What Cloud Computing Can Do for MMORPGs
The acronym MMORPG stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. These games take role playing to the next level, allowing gamers to explore massive online worlds, interact with other players, and combine gaming and social interplay in a virtual setting within a single game. MMORPGs can be addictive and thus tremendous sources of revenue. The all time giant of MMORPGs is World of Warcraft, created by Blizzard Entertainment. There is no doubt that the market for MMORPGs is growing rapidly, especially in Asia. Many companies are looking to expand or move their existing franchises to an MMORPG model (a recent example of this is the popular Elder Scroll series).
Why are gaming developers embracing MMORPG?
There are two main problems that plague most computer games, both of which are practically nonexistent when it comes to MMORPGs:
- Software piracy and;
- The second-hand market
MMORPGs bypass these issues by their very nature. Due to the need for a persistent online world frequented by other players, they require constant maintenance and updating. They also require persistent servers that are quite expensive to maintain. Most players will only have the software, not access to the software needed to maintain and operate a gaming server. Because of this, piracy is practically non-existent – it is not cost-effective to create and maintain unauthorized servers which will never compare to the real thing. Monetization means MMORPGs don’t suffer from lost profits from the second-hand market. Usually, these games generate revenue from subscription fees or from the sale of in-game items, perks, or content.
How can cloud computing help MMORPG developers?
There are several scale problems faced by MMORPG developers facing the consumption of resources that these kinds of games require. Specific kinds of shared server structures and subdivision are required to manage these resources effectively leading to certain logistical issues. The main problems associated with maintaining an MMORPG include:
- Dealing with location. Most MMORPGs will have servers for particular geographical locations. People logging in from outside that geographical location can have a significant effect on latency and performance.
- Server maintenance. Normal issues of hardware, software, manpower, and management become complicated by having to spread out gaming into data servers located in different geographical locations in order to maintain optimal game performance. The unpredictable nature of end-user behavior also makes maintenance a more difficult endeavor.
- Computing efficiency. MMORPGs are on-demand services, meaning that loads are tremendously variable. Maintaining optimal game performance during peak load times often means having to waste computing power and money on maintenance at other times. MMORPGs will often use rigid architecture that is non-scalable, resulting in tremendous waste and inefficiency.
Fortunately, using a cloud service provider to support and maintain data centers can help game developers focus on game development rather than server issues. Moving to the cloud can help MMORPG developers reduce expenditure on server maintenance and all associated costs. Cloud-based gaming also allows on-demand scaling and more efficient resource allocation than rigid architecture.
The cloud model seems tailor-made for pay-as-you-play gaming models, allowing developers to set up servers and scale their services depending on their clients’ needs at a moment’s notice. As MMORPG gaming grows, particularly in countries like South Korea and Japan, the demand for cloud services catering to MMORPG developers will surely expand.
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About the Guest Author:
Nida Rasheed is a freelance writer and owner of an outsourcing company, Nida often finds herself wanting to write about the subjects that are closest to her heart. She lives in Islamabad, Pakistan and can be found on Twitter @nidarasheed.
