SERVER ENGINE COMPARISON
Comparison of various game server engines based on features such as protocol support, server platform compatibility, backup options, programming languages, and free concurrent user limits.
Content article
The comparison of server engines includes eight distinct options: SmartFox 2X, Photon, KBEngine, Forge, RakNet, NAKAMA, Colyseus, and Lumberyard. Among these, SmartFox 2X and Photon both support UDP, while KBEngine, Forge, and NAKAMA also support TCP, with specific connection limits noted for some. For instance, Photon has a limit of 20 concurrent users, whereas SmartFox 2X allows for 100 users in its community edition.
The server platforms vary significantly; SmartFox 2X supports a range of Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, and Redhat, but is primarily Windows-based for debugging. Photon is versatile, functioning on Windows, OSX, Raspberry Pi, and Linux, while KBEngine supports platforms including Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Linux, Mac, iPhone, Android, and more. Forge is compatible with Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, and Android, indicating a strong presence in both console and mobile gaming.
When considering server backup options, SmartFox 2X offers both automatic and manual backups, ensuring flexibility for developers. The programming languages supported by these engines also differ; SmartFox 2X utilizes Action Script #, Java, C#, Objective C, JavaScript, and C++, while Photon supports C#, C++, JavaScript, Lua, Objective C, and TypeScript. KBEngine employs a unique combination of C++ for its engine framework and Python for its game logic layer, allowing for hotfix support.
In terms of build targets, SmartFox 2X supports a wide array including Adobe Flash/Flex/Ai, Unity, HTML5, iOS, and various Windows platforms. Photon also shows impressive versatility with support for .Net, Android, Cocos2D-X, and several others, while KBEngine can work with engines like Ogre and Unity3D. Forge is primarily aligned with Unity and other notable engines, while Lumberyard is built to integrate with platforms such as Unity and Unreal, showcasing its adaptability.
The free concurrent user (CCU) limits vary, with SmartFox 2X allowing 100 users in its community edition and Photon capping at 20. Notably, NAKAMA has no CCU limit, which could be advantageous for developers expecting high user engagement. The APIs provided by these engines also reflect their focus; SmartFox 2X features a redesigned Java Extension API and an MMO API, while Photon includes social and storage APIs. KBEngine's API is designed for efficient hardware use, implementing dynamic load balancing for high-load scenarios.
In terms of community and support, the GitHub repositories for these engines show active development, with the last commits for SmartFox 2X and Forge occurring in September 2017, while RakNet's last update was in September 2014. NAKAMA's repository reflects a commitment to ongoing development with its last commit in August 2017.
Client usage for SmartFox 2X includes notable companies like Rovio and Ubisoft, indicating a strong reputation in the industry. The concept of CCU is defined as the number of users connected to a game or application at any given moment, typically representing about 10%-20% of the actual active user base, suggesting that a CCU number of 500-1000 could imply a much larger active user community.