GSoC Reconnect Host change

GSoC idea: Reconnect / Host change during a match

Why

Network links can sometimes be unreliable, being able to overcome temporary issues will improve play experience.

What

Spring's network model implies the existence of a server to host a battle. For various reasons the network link between host and clients can be interrupted. A system should be designed to allow manual and/or automatic switching of the game's host (possibly using an existing player after testing load handling capabilities) and manual and/or automatic reconnection from client side if host remains the same.

Required skills

• Knowledge of C++
• General networking knowledge
• Understanding Spring's networking model

Difficulty

Estimated: medium to hard

Technical details

• During a drop-out clients can be at diverging points in simulation time (game frame), so any solution would have to determine a common point and bring all players to that to ensure sync.
• During a server switch extra measures need to be implemented to prevent cheating.