The remote or local server the game clients use for the playing of multiplayer games is known as game server, standing at the base of most online games. Game clients are programs that connect to the game server, which ensures the connection and sends information packets to the clients.

The server allows the connection of numerous clients at the same time and maintains the overview of the game environment, granting each client a unique perspective of the game world.

Video Gaming Evolution Overview

The industry of the video games knew an astonishing development in the US and worldwide, starting with the second half of the 1970s, when Pong and other simple video games were released. The expansion continues in the following decade, culminating with the success of the Nintendo Company and their popular project, Super Mario Bros.

The video gaming technology developed continuously ever since, and, starting with 1993, Sega and Nintendo were the companies controlling and establishing the content and the rules of the most popular video games, in an attempt to keep the pace with the parents concerns regarding the increasing violent character of the games and to answer their demands..

The end of the 1990s brought about the bankruptcy of Sega, the company changing its orientation from video games to video games equipment and focusing on the production of game consoles, their activity making the subject of many Ludologic lessons, Ludología representing the field of study that focuses on video games, on players and on the way they interact within the game.

Hosting

Just like regular websites, games sites need hosting on special servers, provided by hosting companies in exchange for a monthly or an annual fee. There are numerous gaming clans that agree to rent one or several servers for the same game, the members contributing to cover the rent. Usually, the game servers that providers rent are accompanied by the necessary tools for control and configuration, the muleteers being often allowed to modify the games they rented.

Game Server Types

There are two types of game server: listen server and dedicated server. The listen server operates at the same time with the game client, turning players into hosts and game participants at the same time. The downside to this type of server is that the client is closed, it closes as well.

These servers are mostly operated by individuals, usually in LAN parties rather than via Internet. They only allow a small number of players, as the server and the client running on the same computer require large processing capacity and considerable bandwidth.

The operation of the dedicated servers’ does not depend on that of the client. The servers in this category allow individual operation, but usually on dedicated computers within data processing centres, as this is the best way to ensure the dedicated processing capacity and the high bandwidth required by most multiplayer games.

Therefore, dedicated servers make the best choice when it comes to hosting multiplayer game servers. All of the popular online multiplayer games run on such servers, the operation being made, most of the times, by the software company owning the game, who have the possibility to control the content and update it as they see fit.