期刊名称：International Journal of Computer Games Technology
印刷版ISSN：1687-7047
电子版ISSN：1687-7055
出版年度：2008
卷号：2008
DOI：10.1155/2008/327387
出版社：Hindawi Publishing Corporation
摘要：Multiplayer online
games with support for high user numbers must
provide mechanisms to support an increasing
amount of players by using additional resources.
This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of
the practically proven multiserver distribution
mechanisms, zoning, instancing, and replication,
and the tasks for the game developer implied by
them. We propose a novel, high-level development
approach which integrates the three distribution
mechanisms seamlessly in today's online
games. As a possible base for this high-level
approach, we describe the real-time framework
(RTF) middleware system which liberates the
developer from low-level tasks and allows him to
stay at high level of design abstraction. We
explain how RTF supports the implementation of
single-server online games and how RTF allows to
incorporate the three multiserver distribution
mechanisms during the development process.
Finally, we describe briefly how RTF provides
manageability and maintenance functionality for
online games in a grid context with dynamic
resource allocation scenarios.
