Patterns of optimism for reducing the effects of latency in networked multiplayer games

Abstract

The video game industry has evolved in such a way that many users not only want, but also expect some form of multiplayer experience in games. More so, users anticipate the same quality of service online as they do offline, regardless of the limitations in the connection or infrastructure of the underlying network. This expectation is especially problematic in highly time sensitive multi-player games such as first person shooters and sports games. In many cases, the latency encountered forces gameplay to be very frustrating and breaks immersion for the player. While there have been solutions proposed to help mitigate this problem, they tend to focus on some particular game genre or gameplay element. To address this issue, this paper presents a new approach to reducing the effects of latency in networked multiplayer games that relies upon techniques in optimistic programming. In particular, this paper introduces software design patterns for building optimistic constructs into networked games, and reports on experiences in using these patterns in the development of a simple football game to validate their use in networked games