Implementing a Game Engine

Game engines run along with the Laink server, in the same process, and so must be written in Ruby. See domohnoes.rb for an example game.

To add a new game type supported by the server:

1. require the gametype.rb file.

2. Create a new class that subclasses Laink::GameType.

3. Add the required method calls:

    sig     "com.danceliquid.domohnoes" # The unique signature identifying this game type
    name    "Domohnoes"                 # A nice name for your game
    players 2..4                        # The number of players supported (may be an integer or range)
   

4. [optional] Provide an initialize method that calls super().

5. [optional] Provide a start method that calls super().

6. Provide a current_player method that returns the appropriate item from the players array

7. Provide a state method that, given a player from the players array, returns an object that supports to_json and describes everything a player would need to know to make a move. (And nothing they shouldn't know!)

8. Provide a handle_message_from(player) method that uses Laink::GameType#next_message to determine if there's a message on the queue that the game knows how to handle, and process it. Most important, be able to handle {"command":"move"} messages, ensuring that the player is the current_player.

9. Call finish_game(winning_player) on the superclass when the game is over.