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MMO comparsion in an academic environment
(I was not sure if I should post here or in the Off-Topic section. Please move if I've posted in an inappropriate forum.)
I'm taking a short course in computer networks at the Mid Swedish University. Our final assignment is to compare two networking technologies or two networking applications. I've chosen to compare two twitched-based MMOs. Vendetta Online was the obvious choice to pick. There are several reasons for this. My good friend Ion has played Vendetta Online for years and has told me a lot about the good atmosphere in your community. Also, I've understood that the developers are a jolly bunch, who regularly answers player questions. As far as I know Vendetta Online is the only online game with native clients for three platforms. Wolfire releases are also on three platforms, but they aren't developing an online game. (All praise to indie developers by the way!)
I haven't decided on the other game yet, but it leans towards Neocron (http://ng.neocron.com/). If anyone knows of any other twitch-based MMO with a Linux client, please let me know.
One of my teacher really liked the idea for being original. The other one, however, wasn't that enthusiastic. To bad he's the one to review my assignment. I guess he didn't like the idea because of prejudice against gaming, but then he fails to understand the requirements placed on games. Most other networking applications can cope with lag. MMOs (especially twitch-based ones) becomes totally unusable (non-entertaining) with lag.
The aspects I will look at has to be measurable. So far I've thought of looking at packages sent and received by the games to see how much data has to be sent. If I'm able to step by step limit my Internet connection, I will also look at which bandwidth is required for the game to run smoothly.
Any feedback from the Vendetta Online community or developers would be greatly appreciated. E.g. other aspects to consider, maybe some information about troubles designing application protocol for gaming etc.
Thanks in advance.
I'm taking a short course in computer networks at the Mid Swedish University. Our final assignment is to compare two networking technologies or two networking applications. I've chosen to compare two twitched-based MMOs. Vendetta Online was the obvious choice to pick. There are several reasons for this. My good friend Ion has played Vendetta Online for years and has told me a lot about the good atmosphere in your community. Also, I've understood that the developers are a jolly bunch, who regularly answers player questions. As far as I know Vendetta Online is the only online game with native clients for three platforms. Wolfire releases are also on three platforms, but they aren't developing an online game. (All praise to indie developers by the way!)
I haven't decided on the other game yet, but it leans towards Neocron (http://ng.neocron.com/). If anyone knows of any other twitch-based MMO with a Linux client, please let me know.
One of my teacher really liked the idea for being original. The other one, however, wasn't that enthusiastic. To bad he's the one to review my assignment. I guess he didn't like the idea because of prejudice against gaming, but then he fails to understand the requirements placed on games. Most other networking applications can cope with lag. MMOs (especially twitch-based ones) becomes totally unusable (non-entertaining) with lag.
The aspects I will look at has to be measurable. So far I've thought of looking at packages sent and received by the games to see how much data has to be sent. If I'm able to step by step limit my Internet connection, I will also look at which bandwidth is required for the game to run smoothly.
Any feedback from the Vendetta Online community or developers would be greatly appreciated. E.g. other aspects to consider, maybe some information about troubles designing application protocol for gaming etc.
Thanks in advance.
I don't know that I can be of any assistance at all, but I would definitely be interested in your results; I hope you share when you're done!
Good luck!
Good luck!
Most of the online games I know of are windows based.
If you can look at other than Linux or are willing to see if it would work I'd suggest the Star Wars Galaxies 14 day free trial (sticking with the space portion so you could compare a space vs space MMO) as it would fit in perfect with your lag vs non lag fun factor (and not cost you anything :) ). Also the game lets you have a network performance box on your HUD (they call it a UI) so you can see the fps/packet loss etc.... at a glance.
I know from playing it on a weaker computer I'd have to turn down / off so many of the features cuz it was such a graphics hog and would still get hit with lag on some missions.
If you can look at other than Linux or are willing to see if it would work I'd suggest the Star Wars Galaxies 14 day free trial (sticking with the space portion so you could compare a space vs space MMO) as it would fit in perfect with your lag vs non lag fun factor (and not cost you anything :) ). Also the game lets you have a network performance box on your HUD (they call it a UI) so you can see the fps/packet loss etc.... at a glance.
I know from playing it on a weaker computer I'd have to turn down / off so many of the features cuz it was such a graphics hog and would still get hit with lag on some missions.
The only other MMO that I know of with native Win/Mac/Linux clients is A Tale in the Desert - www.atitd.com.
Definitely not twitch, in fact non-violent, but still PvP in a social-competition sense.
Definitely not twitch, in fact non-violent, but still PvP in a social-competition sense.
Savage might be what you're looking for, Lacraia. And I'll echo Chaos on this: I'd be interested in your findings.
Professor Chaos and toshiro: I'll post the report or an url to it here when I've passed the course.
Thanks for your suggestions. It's not that important that there's a Linux client for the games I compare. It would just be convenient as it's the OS I use on a day to day basis. I've got a MacBook so I'm able to put any of the operating systems mentioned on it.
What is more important is that it's twitch-based and a massively multiplayer game. I believe those two aspects put the most constraints on the networking performance of the game.
Nebless: I hadn't thought of Star Wars Galaxies. Ion made me aware that the space combat part of the game is actually twitch-based. I didn't know that. I thought it was all round-based.
Leghk: A Tale in the Desert is definitely an interesting game. I've checked their website now and then under the long, long development.
toshiro: Savage is actually a really good choice. It's not an MMO, but there's about 30 players in a bout, which is about as much as Vendetta Online can holster on a single occasion.
Thanks for your suggestions. It's not that important that there's a Linux client for the games I compare. It would just be convenient as it's the OS I use on a day to day basis. I've got a MacBook so I'm able to put any of the operating systems mentioned on it.
What is more important is that it's twitch-based and a massively multiplayer game. I believe those two aspects put the most constraints on the networking performance of the game.
Nebless: I hadn't thought of Star Wars Galaxies. Ion made me aware that the space combat part of the game is actually twitch-based. I didn't know that. I thought it was all round-based.
Leghk: A Tale in the Desert is definitely an interesting game. I've checked their website now and then under the long, long development.
toshiro: Savage is actually a really good choice. It's not an MMO, but there's about 30 players in a bout, which is about as much as Vendetta Online can holster on a single occasion.
Update:
I chose to compare Vendetta with Savage2. I've collected the data and made some tests. I'll get back to you when I've analysed what I've collected.
I chose to compare Vendetta with Savage2. I've collected the data and made some tests. I'll get back to you when I've analysed what I've collected.
If there's anything we can help out with, Lacraia, just ask. In the mean time, I hope you find what you need in the two games. And on a side note, don't compare the newbie sectors! ;D
-Calder
P.S. Feel free to stick around after you finish this assignment! :D
[EDIT]
Savage 2 is an RTS, right? That might not be the best thing to compare, as RTSs can handle lags of a second or more and still be playable.
[\EDIT]
-Calder
P.S. Feel free to stick around after you finish this assignment! :D
[EDIT]
Savage 2 is an RTS, right? That might not be the best thing to compare, as RTSs can handle lags of a second or more and still be playable.
[\EDIT]
Savage 2 is a hybrid FPS/RPG/RTS, I think.
I think so, too. I'm also still very much interested in this.