Tips to Overcoming Network Latency in Real-Time Multiplayer

The prevalence of real-time multiplayer functionality has emerged as a defining feature in contemporary video games. It stands as a robust cornerstone for a game's financial success, brand recognition, and overall company expansion. However, when a studio lacks direct experience in developing and managing real-time multiplayer games, it can face a myriad of challenges throughout the development and service phases. One particularly formidable challenge is the latency in network communication, a technical obstacle stemming from the limitations of physical electrical transmission speeds. Yet, in the realm of real-time multiplayer games, surmounting this obstacle is imperative for optimizing user fairness and enhancing the overall gaming experience. In this forthcoming presentation, Chris Hong, boasting nearly three decades of expertise and having contributed to the creation of over 12 real-time multiplayer games, endeavours to shed light on specific instances of encountered latency issues and the strategic solutions employed to overcome them. Contents: What is latency, and where does it come from? 5 tips to overcome latency 1. Pre-action and VFX: Synchronization adjustment by some delay through pre-action event and VFX 2. Sync your time: Calculate and adjust game time in a server 3. Utilization of proactive camerawork 4. Remedies for desynchronization in game design 5. Exaggerated use of effects