Network solutions multiplatform?

Unity Engine
1

Hi,

maybe this is a stupid question but here we go anyway:

I’m currently developing a multiplayer game using Unity. My first approach was to use the inbuild network engine but the lack of enhanced master server functionality (like user management, chatroom, etc) led me to take a look at the other solutions available. I finally stumbled upon Smartfox which seems to have a nice bang for money ratio.

Nevertheless, after some programming using the Smartfox Unity API, I came to think about the multiplatform approach given by Unity (deploy to Mac, PC and Web with simple clicks).

My two questions:

  1. Has anyone used Smartfox in a multiplatform approach and actually deployed a web- and/or Mac and/or PC-game (at least 2 platforms using Smartfox)?

  2. Which other libraries could I use to achieve what I need (Masterserver with user management, game lobby, chatrooms, dedicated server management, game must be deployable on Mac/Pc/Web)?

Thanks,
Metron

2

You basically have 4 solutions at hand:

  1. Smart Fox Pro
  2. Neutron
  3. Photon
  4. Using sockets directly and implement an own solution

All of those 4 will nicely work on standalone builds as well as web :slight_smile:

3

Thanks for the reply. I feared that the API approach taken with Smartfox (they deliver a DLL “SmartFoxClient.dll”) would hinder me to deploy on multiple platforms.

4

Its a .NET assembly, not a Windows dll, as such its platform independent and works with Unity, it does not require unity pro (which is required to use plugins ie windows dll / osx bundle in standalones).

The only case where the dll does not work is Unity Iphone. But thats no problem either as all of those options also are present in slightly changed forms on Unity iPhone to meet the .NET 1.1 requirements there

5

Actually we use the same Photon/Neutron .dll for Mac, PC, Browser and iPhone builds, as the Phton/Neutron Unity Clients do not need .NET funtionality above 1.1 anyway.