Kalpaware presents. Demo.

KalpawareKalpawarepresentspresents

http://www.kalpaware.com

DemoDemo

SimNetworkSimNetwork

Genre: Real Time Strategy

Similar to SimCity

Player is a network designer of a large telecommunications firm

Game goal: Connect all customers and keep them happy.

SimNetworkSimNetwork Educational purposeEducational purpose: teach the

fundamental techniques and strategies involved in the design and maintenance of digital communication networks

Winning ruleWinning rule: player connects all customers and holds acceptable overall customer satisfaction rate in assigned time

Losing ruleLosing rule: balance falls below certain amount or overall customer satisfaction falls below certain percentage

Game PlayGame Play

3 Levels – Easy, Medium, Hard3 Levels – Easy, Medium, Hard

Customers appear at random Customers appear at random

Different types of routers, cables, customersDifferent types of routers, cables, customers

Routers and cables are used to connect customers directly or indirectly

Based on the speed of the cable and type of router, different network flow is achieved – which in turn, affects customers’ satisfaction

Based on the quality of service provided, a satisfaction rate out of 100% is calculated for each customer

Each customer has set of peers it wants to connect to

Player is charged monthly maintenance fees for equipment and collects monthly payments from customers

Game PlayGame Play

Game Scene DesignGame Scene DesignMix of 2D sprites and 3D modelsMix of 2D sprites and 3D models

Toolbars and widgets Toolbars and widgets 2D sprites – tied to mouse input2D sprites – tied to mouse input Interactive timer and message fieldsInteractive timer and message fieldsWidgets for customer negotiation and Widgets for customer negotiation and

status of each entity in the game status of each entity in the game w/keyboard inputw/keyboard input

Accessible in-game helpAccessible in-game helpStatus BarsStatus BarsConnection lines to show the flow of trafficConnection lines to show the flow of traffic

Game Scene DesignGame Scene DesignBounding boxes for selected entities Bounding boxes for selected entities

and their peersand their peers

3D scene mouse picking3D scene mouse picking

Zoom in/out & camera movementsZoom in/out & camera movements

Keyboard assisted movement of the Keyboard assisted movement of the scenescene

Lightning scheme – 4 side light Lightning scheme – 4 side light sources, 1 main spot lightsources, 1 main spot light

Collision detection system Collision detection system (placement of the entities)(placement of the entities)

Game Scene DesignGame Scene Design

Game LogicGame LogicData structures: 2 types of graphsData structures: 2 types of graphs

Links graphLinks graph: undirected graphs, one : undirected graphs, one instanceinstance

Peers graphPeers graph: directed graphs, one : directed graphs, one instance peer customerinstance peer customer

AlgorithmAlgorithmTraffic simulation algorithmTraffic simulation algorithmFuzziness engineFuzziness engine

Simulation algorithmSimulation algorithm Inputs: links + peers graphsInputs: links + peers graphsOutput: traffic flowOutput: traffic flowProblem: Multi commodity circulation Problem: Multi commodity circulation

with intermediate node capacitywith intermediate node capacityNP-CompleteNP-CompleteAlthough size of network is manageable Although size of network is manageable

with respect to # of routers, cables, with respect to # of routers, cables, and customers, Brute force algorithm and customers, Brute force algorithm faced with 2^(Total capacity) choicesfaced with 2^(Total capacity) choices

Simulation algorithmSimulation algorithmOverview of circulation problemOverview of circulation problem

c1

r1

r3

r2

c3p2

c2p1

D = 10 Mbps

D = -5 Mbps

D = -5 Mbps

5/105/10 5/10

1/1

1/11

Simulation algorithmSimulation algorithmAlternativesAlternatives

Greedy algorithmGreedy algorithmNo greedy algorithm knownNo greedy algorithm known In general, greedy algorithm faced with In general, greedy algorithm faced with

exponential local decisionsexponential local decisions

Linear programmingLinear programmingTotal linear conditions: N x M x 16Total linear conditions: N x M x 16Not guaranteed to perform well in real-Not guaranteed to perform well in real-

time (worst case yields polynomial time (worst case yields polynomial complexity)complexity)

Simulation AlgorithmSimulation AlgorithmDesign choiceDesign choice

Design choiceDesign choice Dynamic programming approach: remember partial Dynamic programming approach: remember partial

solution and simulate when really necessarysolution and simulate when really necessary Reduce problem to Max-Flow problemReduce problem to Max-Flow problem

Simulate traffic for each customer independently Simulate traffic for each customer independently (# customers passes)(# customers passes)

Combine result in one passCombine result in one passRecap flow on the networkRecap flow on the network

ComplexityComplexityTraffic simulation: O(# customer^3)Traffic simulation: O(# customer^3)Combine: O(# customer)Combine: O(# customer)Recap flow: O(# customer + # routers + # cables)Recap flow: O(# customer + # routers + # cables)

Not optimum, but works!Not optimum, but works!

Fuzziness EngineFuzziness Engine

Generates random eventsGenerates random eventsCreate new customerCreate new customerRandomize access patternsRandomize access patternsCreate disastersCreate disasters

Customer requirements (bandwidth Customer requirements (bandwidth and fees) are based on fuzzy and fees) are based on fuzzy trapezoidal possibility distributiontrapezoidal possibility distribution

ModelsModelsDesigned in Ac3DDesigned in Ac3D

Models for Customers, Cables and Models for Customers, Cables and Routers.Routers.

Customers – Models inspired from Customers – Models inspired from Real Life and SimCity.Real Life and SimCity.

TypesTypes

- Residential- Residential

- Commercial/Industrial- Commercial/Industrial

- Educational- Educational

Initial models : Almost fit to be alienInitial models : Almost fit to be alien

space stations, Mini Castles …space stations, Mini Castles …

ModelsModels

TexturesTextures

Jason’s Sci-FiJason’s Sci-Fi

PhotographsPhotographs

Free textures from the InternetFree textures from the Internet

Tried creating textures using Tried creating textures using TextureMaker – Reichert Software TextureMaker – Reichert Software Engineering.Engineering.

Audio EffectsAudio Effects Background musicBackground music Home made sounds: Home made sounds:

menu selection, menu selection, tool selection,tool selection, demolish, demolish, traffic sounds, traffic sounds, object placement,object placement, Customer pop-upCustomer pop-up

Royalty Free sounds (downloaded from Royalty Free sounds (downloaded from www.partnersinrhyme.comwww.partnersinrhyme.com) )

It’s all about FUNIt’s all about FUN Create the right mood with musicCreate the right mood with music Make customers jump when they appearMake customers jump when they appear Added negotiate concept to personalize Added negotiate concept to personalize

interactions with customersinteractions with customers Make learning about networks easy and Make learning about networks easy and

funfun Added menu system before game startAdded menu system before game start 3 levels of difficulty3 levels of difficulty Pause button (F10)Pause button (F10)

Various MotivationsVarious Motivations Audio: The Video on Foley Artists!Audio: The Video on Foley Artists!

Finite State MachinesFinite State Machines A Game is about Winning!A Game is about Winning!

Feedback to improve Game!Feedback to improve Game!

WooHoo!WooHoo!

Future DevelopmentFuture Development

Game allows researchers to plug in Game allows researchers to plug in their own algorithms for evaluating their own algorithms for evaluating performanceperformance

With modification, game could be With modification, game could be used to teach algorithms on graphs used to teach algorithms on graphs and design of virtually any flow and design of virtually any flow networknetwork