Overview
SimNetwork is a real-time strategy game the teaches the player about the techniques and strategies invovled in the design of computer networks. The game is meant to provide students taking computer networking courses with an interactive learning experience that allows them to apply their knowledge in a secure, challenging, and fun environment.
Gameplay
The player assumes the role of the network designer of a large telecommunication firm that specializes in providing digital communication links to its customers.
The goal of the player is to build a reliable and scalable network that connect customers together striking the right balance between cost and efficiency. The player builds his network by laying fiber optic cables on the map and purchasing routers to interconnect them. As the game progresses, the player is faced with different challenges ranging from varying customer access, to disasters that results in broken links, down routers, Denial-of-Service attacks that cause excessive traffic. For more informatin, please see the high level design document.
Storyboards
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Documents
- Final Gameplay Design Document (PDF) - End of semester version of Gameplay Design Document. Contains:
- Explanation of all design tradeoffs that we had to make
- Explanation of the overall software design- including data structures, finite state machines etc.
- Explanation of how the AI was implemented.
- Explanations of how specific visual and audio effects were achieved.
- Other details about the game
- Final State Machines:
- Level 0 - Overall (PNG)
- Level 1 - Game Loop (PNG)
- Level 2 - Simulation Pipeline (PNG)
- Level 3 - Simulation Engine (PNG)
- Customer FSM (PNG)
- Cable/Router FSMs (PNG)
- or all in one - shows hierarchy (PNG)
Older Versions of Design Documents:
- Gameplay Design Document Rev 2 - Midterm (PDF) - Midterm Version of the High Level Design Document (includes sketches of the original design decision)
- Gameplay Design Document Rev 1 (PDF) - second version of the design document
- Gameplay Design Document Rev 0 (PDF) - first version of the design document
- Initial Rules Document (PDF) - definitions of basic object types in the game, basic game rules, variables and global parameters
Screenshots
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Intro Screen |
Main Menu Screen |
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Help Screen |
2nd Help Screen |
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Credits Screen |
Level Selection Screen |
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Loading Screen |
Initial Game View |
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Customer Negotiation Failed |
Customer Negotiation Succeeded |
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Connections Between Peers |
Game Pause/Quit Widget |
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In-Game Help |
Selected Customer Widget |
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Selected Cable Widget |
Cable Drawing |
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Game Lost Screen |
Game Won Screen |
Models
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Residential Cluster |
1st University |
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2nd University |
Corporate Office |
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Office |
Library |
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Community Hall |
Church |
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1st Factory |
2nd Factory |
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Research Laboratory |
