yang / lance

Multiplayer game server based on Node.JS

Lance is a real-time multiplayer game server

It provides an extendible Node.JS based server, on which game logic runs, as well as a client-side library which synchronizes the client's game state with the server game state. In order to provide a smooth visual experience for each connected client, Lance implements efficient networking methods, position interpolation and extrapolation, user input coordination, shadow objects, physics and pseudo-physical movement, automatic handling of network spikes.

Lance aims to optimize the player's visual experience, while providing a simple development model which is highly configurable and easy to analyze and debug.

See it in action

Check out the official demo: Spaaace

Features:

• Focus on writing your game. Lance takes care of the netcode
• Can support any type of game or genre
• Optimized networking
  • TCP via websockets
  • Communication is packed and serialized into binary
  • Automatic handling of network spikes with step correction
• Intelligent sync strategies for lag handling
  • Extrapolation (client side prediction) with step re-enactment or:
  • Interpolation for optimal object motion
• Tools for debugging and tracing

More features in the pipeline:

• UDP via WebRTC
• Full-stack testing suite
• Replay saving
• More physics engines

That's so neat! Where do I start?

The official Lance documentation contains articles on theory and rational, as well as the structure and architecture of the project.

If you feel like learning by doing you can start with first tutorial, My first game: Pong which contains step-by-step on implementation of a networked version of this classic game.

Something went wrong! I need help!

If you're not exactly sure how to do something, Stack Overflow is your friend.

If you've encountered a bug and it's not already in the issues page, open a new issue.

I'd like to join in

For discussing Lance, multiplayer games or just hanging out you're invited to join us on slack.

Built something cool with Lance?

Please Let us know! We'd love to play it, and feature it on the Lance homepage.