Is there anything like this? Something like Roblox, but rather than using a central server, using a network of decentralised servers with different self-hosted instances (a bit like the fediverse, but for online multiplayer games)
If there’s nothing like this, how difficult would it be to start something like this myself?
edit: Or maybe something like Scratch, where you’re not tied to a specific movement system and can program whatever kind of game you want?
Garry’s Mod. There is a centralized location you can all get the relevent files from, or uploaf them to (Steam). Your game could be on a publicly accessable server. But, you are able to and pretty much must host the server yourself (or you could use a hosting service, but GMod won’t do it for you).
If you’re talking about self-hosted game servers, those already exists (see Minecraft), but it depends on whether they allow it or not. Reversing is possible, yeah, but it would take stupid amount of effort without their cooperation.
Main challenge of federated in the sense that there are communications between servers as well as client and server is probably going to be latency. If I were building something like this, I would rather have a protocol that redirects you to the actual game server so that you have direct connection to it rather than having your home instance acting as a proxy to the remote instance. Your home server would simply tell the remote server that your account is legitimate. This would be one of those “cracked” Minecraft server except they rely on an external server for account verification.
more like a platform where the community is able to publish user-created games for people to play. Maybe the different instances could be different types of games (e.g. action, RPG, puzzle) or different languages/regions. For instance, something like Roblox and even Scratch is where people are able to make their own games and make it public so others can play (though for Scratch, it’s not just games).
A program that covers all kinds of games is going to be challenging due to sheer variety there would be. You could build a specialised protocol for a specific genre of games, but I think at that point, it would make more sense to build your own game, and use Fediverse identity to identify the user.
I believe Space Station 14 fits your criteria exactly if I’m interpreting it correctly. Space Station 13 would as well if not for the fact that player accounts must still be centralized to a server. That server is currently under a cyber attack, which really shows the importance of decentralization (in this instance, I’m not that big a fan of the concept).
Further edit: after reading your other comments, definitely try out either SS13 or 14. I don’t play much these days because server variety has fallen off a cliff but the idea is all sorts of communities pop up with their own server which could deviate heavily from wherever they forked from. This led to all sorts of different playing experiences. Try some out to see if they fit your preferences.
not sure if I’m understanding, but like Minecraft servers?
