Widget Baron Online
A Multiplayer Simulation Game
Karl Koscher
Firat Kiyak
Widget Baron Online
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Multiplayer “tycoon” game based in virtual
Seattle
Players compete against each other to
create the most profitable widget empire
Urban environment simulated by UrbanSim
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“a simulation model for integrated planning and
analysis of urban development“
Urban environment influences game
strategies
Current State of Widget Baron
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Single player game developed over the
summer as a research project
Players can explore the city, set up widget
shops, and vote on urban policies
Game mechanics are a bit weak
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Multiplayer would dramatically enhance
playability
Real competition > simulated competition
Real economic effects
Current State of Widget Baron
Widget Baron Online
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Target audience: casual gamers
Target systems:
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Mid-to-high level PCs
Broadband Internet connection
Benefits:
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Fun for the user
May get players interested in civic issues
May get extra publicity for UrbanSim
Non-goals
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Not massively-multiplayer (<100)
Not designed for hardcore gamers
Not an urban planning tool
Requirements
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10-100 simultaneous players
Robust economic model
Player interactions and communications
Playable on mid-level systems
Open source
Fun!
System Architecture
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Game server
coordinates, simulates
economy
Simulation cluster runs
UrbanSim
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May be possible to
distribute to players’
machines!
File server stores
UrbanSim run results
Scenario DB maps
votes to UrbanSim run
data
Scenario DB Server
Game Server
File Server
Simulation Cluster
Lifecycle Plan – Rough Timeline
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Three weeks for basic architecture
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Three weeks for refinement
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Network communication
Server code
Performance tweaks
Game enhancements
Two weeks for beta fixes
Lifecycle Plan
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Support:
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Code maintenance: open source,
UrbanSim will maintain code
Servers: UrbanSim will provide
Customer support: Documentation, but
that’s it!
Risks
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A lot of existing C++ code
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A lot of work
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Some well-documented, others not so
much
Six weeks is not much time to develop a
multiplayer game!
Somewhat dependant on UrbanSim
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For data from the runs
However…
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We are starting from a “complete”
game
Final product would be very polished
Opportunity to make a very fun game