers that could be thrown about such as the increased support and awareness in creative education, but it is better to summarise that Singapore’s creative industry is one of the fastest growing in the world, and definitely in its region.

Naturally, gaming courses in Singapore have also begun to evolve as its importance and demand grows. It has grown so important, that even the public schools have begun to integrate gaming courses into their programmes. Private institutions, like MAGES, offer their students accelerated programmes, as well as smaller student to lecturer ratios for a more tailor-made education.

Game Design

Game Design remains one of the more popular courses in Game Development education, owing perhaps to the fact that it covers a broader range of topics. A typical game design course should offer art modules (such as character design, animation), programming modules (C# programming, mathematics and physics for artificial intelligence), as well as design specific courses (level design, game design and development).

This has to do with the role of a designer in a development team. A typical game designer is expected to know aspects of both programming and art so as to be able to integrate the assets into the game, as well as fluent in design software and to be able to conceptualize the game mechanics and story.

A game designer is as much a creative role, as a technical role and is very much the glue of the development team. There are finer aspects to being a game designer as well. The game designer is often also expected to be knowledgeable in matters such as the business aspect of games, and as such, a deeper education in game design will often cover games business topics such as the psychology of pricing models, as well as market analyzing and deductions of video games.

A word of warning to all aspiring designers; due to the crucial nature of the job, most companies seek only experienced game designers to join their development team and graduates cannot expect a cushy job from the get-go.

However, those who show their passion and talent can quickly rise to prominence and make a name for themselves. The game industry, in Singapore especially, is small enough such that it is an extremely close-knit community, filled with supportive members who are always willing to lend a hand to promising developers.

On a final note, I hope that this short post has helped anyone considering a game design education in Singapore. Do leave your comments and queries if you want to know more about the subject matter or the video games industry in general, and I will try to have them answered to the best of my knowledge.

Cheers!