Multiplayer HTML5, Node.js, Socket.IO

Question

I trying create simple Multi-player with HTML5 Canvas, JavaScript(too using John Resig simple Inheritance library) and Node.js with Socket.IO. My client code:

var canvas  = document.getElementById('game');
var context = canvas.getContext('2d');
var socket  = new io.Socket('127.0.0.1', {port: 8080});

var player = null;

var UP    = 'UP',
    LEFT  = 'LEFT',
    DOWN  = 'DOWN',
    RIGHT = 'RIGHT';

socket.connect();

socket.on('connect', function() {socket.send();
    console.log('Connected!');
    player = new Player(50, 50);
});

socket.on('message', function(msg) {
    if(msg == 'UP') {
        player.moveUP();
    } else if(msg == 'LEFT') {
        player.moveLEFT();
    } else if(msg == 'DOWN') {
        player.moveDOWN();
    } else if(msg == 'RIGHT') {
        player.moveRIGHT();
    } else {

    }
});

socket.on('disconnect', function() {
    console.log('Disconnected!');
});

var Player = Class.extend({
    init : function(x, y) {
        this.x = x;
        this.y = y;
    },
    setX : function(x){
        this.x = x;
    },
    getX : function(){
        return this.x;
    },
    setY : function(y){
        this.y = y;
    },
    getY : function(){
        return this.y;
    },
    draw : function(){
        context.clearRect(0, 0, 350, 150);
        context.fillRect(this.x, this.y, 15, 15);
    },
    move : function() {
        this.x += 1;
        this.y += 1;
    },
    moveUP : function() {
        this.y--;
    },
    moveLEFT : function() {
        this.x--;
    },
    moveDOWN : function() {
        this.y++;
    },
    moveRIGHT : function() {
        this.x++;
    }
});

function checkKeyCode(event) {
    var keyCode;
    if(event == null) {
        keyCode = window.event.keyCode;
    } else {
        keyCode = event.keyCode;
    }

    switch(keyCode) {
        case 38: // UP
            player.moveUP();
            socket.send(UP);
        break;
        case 37: // LEFT
            player.moveLEFT();
            socket.send(LEFT);
        break;
        case 40: //DOWN
            player.moveDOWN();
            socket.send(DOWN);
        break;
        case 39: // RIGHT
            player.moveRIGHT();
            socket.send(RIGHT);
        break;
        default:
        break;

    }

}

function update() {
    player.draw();
}

var FPS = 30;
setInterval(function() {
    update();
    player.draw();
}, 1000/FPS);

function init() {
    document.onkeydown = checkKeyCode;
}

init();

And server code:

var http = require('http'),
io = require('socket.io'),
buffer = new Array(),

server = http.createServer(function(req, res){
    res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/html'});
    res.end('<h1>Hello world</h1>');
});
server.listen(8080);

var socket = io.listen(server);

socket.on('connection', function(client){

    client.on('message', function(message){
        console.log(message);
        client.broadcast(message);
    })
    client.on('disconnect', function(){

    })

});

And when I run two client's I with first client can move second client Rect and with second client move first client rect and something like with third client can move first and second client rect's.

I have question how to create real Multi-Player? something like: Open three client's and first client get rect1, second rect2 and last rect3. First client only can move rect1, client third can move only rect3.

Maybe anyone have idea? I search in Google but don't find answer.

Sorry for my English language.

Answer 1

In case anyone stumbles across this question as I have just now, I wanted to add this link as an example.

I was following the same path as the op several months ago and read every article I could find on the authoritative server model (including the one referenced in the answer by @Epeli), and how to implement it with nodejs/socketio.

The result of my research manifested itself in the github project located at the link provided above (there is also a live demo). Hope this helps someone.

Answer 2

There is now an open-source multiplayer realtime javascript server (and client library) called Lance.gg, which provides, as you say, a real multiplayer experience

It handles client-side prediction, step drift, bending, and basic physics.

Disclaimer: I am one of the contributors

Answer 3

Glenn Fiedler's What every programmer needs to know about game networking -article is good read for anyone who wants get into game networking. It explains the basics in very high level so that it is adaptable for JS and Socket.io.

Answer 4

First, check out http://www.google.com/events/io/2011/sessions/super-browser-2-turbo-hd-remix-introduction-to-html5-game-development.html

it explains how to use requestAnimationFrame among other things.

Second, the game state should exist on the server and be mirrored on the clients.

When a player clicks down, the client should only send a message. The server should then send a message to all the clients, including the client that took the action.

Each player should exist as an object on the server. When a player logs in they should be brought up to date about the status of each player already on the server.

modified client code: http://codr.cc/s/d0154536/js

modified server code: http://codr.cc/s/f96ce1d2/js