Networked Games

Data is displayed for the academic year: 2025./2026.

Lecturers

Prof.
Maja Matijašević
PhD
Assoc. Prof.
Mirko Sužnjević
PhD

Laboratory exercises

Filip Matanović
univ. mag. ing. comp.
Katarina Mišura
univ. mag. ing. comp.
Lovro Boban
mag. ing.
Mirta Moslavac
univ. mag. ing. comp.

Course Description

Networked virtual environments, distributed physics simulations, networked game architectures, network parameter effects on quality of experience, delay compensation mechanisms, scalability mechanisms, network protocols and traffic characteristics, basics of game engines.

Prerequisites

It is recommended to pass the Fundamentals of Digital Game Development skill, if that is not the case the students will be required to quickly familiarize themselves with work in game engines. Basics of programming. Network protocols and architectures.

Study Programmes

University graduate
[FER3-HR] Audio Technologies and Electroacoustics - profile
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[FER3-HR] Communication and Space Technologies - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Computer Engineering - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Computer Science - profile
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[FER3-HR] Control Systems and Robotics - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Data Science - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Electrical Power Engineering - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Electric Machines, Drives and Automation - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Electronic and Computer Engineering - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Electronics - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Information and Communication Engineering - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Network Science - profile
Elective Courses (3. semester)
Elective Courses of the Profile (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Software Engineering and Information Systems - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)

Learning Outcomes

  1. Explain the basic concepts of a digital networked game
  2. Describe and explain common architectures of networked game systems
  3. Explain and analyze and the effects of delay, delay variation, and packet loss in networked games
  4. Explain latency compensation mechanisms in networked games
  5. Explain scalability mechanisms and adaptations
  6. Analyze network traffic patterns and communication protocols

Forms of Teaching

Lectures

Theoretical lectures

Seminars and workshops

Group project of creating a networked video game

Partial e-learning

Presentation of laboratory and project results

Independent assignments

Preparations for lectures

Multimedia and the internet

Review of recorded video lectures, download of materials for laboratory exercises

Laboratory

Laboratory with practical assignments and report

Grading Method

Continuous Assessment Exam
Type Threshold Percent of Grade Threshold Percent of Grade
Laboratory Exercises 20 % 25 % 0 % 25 %
Class participation 20 % 5 % 0 % 5 %
Seminar/Project 20 % 20 % 0 % 20 %
Mid Term Exam: Written 20 % 25 % 0 %
Final Exam: Written 20 % 25 %
Exam: Written 50 % 30 %
Exam: Oral 20 %
Comment:

-

Week by Week Schedule

  1. Introduction to the course. Basics of video game theory. Types of multiplayer.
  2. Video game screen sharing.
  3. Concepts of networking
  4. Networked simulation
  5. No lecture
  6. Programming concepts of networked video games
  7. Network parameters and their impact on networked video games
  8. Midterm exam
  9. Midterm exam
  10. Video game architectures and mechanisms for compensating for network latency
  11. Video game architectures and mechanisms for compensating for network latency
  12. The netcode of gaming systems
  13. Mechanisms and adaptations to support scalability. Mechanisms for assessing player skill and creating matches
  14. Network traffic patterns and protocols
  15. Final exam

Literature

Pandžić, Igor Sunday; Pejša, Tomislav; Matković, Krešimir; Benko, Hrvoje; Čereković, Aleksandra; Matijašević, Maja. (2011.), Virtualna okruženja: Interaktivna 3D grafika i njene primjene, Element, Zagreb
Sanjay Madhav (2015.), Multiplayer Game Programming: Architecting Networked Games, Addison-Wesley Professional

General

ID 223695
  Winter semester
5 ECTS
L1 e-Learning
30 Lectures
0 Seminar
0 Exercises
10 Laboratory exercises
0 Project laboratory
0 Physical education excercises

Grading System

85 Excellent
75 Very Good
65 Good
55 Sufficient

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