What is it about?
This research examines how fog and edge computing technologies could transform the online gaming industry. Currently, most online games rely on cloud computing, where all data travels to distant servers for processing. This creates problems like delays (latency), slow response times, and connectivity issues that can ruin the gaming experience. The study explains fog and edge computing as alternatives that bring processing power closer to players. Instead of sending everything to far-away cloud servers, these technologies create a network of smaller, local processing centers. Think of it like having mini-computers stationed closer to your neighborhood, rather than relying on one giant computer across the country. The researchers review how this distributed approach works through three layers: the traditional cloud (for heavy processing), fog nodes (intermediate local servers), and edge devices (right at the player's location). They examine real examples, including how games like Valorant and services like Google Stadia already use some of these concepts to reduce delays and improve performance.
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Why is it important?
This work addresses a critical problem in modern gaming: latency kills the fun. In competitive games like first-person shooters or real-time strategy games, even a 200-millisecond delay can mean the difference between victory and defeat. For professional esports players, this could mean losing money and rankings. The research is timely because gaming has exploded globally, but the current cloud-based infrastructure struggles to keep up. As more people play online games across different continents, the need for faster, more responsive systems becomes crucial. The potential impact extends beyond just smoother gameplay. This technology could enable new types of location-based gaming experiences, help game companies comply with different countries' data regulations, and make high-quality gaming accessible to players with simpler devices. It could also reduce costs for game developers while improving security and privacy for players.
Perspectives
This research holds special significance for me as it represents my first contribution as a researcher after creating and directing the master's program in video game development at Universidad de La Laguna for several years. It marks an exciting transition from being solely an educator in game development to becoming an active researcher in the field. The topic of network gaming and edge computing fascinates me because it represents the perfect convergence of emerging technology and an industry that never stops evolving. During my years directing the master's program, I've witnessed firsthand how students struggle with latency and performance issues in their multiplayer game projects. I've always been intrigued by the possibility that we might be underutilizing technologies that could completely revolutionize the gaming experience. What excites me most about this research is its potential to influence the next generation of game developers. I hope this work will not only contribute to academic knowledge but also inspire my students and colleagues to explore new technological architectures that can make games more accessible, fairer, and more exciting for players worldwide.
Dr. Jesús Torres
Universidad de La Laguna
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Foggy Frontier: Exploring the Fog and Edge Computing for Online Games, December 2023, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-48930-3_10.
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