Submitted 15 hours ago by sbeak@sopuli.xyz to [deleted]
Is there anything like this? Something like Roblox, but rather than using a central server, using a network of decentralised servers with different self-hosted instances (a bit like the fediverse, but for online multiplayer games)
If there’s nothing like this, how difficult would it be to start something like this myself?
I believe Space Station 14 fits your criteria exactly if I’m interpreting it correctly. Space Station 13 would as well if not for the fact that player accounts must still be centralized to a server. That server is currently under a cyber attack, which really shows the importance of decentralization (in this instance, I’m not that big a fan of the concept).
OpenSim and the OSGrid network, is open source Second Life
Its technically doable, but it wouldn’t be easy. The problem isn’t in making federated user authentication or servers, its just making a game that is flexable enough with powerful enough modding tools to be worth using compared to just making a game from scratch.
As a simplified example, lets say you want the default mechanics set of your game to be a first person shooter. This means you use 3D graphics, optimized for higher-detail enviroments and include features that would be most useful for that, such as a simple optimized 3D physics system, and tools for making detailed 3D levels.
In this new game, someone wants to make a 2D platformer. What additional tools will they need? A way to lock physics to two dimensions, or possibly even a new physics system entirely, A way to manipulate the camera separate from what the game started with, an orthographic camera, possibly a new lighting system, possibly different optimization techniques, the ability for the modder to replace the player controller and change it’s mechanics entirely, and the tools to use all these to make new levels.
By that point, you’re half way to making a new game engine, and the modder is 90% of the way to just making a standalone game.
If you’re talking about self-hosted game servers, those already exists (see Minecraft), but it depends on whether they allow it or not. Reversing is possible, yeah, but it would take stupid amount of effort without their cooperation.
Main challenge of federated in the sense that there are communications between servers as well as client and server is probably going to be latency. If I were building something like this, I would rather have a protocol that redirects you to the actual game server rather than having your home instance acting as a proxy to the remote instance.
more like a platform where the community is able to publish user-created games for people to play. Maybe the different instances could be different types of games (e.g. action, RPG, puzzle) or different languages/regions. For instance, something like Roblox and even Scratch is where people are able to make their own games and make it public so others can play (though for Scratch, it’s not just games).
A program that covers all kinds of games is going to be challenging due to sheer variety there would be. You could build a specialised protocol for a specific genre of games, but I think at that point, it would make more sense to build your own game, and use Fediverse identity to identify the user.
Fanghole@reddthat.com 5 hours ago
Garry’s Mod. There is a centralized location you can all get the relevent files from, or uploaf them to (Steam). Your game could be on a publicly accessable server. But, you are able to and pretty much must host the server yourself (or you could use a hosting service, but GMod won’t do it for you).