WebWars: EVE

Program-Ace is your technological partner & production partner
for most-ambitious and innovative complex web-based projects.

Summary

Further progress of MMO gaming worlds is not possible without significant technological and ideological advances. Focused on innovative idea in traditional environment, Program-Ace and John Galt Games implemented successful technological partnership project. Through this innovative project Eve universe penetrates the real world of the Internet universe enabling players to combat for real Internet sites! Moreover, during this particular project, based on Eve universe, Program-Ace has developed the software platform to develop similar web-based games for other themes.

Introduction

There are games that entertain. The others can teach us something new. But there are also games that open new horizons and discover possibilities never known before.

WebWars: EVE was from the very beginning such kind of the project — exciting, revolutionary and inspiring.

Innovations and search for non-standard solutions — these were two main reasons for Program-Ace and John Galt Games to unite their efforts.

The Idea / Story

WebWars: EVE (http://www.webwars.com/) is a new type of game about conquering territory and controlling territory - but, in this case, the territory is websites. The value of a territory (website) is tied to how popular that website is in the real world. WebWars: EVE is layered on top the existing Internet and played through your browser. There is a plugin that lets you send in your Frigates, Cruisers, and Battleships to take over whatever websites you happen to be visiting!

The product was announced at the famous Eve Fan Fest in Iceland, and since that time, creators have been working on the technology, balancing the battles, and generally spending an embarrassing amount of time attacking websites in extended testing sessions.

From the very early stages (2006), Program-Ace became developer and key technological partner of the project.

Target group

Web-oriented generation of gamers inspired by the legend and atmosphere of EVE Online universe — but at the same times open for the new rules and realities. The result is presented to the game enthusiast and broader audience by the Web Wars: EVE portal.

Goal

Develop the whole technical side of the new-generation gaming world.

Objectives

• Software implementation of game logic and functionality (on both server and user side): from general system architecture till browser plug-ins
• Development of robust server engine, which will be stable and fast enough to handle the loads of MMORPG
• To create flexible and scalable system of network installation and operation
• To prepare starting of the beta-testing process

Challenge

The whole creative idea and entertaining attraction of Web Wars: EVE would have been lost in case of the technical non-comprehension or poor implementation. Additionally, the early announces have drawn a big attention to the project among the enthusiasts of the gaming community.

Moreover, even the indirect relation to the brand name of EVE have put on an additional responsibility — both on Program-Ace and John Galt Games. The innovative yet simple new gaming model promises to start a new chapter in online entertainment!

Solution

• Programming and optimization of game logic and architechture
• Custom-designed and tuned PHP+MySQL server engine
• Browser plug-in enabling battles screen
• Integration of the whole graphic, functionality and content into single system with several user and administrative interfaces
• Ongoing technical support of initial project launch and closed beta-testing process

Resources

• Dedicated team of developers, analysts and managers
• Internal R&D activities — as the basis for specific solutions
• Extensive experience in development of high-end multi-user Web-based systems
• In-house real-time project management system, specially tuned for co-ordination of remote teams in large-scale IT-development initiatives (www.AceRemoteProject.com).

Technical achievements

1. Game logic. Creation of full-scale algorithmic base for computing of all game processes on the server — enabling minimal consumption of system resources.
2. Browser plug-ins. Original toolbar for Firefox written in XUL.
3. Server engine. Full-cycle development and deployment for handling of the client request coming through COMET pushlet technology. The engine is based on PHP+MySQL platform — and thus easy to scale and clasterize.
4. Advanced setup. The installation system for automated set-up of PHP+MySQL project files on remote server was developed. Besides initial roll-in, the upgrade of earlier versions is supported (including database structure and data conversion).

Issues / Pitfalls

• Permanent changing of requirements
• Difficulties of integration

Conclusions

Opening new class of the online-based multi-user RPG games, Web Wars : EVE shows successful combination of idea and implementation, of gaming legend and latest technologies, of innovations and experience.

The team of Program-Ace has proven its ability to manage large-scale and R&D-demanding projects while implementing creative ideas into working and stable software solution.

Comments

"I always thinking one day someone would figure out a way to make a game out of the Internet itself"

Steve Glicker (GamingSteve.com podcast)

«WebWars: EVE does a fantastic job of taking traditional EVE concepts and graphics to a new and accessible environment. [...] WebWars, ..., moves the EVE universe into your web browser – quite literally.»

From the article by Laura Genender
of www.mmorpg.com (December 2007)

"I just thought it was absolutely brilliant to build that right into a browser and use the Internet as the territory you are fighting for."

Brent from VirginWorlds.com

«Our team was proud to be the part of this exciting start.» — comments Oleg Fonarov, CEO of Program-Ace. «The project was both promising and challenging. We were really happy to bring it to the expected results!»