TheGameCreators - CodeBase - GMan's multiplayer tutorial

Category: Multiplayer

Version: 1.0

Information

Uploaded: 26th Sep 2006 23:08

Modified: 21st Oct 2006 13:14

Author: GMan

Summary

This is a complete tutorial that will guide you through the process of setting connections and sending and receiving different kinds of packets.

Full Description

This is the basic knowledge you need to successfully create multi-user applications using DBPro commands only. Many people say DBPro commands arent good and are buggy, but then I have seen the code those people use, and they don't seem to understand it themselves. So if once you follow this tutorial you will understand that DBPro's built in multiplayer commands are VERY underrated.

DarkBASIC Professional Source Code

` This code was downloaded from The Game Creators

` It is reproduced here with full permission

` http://www.thegamecreators.com

`!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!READ FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

`  NOTE: THERE ARE SEVERAL 'do : loop' LOOPS IN THIS TUTORIAL

`HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THESE ARE ALL INTENDED TO BE APART

`OF THE SAME MAIN LOOP.  IT IS JUST SHOWN THAT WAY IN THIS TUTORIAL

`SO THAT DIFFERENT SECTIONS CAN BE BROKEN APART AND EXPLAINED.

`!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

`*********************************************************************************

`=================================================================================

`==============================SETTING CONNECTION

`=================================================================================

`*********************************************************************************

`SET IP ADDRESS TO CONNECT TO.  THE ADDRESS 127.0.0.1 FOR ALL COMPUTERS WILL

`CONNECT TO YOURSELF FOR TESTING PURPOSES.

ip$="127.0.0.1"

`input "IP address: ", ip$

`SETS INTERNET CONNECTION

perform checklist for net sessions

for a=1 to checklist quantity()

if a="Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay" then connection=a

next a

set net connection connection, ip$

`CREATE OR JOIN SERVER.  THERE ARE BETTER WAYS OF DOING THIS, BUT THIS IS

`THE SIMPLEST.  IT WILL CREATE A SERVER IF NONE EXIST, OR JOIN ANY EXISTING

`SERVER.

perform checklist for net sessions

if checklist quantity()=0

input "player name: ", name$

input "maximum players: ", max

create net game "one", name$, max

else

input "player name: ", name$

join net game 1, name$

endif

`*********************************************************************************

`=================================================================================

`==============================HANDLEING CHAT MESSAGES

`=================================================================================

`*********************************************************************************

`NOTE:  This section does not give code for users typing and pressing backspace ect.

`       This section only deals with how to send and receive the messages.

`NOW WE NEED TO CREATE AN ARRAY TO STORE ALL THE CHAT MESSAGES SENT OR

`RECIEVED SO THEY CAN BE PRINTED TO THE SCREEN LATER.

dim message$(10)

currentMessage=0

`AND WE NEED A SMALL VARIABLE TO HOLD THE CURRENT MESSAGE NUMBER IN THE

`ARRAY SO WE DON'T OVERWRITE ANY MESSAGES.

`NOW THAT WE ARE IN A GAME, SEND A GREETING MESSAGE

m$="[ "+name$+" ] HAS JOINED THE GAME"

send net message string 0, m$

`AND STORE IT IN THE MESSAGE ARRAY

message$(currentMessage)=m$

inc currentMessage

`TO AVOID COMPLICATION AND CLUTTER IN THIS TUTORIAL I WONT ADD CODE

`FOR USERS ACTUALLY TYPING.  SO ONCE A PLAYER PRESSES ENTER, THE

`MESSAGE SHOULD BE SENT LIKE THIS:  (TYPED MESSAGE IS STORED IN 'm$')

if returnkey()=1

`ADD PLAYERS NAME TO FRONT OF MESSAGE

m$=name$+": "+m$

send net message string 0, m$

`NOW WE ADD THE MESSAGE TO OUR ARRAY IF IT ISN'T FULL

`IF IT IS FULL(currentMessage>9) THEN SCROLL ALL THE MESSAGES

if currentMessage<10

message$(currentMessage)=m$

inc currentMessage

else : rem IF THE MESSAGE ARRAY IS FULL

for a=0 to 8

message$(a)=message$(a+1)

next a

`FILL IN NEW MESSAGE

message$(9)=m$

endif

repeat

until returnkey()=0

endif

LOOP

`*********************************************************************************

`=================================================================================

`==============================SENDING PACKETS

`=================================================================================

`*********************************************************************************

`TO SEND PLAYER GAME DATA SUCH AS LOCATION AND ROTATION WE USE MEMBLOCKS

make memblock 1, 24

`NEXT WE STORE OUR PLAYER LOCATION AND ROTATION IN THE MEMBLOCK TO PREPARE

`THE SENDING OF THE DATA.  NOTE: THE 'DO : LOOP' COMMANDS, INDICATING THIS

`IS A PART OF THE MAIN LOOP.

write memblock float 1, 0, xPosition#

write memblock float 1, 4, yPosition#

write memblock float 1, 8, zPosition#

write memblock float 1, 12, xRotation#

write memblock float 1, 16, yRotation#

write memblock float 1, 20, zRotation#

`SEND THE PACKET

send net message memblock 0, 1

LOOP

`*********************************************************************************

`=================================================================================

`==============================RECEIVING PACKETS

`=================================================================================

`*********************************************************************************

`WE NEED A MEMBLOCK TO RECEIVE THE DATA YOU SENT ABOVE.  THE NEXT AVAILABLE

`MEMBLOCK IS 2, WHICH MUST BE OF THE SAME SIZE OR LARGER.

make memblock 2, 24

`TO RECIEVE MESSAGES

get net message()

`IF A MESSAGE EXISTS THEN WE CHECK FOR WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE IT IS

if net message exists()

messageType=net message type()

SELECT messageType

CASE 3 : rem IF IT IS A STRING

m$=net message string$()

`SIMPLY STORE IT IN THE ARRAY USING THE SAME METHOD AS ABOVE

if currentMessage<10

message$(currentMessage)=m$

inc currentMessage

else : rem IF THE MESSAGE ARRAY IS FULL

for a=0 to 8

message$(a)=message$(a+1)

next a

`FILL IN NEW MESSAGE

message$(9)=m$

ENDCASE

CASE 4 : rem IF IT IS A MEMBLOCK, THEN IT IS STORING PLAYER DATA

`BECAUSE THIS MEMBLOCK IS HOLDING PLAYER DATA WE MOST WILL MOST LIKELY

`NEED TO KNOW WHO SENT THE MESSAGE SO THAT WE CAN REPOSITION THE

`APPROPRIATE OBJECT.  NOTE: WE DIDN'T NEED TO DO THIS ABOVE BECAUSE

`WHEN WE SENT CHAT MESSAGES (ABOVE) WE ADDED THE PLAYER NAME TO THE FRONT

player=net message player from()

net message memblock 2

xPosition#=memblock float(2, 0)

yPosition#=memblock float(2, 4)

zPosition#=memblock float(2, 8)

xRotation#=memblock float(2, 12)

yRotation#=memblock float(2, 16)

zRotation#=memblock float(2, 20)

`YOU MAY INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE MEMBLOCK TO SEND DATA SUCH AS, WHAT

`FRAME IN AN ANIMATION A PLAYER IS IN, WHAT GUN, IF SHOOTING,

`JUMPING?, ECT... THEN JUST APPLY THE LOCATION AND ROTATION AND ANYTHING

`ELSE TO OBJECT 'player'

ENDCASE

ENDSELECT

endif

LOOP

`*********************************************************************************

`=================================================================================

`==============================OTHER

`=================================================================================

`*********************************************************************************

`PLAYERS WILL BE JOINING AND LEAVING THE GAME SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO CREATE AND

`DELETE THE OBJECTS ACCORDINGLY.  THERE ARE A FEW METHODS TO GO ABOUT THIS.

`ONE METHOD IS TO ADD (IN 'CASE 4' ABOVE) CODE THAT WILL CHECK IF 'player'

`CURRENTLY EXISTS.  IF NOT THEN CREATE THE OBJECT.

`NOTE: YOU WILL PROBABLY WANT TO TURN 'autocam off' FOR THAT.

`ANOTHER METHOD IS TO HAVE THE PLAYER SEND A MESSAGE (A INTEGER IS EASIEST)

`TO LET PLAYERS KNOW A NEW PLAYER JOINED.  IF YOU CHOOSE THIS METHOD THEN

`ADD ANOTHER 'CASE' STATEMENT TO THE SELECT COMMAND WITH A VALUE OF 1(INTEGER)

`THE REASON INTEGER IS BEST IS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T USED IT FOR ANYTHING YET

`SO THE VALUE SENT IN THE INTEGER DOESN'T MATTER, ONCE AN INTEGER IS RECIEVED

`WE AUTOMATICALLY KNOW THAT A NEW PLAYER JOINED AND WE USE

`'player=net message player from'

`AND CREATE A 'player' OBJECT.

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Author Name:	GMan
CodeBase Entries:	2

CodeBase - GMan's multiplayer tutorial

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DarkBASIC Professional Source Code

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