Multiplayer tank wars, with strings!
hillman on 2008/09/13 15:40
Well, having said we wouldn't set our sights too high, we ended up trying for a networked multiplayer game. Which is obviously a bit much to do in a week, but we fancied having a try.
We've actually managed to write a network wrapper for pymunk which lets you connect different pymunk simulation spaces to each other and syncs the state of objects depending on who has authority over them. On top of this we built a state synchronisation system so we could distribute game objects' state, and a way of distributing collisions so that the server has authority on collisions.
So the surprising bit is the networking side of things is working and ready for a game to built on top of it, we've just run out of time for that bit. We do have a game, it just doesn't do a lot.....
We've got a sci-py based dynamic terrain generator that generates random curvy landscapes for our tanks to drive along, some basic tanks which can fire bullets and a damage mechanism to take health off tanks when they're hit. But that's about it. It's got a lot of potential but it doesn't really do much and it isn't fun!!
Without a lobby system for connecting people to each other, I imagine it'd be a nightmare for people to try and play it against somebody too....so........we're not going to submit it as an entry to be scored.
If anyone thinks it would be worthwhile posting the code then we will, I suppose someone else could build on top of it next time (maybe us!) if they fancy doing a multiplayer game, or if they want dynamic terrain generation. We may also do a bit more on it over the next few weeks.
Oh - our theme related bit was a click and drag string stretching thingy that is used to determine the direction and strength of fire power. Possibly the most taxing mathematics involved!
Anyway, hope you're all having fun, don't forget to feed your self/pets/kids whilst you finish off your submissions!