Game server infrastructure for two players turn based board phone game

Question

I tried to do my homework in this topic, but unfortunately with no luck, at least the picture not as clear I can start digging deeper or registering for a service etc.

What I am trying to implement: Simple 2 player board game, with CPU or internet opponent. The game is a phone game for all the 3 platforms iPhone, Android, WP7. (please do not harm WP7:-)

One option is go to some cloud (Azure, Amazon) and implement some game server. Sounds reinventing the wheel, but maybe there is an open source implementation. (only ASP.NET because my skills)
My current understanding my other and preferable option is using a service like Openfeint or ScoreLoop (bought (and eaten?) by RIM :-(). Unfortunately it is not clear for me (after reading the two FAQs) if besides of high score lists and maintaining statistics is any of game server is capable to conducting a board game between two authenticated player?

Could anyone point me where to start? (or suggest me a WP7 sample or marketplace game which uses a public game server for two player board game internet gameplay?)

Thx for answers

Why not direct ip? You need a lobby and match making? – Fermin Silva Apr 10 '12 at 12:50 — Fermin Silva, Apr 10 '12 at 12:50
http://stackoverflow.com/q/6263991/1075066 – Its not blank Apr 10 '12 at 12:55 — Its not blank, Apr 10 '12 at 12:55

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered May 09 '12 at 07:56

1

I also wanted to develop a multiplayer game and examined Openfeint, Scoreloop and Skiller. I ended up using Skiller as my multiplayer engine, since it was the only one that supports multiplayer and it works great.

Hope i helped.

answered May 09 '12 at 07:56

MrWhiteYoo

363
2
5

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 10 '12 at 19:40

0

Look at Azure for social games toolkit https://github.com/WindowsAzure-Toolkits/wa-toolkit-games

answered Apr 10 '12 at 19:40

Roman Golenok

1,427
9
26

Hi Roman, Thx for answer, this toolkit definitely have the capabilities what I am searching for and definitely an appropriate answer to my question. Some cons pop up in my mind: 1) It is a little bit pricy to start with two roles + SQL + Storage, the minimum monthly cost about $50-100 using micor/small instances. For this price or even free maybe we can find (where?) a more capable social game server _service_ 2) Is it proved it works in a real world scenario, I mean is there any popular market app which uses it? – g.pickardou Apr 12 '12 at 07:02

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 05 '13 at 23:07

There as some areas of concern outside of the logic of just the game.

User Identity and Authorizing. (Game Center)

Game Data Persistence and Storage. (Cloud Database like AWS DynamoDB)

Game Match Queuing. (AWS SQS) Don't attempt this with a database using pessimistic concurrency.

Notifications of Match Players are ready for sleeping clients. (AWS SNS to APNS/Google to Endpoint(this mobile device))

Polling or Notification for Next Move. (AWS SQS or SNS) I wouldn't poll a Database for this.

Those services are just example recommendations. I don't work for Amazon, they are the easiest and most affordable to get up and running but there maybe better services out there. I found them with your same requirements in mind. I don't want to commit to 100 bux plus a month if my idea is a boon-dongle.

You could do all that listed above to start out for under $15 a month using cloud services. The best thing is if your idea takes off you simply bump up the thresholds on those with a flick of a switch from an admin portal. Some automatically scale.

Game server infrastructure for two players turn based board phone game

3 Answers3