An Overview of NECI's Generic Game Server

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An Overview of NECI'sGeneric Game Server
Michael Buro joint work with Igor Durdanovic
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Talk Outline

• GGS Architecture
• Current Services
• Unique Features
• Client Software
• Outlook

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GGS Architecture

• Virtual network of Internet Services,
  Multiplexors, and Clients connected to a Central
  Server
• Simple text-based message protocol on top of TCP

Traditional network GGS
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Advantages of GGS

• A single connection point for a service network
  used for authentication and connection delegation
• All clients and services can communicate with
  each other
• Adding new services and GUIs is eased by reusable
  software components in form of C and Java
  libraries

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Current Services

• Chat functionality sending messages to
  individuals or groups
• Seven board game services
• (Amazons, Checkers, Chess, Go, Hex,
  Othello, Phutball)
• A single tournament director for all game services

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Unique Game Service Features

• Glicko rating system which also models rating
  variability
• Universal clock that can emulate all common game
  clock modes
• Common format for archiving games
• Many different board sizes and shapes
• Fair game handling for both fixed and random
  starting positions

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Client Software
Source code available

• A generic C client for connecting game programs
  to GGS
• GGSA - the GGS applet for all services
• Wrapper software for connecting standard-I/O
  driven programs

Windows executables provided by Chris Welty

• LION - Othello GUI
• TD - a single tournament director for all game
  services

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Plans

• More services
• Real-time gaming
• Instant Messaging
• Peer-2-Peer file sharing
• News and stock tickers
• User friendly GUI
• Intuitive
• Multi-platform
• Localized
• More scalable architecture