Introduction

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Lance is a real-time multiplayer game server

Lance 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

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 synchronization strategies for lag handling
    • Extrapolation (client side prediction) with step re-enactment, or:
    • Interpolation for optimal object motion
  • Tools for debugging and tracing

That's so neat! Where do I start?

To get a bird's eye view on what's Lance all about and how to use it to make a multiplayer game, we recommend reading the guide: Architecture of a Multiplayer Game

If you're more of the learning-by-doing type, you can start with the first tutorial, My First Game: Pong which contains step-by-step instructions on how to implement a networked version of this classic game.

Join the fun!

We are working hard to build an active, positive and inclusive Community

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.

Built something cool with Lance?

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