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Oct 18, 2002 10:05 am		Introduction (NASDAQ falls on semiconductors not on games)
Sergey Podlesnyi		Thank you dear reader, it's my opportunity to introduce myself to IT8SF tribe. I live far from Bay area, where most of you are located, but everybody knows that the center of IT professionalism and venture capital is where you belong. My company located in Moscow, Russia develops software since 1995. Over recent years we focused on providing development services for clients willing to cut costs by outsourcing. Some of the best results of such activity was concentration of newest ideas from dozens of our clients and hundreds of prospects in one place. Now that this concentration has reached certain level I believe that I have something to offer to this creative audience. This is not about our services (this is a joke – everybody interested in low cost hi quality software development is welcome) but about a vision of systems architecture and general approach to software design. What we offer is not simply reliable or low-cost solutions, but systems capable to live, to evolve into future, to adopt changes. As an example of our design approach may I describe online gaming application framework developed by us. This is good time now to look into gaming industry because it looks the only one not loosing these days. Three-tier client server application framework for rapid development of online multiplayer games, capable for processing payments from players. This is not only a software, it’s a complete business starter kit. It is classical three-tier architecture based on open standards and having carefully selected components to provide high performance and system stability at affordable price. Database server – Windows based MS SQL Server, chosen for its high performance and aggressive price compared to other enterprise-level RDBMs. Application server – Linux based server (possibly cluster) of high performance applications written in C++. Implement games logic and a whole bunch of utility features making rapid development possible. Client front-end – Windows based Client Rich Media Engine (CRiME) which works under DirectX and is fully scriptable/customizable via XML. Again, having all utility features needed for well developed game application, this engine provides a basis for rapid game development. Key goals: - reliable and scalable solution - high performance under heavy workload - rapid application development - security suitable for eCommerce applications Why Scalable and Reliable? - Linux is natural environment for multithreaded, communication-intensive tasks. - Proprietary application-aware load balancing module helps to upgrade the power by simply adding more application servers to the cluster. - MS SQL Server Enterprise edition provides efficient ways to database replication and database servers clustering. - We use XML language for communication between application server and front-end Windows clients. Which makes a breeze to add more details to communication protocol, add other types of clients to the same game server (e.g. mobile devices or playstations). Why High Performance? - We are using fast MS SQL Server database engine. - We are using Linux application servers written in C++ which greatly outperforms Java. - We provide a possibility to create symmetrical clusters of application servers with smart load balancing on application level. - We use not-proving XML parsers to speed up communication and reaction time on front end. - We use specifically optimized scripting language within the XML to program GUI in the front end, which ensures that not single cycle is wasted without absolute necessity. - DirectX/Direct3D support ensures hardware graphics acceleration where available. Why RAD is Possible? Application server already has utility classes simplifying the task of game server development. All that is needed is to add game logic. - XML parser. - User session management (both atomic for slow pace games where game states are saved into a database after each move, ideal for table games or strategy games; allowing game recovery after communication breaches and other faults; and session management for real time multiplayer games like car racing or ‘shoot-em-all’ games). - Random numbers generation thread which provides a pool of random numbers available for all game session processes; thus eliminating performance bottleneck typical for random numbers generating; providing an interface for hardware random numbers generators if needed. - System configuration service. - Common memory service. - Automatic software updates service. - Security service (see below). - Data communication service (TCP/IP sockets) - Database connectivity (link between Windows SQL Server and Linux application) Front-end Client Rich Media Engine is an application that is fully controlled from outside XML files and XML messages from server. It provides numerous utility features for serious game development: - automatic software installation, update and self validation - data communication service - XML parser - Security service - Full set of WinAPI GUI controls skinned for rapid design of decorated forms - Full set of 2D graphic and animation scripting routines - Rich set of 3D graphic and animation scripting routines - Audio support - Possibility for standalone operation (without a server) - Possibility to install an interface for third party 3D game engine. Is it Secure? The system was initially designed to be attack-proof and capable for gaming for money. The following components ensure this: - database server connected to application servers via private LAN without direct access from Internet - 128 bit SSL encryption of communication channel between application server and client - digital signing of XML statements being transferred ensure greater trust - automatic self validation of client software before session starts with files CRC comparison on the server ensures that hacked client software will not communicate with the server. - Game recovery feature for slow-paced games when game state is recorded to database after each move. This protects users against losses due to technical faults and also protects business from inappropriate user actions when game is going for money. Private Reply to Sergey Podlesnyi (new win)

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