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Old Knowledge Base
  • Knowledge Base
    • Getting to know us
  • Where to Buy
    • Become a Sponsor
    • Heathen License Agreement
  • General
    • ๐Ÿ”ŽTable of Contents
    • ๐ŸคฉGetting Started
      • Indie Check List
      • Sourcing Resources
        • ๐Ÿง™โ€โ™‚๏ธCommunity
        • ๐Ÿงžโ€โ™‚๏ธManaged Services
        • ๐Ÿ“ฃMarketing
        • ๐ŸงชTesting
    • ๐ŸงžTips and Tricks
      • Fundamentals
        • Development Phases
      • Unity
        • Package Manager Installs
          • Missing asset after update
        • Unity Release Version
      • Unreal
        • Unity to Unreal
        • Quick Start
    • ๐Ÿ“Design
      • โ˜๏ธQuick Start
      • ๐ŸฅพBootstraping
      • ๐Ÿค‘Monetization
        • What not to do
        • Models
          • Free
          • Free to Play
          • Pay to Play
          • Pay to Win
          • Play to Earn
        • Tools
          • ๐Ÿ˜กArtificial Scarcity
          • ๐Ÿค‘Bundles
          • ๐Ÿค”Community Marketplace
          • ๐Ÿค‘Expansions
          • ๐Ÿ˜กFear of Missing Out (FOMO)
          • ๐Ÿ˜กGatcha Mechanics
          • ๐Ÿค”Microtransactions (MTX)
          • ๐Ÿ˜กNFT
            • ๐Ÿ˜กBlockchain
          • ๐Ÿค”No Spend Cap
          • ๐Ÿ˜กPremium Currency
          • ๐Ÿค”Season
          • ๐Ÿค‘Subscription
          • ๐Ÿ˜กSurprise Mechanics
      • ๐ŸŽฎMultiplayer
        • Networking Tools
        • Terminology
      • ๐ŸคนMulti-Scene Architecture
      • ๐ŸŒProject Architecture
      • ๐Ÿ˜ŠPlayer Motivation
    • ๐Ÿ—๏ธDevelopment
      • โ˜๏ธQuick Start
      • โ˜Ž๏ธCallbacks & Delegates
      • โ”Conditional Compilation
      • ๐ŸชณDebugging
      • ๐ŸšงDevOps
        • โ˜•Team Collaboration
        • ๐Ÿ›‚Git Control & Unity
      • โ‰๏ธError Handling
        • System Dialog
        • Reporting
      • ๐ŸคฏIntelliSense
      • ๐ŸชถLambda Expressions
      • ๐Ÿคนโ€โ™€๏ธMulti Platform Projects
      • ๐Ÿ“‘Namespace and Using
      • ๐ŸŽฎUnity's "New" Input System
      • ๐Ÿ”ผUpdating Visual Studio and C#
      • ๐Ÿ’กVisual Scripting
    • โš ๏ธPublishers
    • ๐ŸงชTesting
      • ๐Ÿ‘‹Introduction
      • โœ๏ธWriting Formal Tests
    • ๐Ÿง™โ€โ™‚๏ธCommunity
      • โ˜๏ธQuick Start
    • ๐Ÿ“ฃMarketing
      • โ˜๏ธQuick Start
      • ๐Ÿ“ŒTips and Tactics
      • ๐Ÿค“Market Research
    • ๐Ÿ“†Release
    • ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธLive
  • Steam
    • โ˜๏ธQuick Start
    • ๐Ÿ†Achievements
    • ๐ŸŒณBranches
    • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธCommunity Hub
    • โฌ†๏ธUploading to Steam
    • โ˜๏ธCloud Save
    • ๐Ÿ†”CSteamID
    • ๐Ÿ”ŽDiscovery Queue
    • ๐Ÿ•น๏ธDownloadable Content
    • ๐ŸšซEarly Access
    • ๐Ÿ–ฑ๏ธInput
    • ๐Ÿ“ฆInventory
      • ๐Ÿ”จCrafting System
      • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธItem Definition Tools
      • ๐Ÿ’ธMicrotransactions
      • ๐ŸŽPromo Items
    • ๐ŸšขLaunch
    • ๐Ÿฅ‡Leaderboards
      • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธAdvanced Profiles
    • ๐ŸŽฎMultiplayer
      • โ˜๏ธGetting Started
      • ๐ŸงชDev and Test
      • ๐Ÿง‘โ€โš–๏ธAuthentication
      • ๐Ÿ›‹๏ธLobby
      • ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿคโ€๐Ÿง‘Matchmaking
      • ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ”งRich Presence
      • ๐Ÿ’ฌRoom Systems
      • ๐Ÿ’Steam Game Server
        • ๐Ÿ‘ทBuilds
        • โš™๏ธConfiguration
        • ๐Ÿ“‹Server Browser
        • ๐ŸงSetup Linux
      • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธTerminology
    • ๐ŸคนMulti-Platform Project
    • ๐ŸงชPlaytest
    • ๐Ÿ›‹๏ธRemote Play
    • ๐Ÿ‘€Reviews
    • ๐ŸƒRunning a Build
    • ๐Ÿ’ถSales
    • โญStats
    • ๐Ÿ”‘Steam API Key
    • ๐Ÿ“ƒsteam_appid.txt
    • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธSteam Deck
    • โš™๏ธSteamworks
    • ๐ŸคฏStore Page
    • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธWorkshop
      • Creating an Item
      • In-Game Browser
      • Subscribed Items
    • ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐ŸซUser Information
      • Unity User Tools
      • Unreal User Tools
    • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธVoice
  • Toolkit for Steamworks
    • Introduction
    • Maintenance Cycle
    • F.A.Q
    • Unity
      • โš ๏ธKnown Issues
      • Unity Asset Refund Policy
      • Installation
        • Networking Integrations
      • Getting Started
      • Debugging
      • Learning
      • API Extensions
        • App.Client
        • App.Server
        • App.Web
        • Authentication
        • BigPicture.Client
        • Clans.Client
        • Friends.Client
        • Input.Client
        • Inventory.Client
        • Leaderboards.Client
        • Matchmaking.Client
        • Overlay.Client
        • Parties.Client
        • RemotePlay.Client
        • RemoteStorage.Client
        • Screenshots.Client
        • StatsAndAchievements.Client
        • StatsAndAchievements.Server
        • User.Client
        • UserGeneratedContent.Client
        • Utilities
        • Utilities.Client
        • Voice.Client
      • Objects
        • Classes
          • Achievement Data
          • Achievement Object
          • App Data
          • Authentication Session
          • Authentication Ticket
          • Avg Rate Stat
          • Chat Room
          • Clan Chat Msg
          • Clan Data
          • Currency
          • Data Model
          • DLC Data
          • Downloadable Content Object
          • Favorite Game
          • Float Stat
          • Game Data
          • Input Action
          • Input Action Data
          • Input Action Set
          • Input Action Set Data
          • Input Action Set Layer
          • Input Action Update
          • Input Controller Data
          • Int Stat
          • Inventory Result
          • Item Data
          • Item Definition
          • Item Detail
          • Leaderboard Data
          • Leaderboard Entry
          • Leaderboard Object
          • Lobby Chat Msg
          • Lobby Data
          • Lobby Game Server
          • Lobby Member Data
          • Party Beacon Details
          • Rank Change
          • Remote Storage File
          • Stat Data
          • Steam Game Server Configuration
          • UGC Query
          • User Data
          • Steam Settings
            • Colors
            • Game Client
              • Inventory Settings
            • Game Server
          • User Leave Data
          • Workshop Item
          • Workshop Item Data
          • Workshop Item Data Create Status
          • Workshop Item Key Value Tag
          • Workshop Item Preview File
        • Components
          • Friend Manager
          • Game Server Browser Manager
          • Input Action Event
          • Input Action Glyph
          • Input Action Name
          • Inventory Manager
          • Item Shopping Cart Manager
          • Leaderboard Manager
          • Leaderboard User Entry
          • Overlay Manager
          • Steam Game Server Events
          • Steam Input Manager
          • Steamworks Event Triggers
          • UGC Query Manager
          • Voice Recorder
          • Voice Stream
        • Enums
          • Friend Dialog
          • Inventory Item Type
          • Language Codes
          • Overlay Dialog
          • Sample Rate Method
          • Valve Price Categories
        • Prefabs
          • ๐Ÿ“ฆClan Chat
          • ๐Ÿ“ฆClan List
          • ๐Ÿ“ฆClan Member Count
          • ๐Ÿ“ฆFriend Avatar
          • ๐Ÿ“ฆFriend Groups
          • ๐Ÿ“ฆFriend List
          • ๐Ÿ“ฆFriend Name
          • ๐Ÿ“ฆFriend Profile
          • ๐Ÿ“ฆSelectable Friend ID
        • Programming Tools
          • IChatMessage
          • ILeaderboardEntryDisplay
          • IUserProfile
          • IWorkshopBrowserItemTemplate
          • LobbyMemberSlot
          • User Invite Button
        • UI Components
          • Chat Auto Join
          • Chat Stream
          • Clan Chat Director
          • Clan Chat Member Counter
          • Clan Chat Member List
          • Clan List
          • Clan Profile
          • Friend Group
          • Friend Groups Display
          • Friend Invite Dropdown
          • Friend List
          • Friend Profile
            • Image Field
            • Message Options
            • Text Field
          • Input Action Glyph
          • Input Action Name
          • Leaderboard Entry UI Record
          • Leaderboard UI List
          • Lobby Chat Director
          • Lobby Member Slot
          • Lobby Manager
          • Party Lobby Control
          • Quick Match Lobby Control
          • Rich Presence Reader
          • Rich Presence Setter
          • Set Achievement Description
          • Set Achievement Icon
          • Set Achievement Name
          • Set User Avatar
          • Set User Id Input Field
          • Set User Id Label
          • Set User Name
          • Toggle Event Helper
          • Workshop Browser Simple Item Record
      • Legacy
        • Troubleshooting
        • Getting Started
          • GameObject Initialization
          • ScriptableObject Initialization
          • API Initialization
        • Build Upload Tool
        • Debugging Tools
          • Testing
        • Components
          • Steamworks Behaviour
          • Steamworks Creator
          • Steam System Events
    • Unreal
      • What's New!
      • Installation
      • Getting Started
      • Updating Steamworks SDK
      • Packaging
      • Game Instance
      • Sockets Net Driver
      • Online Subsystem
      • Data Assets
        • Achievement
        • Downloadable Content
        • Inventory Item
        • Leaderboard
        • Stat
      • Widgets
        • BP_FriendsListDisplay
        • BP_FriendsListEntry
        • BP_FriendsListGroup
        • BP_SteamAvatarImage
        • BP_SteamUserName
      • Blueprint Nodes
        • Functions
          • ๐Ÿ”ตAdd Favorite Game
          • ๐Ÿ”ตAdd History Game
          • ๐Ÿ”ตAdd Promo Item
          • ๐Ÿ”ตAdd Request Lobby List Filter
          • ๐Ÿ”ตAdvertise Game
          • ๐Ÿ”ตAssociate with Clan
          • ๐Ÿ”ตAttach Leaderboard UGC
          • ๐Ÿ”ตBegin Auth Session
          • ๐Ÿ”ตCancel Auth Ticket
          • ๐Ÿ”ตCheck Result Steam ID
          • ๐Ÿ”ตClear All Key Values
          • ๐Ÿ”ตClear Achievement
          • ๐Ÿ”ตClear Rich Presence
          • ๐Ÿ”ตClient Initialize
          • ๐Ÿ”ตClient Run Callbacks
          • ๐Ÿ”ตClient Should Restart
          • ๐Ÿ”ตCompue New Player Compatibility
          • ๐Ÿ”ตConsume Item
          • ๐Ÿ”ตCreate Lobby
          • ๐Ÿ”ตDecompress Voice
          • ๐Ÿ”ตDelete Lobby Data
          • ๐Ÿ”ตDeserialize Result
          • ๐Ÿ”ตDestroy Result
          • ๐Ÿ”ตDownload Leaderboard Entries
          • ๐Ÿ”ตDownload Leaderboard Entries for Users
          • ๐Ÿ”ตEnd Auth Session
          • ๐Ÿ”ตExchange Items
          • ๐Ÿ”ตFind Leaderboard
          • ๐Ÿ”ตFind or Create Leaderboard
          • ๐Ÿ“‚Game Server Browser
            • ๐Ÿ”ตPing Server
            • ๐Ÿ”ตPlayer Details
            • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest Server List
            • ๐Ÿ”ตServer Rules
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGenerate Items
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Achievement
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Achievement by Index
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Achievement Icon
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Achievement Is Achieved
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet All Items
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet App Build ID
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet App Id
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet App Owner
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Auth Session Ticket
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Auth Ticket for Web API
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Available Game Languages
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Available Voice
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Coplay Friends
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Current Beta Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Current Game Language
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet DLC Count
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet DLC Data By Index
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet DLC Download Progress
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Earliest Purchase
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Favorite Game
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Friends
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Friend Coplay Game
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Friend Coplay Time
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Friend Count from Source
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Friend Game Played
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Friend Groups
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Friend Group Members
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Friend Group Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Friend Persona Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Followed
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Installed Depots
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Item Definition Properties
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Item Price
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Items with Price
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Items by ID
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Launch Command Line
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Launch Query Param
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Leaderboard Display Type
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Leaderboard Entry Count
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Leaderboard Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Leaderboard Sort Method
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Lobby Chat Entry
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Lobby Data
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Lobby Data by Index
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Lobby Game Server
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Lobby Members
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Lobby Member by Index
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Lobby Member Data
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Lobby Member Limit
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Lobby Owner
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Most Achieved Achievement Info
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet My Steam Avatar
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet My Steam ID
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet My Steam Level
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Num Items with Price
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Persona Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Persona State
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Player Nickname
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Public IP
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Result Item Property
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Result Items
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Result Status
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Result Timestamp
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Stat
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Steam ID
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet User Achievement
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet User Float Stat
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet User Int Stat
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet User Restrictions
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Rich Presence
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet User Rich Presence
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet User Rich Presence Key by Index
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet User Steam Avatar
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Voice
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGet Voice Optimal Sample Rate
          • ๐Ÿ”ตGrant Promo Items
          • ๐Ÿ”ตHas Friend
          • ๐Ÿ”ตId is Me
          • ๐Ÿ”ตId is Valid
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIndicate Achievement Progress
          • ๐Ÿ”ตInstall DLC
          • ๐Ÿ”ตInvite User To Game
          • ๐Ÿ”ตInvite User to Lobby
          • ๐Ÿ”ตInitialize
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs App Installed
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Behind NAT
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Cybercafe
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs DLC Installed
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Lobby Owner
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Low Violence
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Phone Identifying
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Phone Requiring Verification
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Phone Verified
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Steam Initialized
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Subscribed
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Subscribed App
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Subscribed from Family Sharing
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Subscribed from Free Weekend
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Timed Trial
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs Two Factor Enabled
          • ๐Ÿ”ตIs VAC Banned
          • ๐Ÿ”ตJoin Lobby
          • ๐Ÿ”ตLeave Lobby
          • ๐Ÿ”ตLoad Item Definitions
          • ๐Ÿ”ตLogged On
          • ๐Ÿ”ตLog Off
          • ๐Ÿ”ตLog On
          • ๐Ÿ”ตLog On Anonymous
          • ๐Ÿ”ตMark Content Corrupt
          • ๐Ÿ”ตQuick Match
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRemove Favorite Game
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRemove History Game
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRemove Property
          • ๐Ÿ”ตReply to Friend Message
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest Current Stats
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest Eligible Promo Item Definitions IDs
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest Friend Rich Presence
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest Lobby Data
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest Lobby List
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest Prices
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest Store Auth URL
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest User Group Status
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest User Information
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRequest User Stats
          • ๐Ÿ”ตReset All Stats
          • ๐Ÿ”ตRun Callbacks
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSecure
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSend Lobby Chat
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSerialize Result
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Achievement
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Advertise Server Active
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Bot Player Count
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Dedicated Server
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Description
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Game Data
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Game Tags
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet In-Game Voice Speaking
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Key Value
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Map Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Listen for Friends Messages
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Lobby Data
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Lobby Game Server
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Lobby Joinable
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Lobby Member Data
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Lobby Member Limit
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Lobby Owner
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Lobby Type
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Max Player Count
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Mod Directory Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Password Protected
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Persona Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Played with User
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Product
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Property
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Region
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Rich Presence
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Stats
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Spectator Name
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet Spectator Port
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet User Achievement
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet User Float Stat
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSet User Int Stat
          • ๐Ÿ”ตShutdown
          • ๐Ÿ”ตStart Purchase
          • ๐Ÿ”ตStart Update Property
          • ๐Ÿ”ตStart Voice Recording
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSteam ID Tools
          • ๐Ÿ”ตStop Voice Recording
          • ๐Ÿ”ตStore Stats
          • ๐Ÿ”ตStore User Stats
          • ๐Ÿ”ตSubmit Update Property
          • ๐Ÿ”ตTransfer Item Quantity
          • ๐Ÿ”ตTrigger Item Drop
          • ๐Ÿ”ตUninstall DLC
          • ๐Ÿ”ตUpdate Avg Rate Stat
          • ๐Ÿ”ตUpdate User Avg Rate Stat
          • ๐Ÿ”ตUpload Leaderboard Score
          • ๐Ÿ”ตUser Has License for App
          • ๐Ÿ”ตWas Restart Requested
        • Events
          • ๐Ÿ”ปDlc Installed
          • ๐Ÿ”ปFriend Chat Msg
          • ๐Ÿ”ปFriend Rich Presence Update
          • ๐Ÿ”ปGame Overlay Activated
          • ๐Ÿ”ปInventory Item Definition Update
          • ๐Ÿ”ปInventory Results Ready
          • ๐Ÿ”ปLobby Chat Msg
          • ๐Ÿ”ปLobby Chat Update
          • ๐Ÿ”ปLobby Data Update
          • ๐Ÿ”ปLobby Game Created
          • ๐Ÿ”ปLobby Join Requested
          • ๐Ÿ”ปMicro Txn Authorization Response
          • ๐Ÿ”ปPersona State Change
          • ๐Ÿ”ปRich Presence Join Requested
          • ๐Ÿ”ปServers Connected
          • ๐Ÿ”ปServer Connect Failure
          • ๐Ÿ”ปServer Disconnected
          • ๐Ÿ”ปTicket for Web API Response
        • Types
          • ๐ŸŸฉAchievement Status
          • ๐ŸŸฉAuth Ticket Data
          • ๐ŸŸฉChat Entry
          • ๐ŸŸฉDecompress Voice Result
          • ๐ŸŸฉFloat Stat
          • ๐ŸŸฉGame Server Item Wrapper
          • ๐ŸŸฉGame Server Player Details Wrapper
          • ๐ŸŸฉGlobal Achievement Status
          • ๐ŸŸฉItem Count
          • ๐ŸŸฉItem Detail
          • ๐ŸŸฉItem Detail With Properties
          • ๐ŸŸฉItem Price
          • ๐ŸŸฉItem With Price
          • ๐ŸŸฉInt Stat
          • ๐ŸŸฉKey Value Pair
          • ๐ŸŸฉLeaderboard Entry
          • ๐ŸŸฉLobby Data
          • ๐ŸŸฉLobby Game Server
          • ๐ŸŸฉServer Achievement Status
          • ๐ŸŸฉServer Stat Float Value
          • ๐ŸŸฉServer Stat Int Value
          • ๐ŸŸฉUser Achievement Status
          • ๐ŸŸฉVoice Result
          • ๐ŸŸฉVoice Available Result
        • Enumerators
          • ๐ŸŸจUEBeginAuthSessionResult
          • ๐ŸŸจUEChatRoomEnterResponse
          • ๐ŸŸจUEFriendFlags
          • ๐ŸŸจUEChatEntryType
          • ๐ŸŸจUEChatMemberStateChange
          • ๐ŸŸจUELeaderboardDataRequest
          • ๐ŸŸจUELeaderboardDisplayType
          • ๐ŸŸจUELeaderboardSortMethod
          • ๐ŸŸจUELobbyComparison
          • ๐ŸŸจUELobbyDistanceFilter
          • ๐ŸŸจUELobbyType
          • ๐ŸŸจUEResult
          • ๐ŸŸจUESteamCurrencyCode
          • ๐ŸŸจUEServerMode
          • ๐ŸŸจUEUserHasLicenseForAppResult
          • ๐ŸŸจUEVoiceResult
      • C++
  • Toolkit for Physics
    • Unity
      • Installation
      • Core Features
        • Ballistics Tools
        • Buoyancy Tools
        • Force Effect Framework
        • Physics Data extended
        • Verlet Integration
      • Sample Scenes
        • Fantasy Style Ballistic Simulation
        • (3D) Deterministic Bounce Prediction
        • (2D) Deterministic Bounce Prediction
        • 1 Buoyancy Example
        • 1 Force Effect Fields
        • 2 Spherical Gravity
        • 3 Multi-body Gravity
        • 1 Verlet Spring Simple Transforms
        • 2 Verlet Spring Skinned Mesh
      • API
        • Ballistics
        • Buoyancy
        • Force Effects
        • Maths
        • Mesh Tools
      • Components
        • Ballistic Aim
        • Ballistic Path Line Render
        • Ballistic Path Follow
        • Buoyant Body
        • Buoyant Body Drag
        • Constant Acceleration
        • Constant Angular Velocity
        • Constant Linear Velocity
        • Force Effect Source
          • Force Effect Direction
          • Force Effect Field
        • Force Effect Reciever
        • Physics Data
        • Surface Tool
        • Trick Shot
        • Trick Shot Line
        • Verlet Spring
      • Objects
        • Force Effect
          • Attract Effect
          • Gravity Effect
          • Repulse Effect
          • Suspend Effect
          • Tractor Effect
          • Wind Effect
        • Point Volume
        • Verlet Hierarchy
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On this page
  • Introduction
  • Client
  • Game Loop
  • HLAPI
  • LLAPI
  • Lobby
  • NetDriver
  • NM or Network Manager
  • P2P or Peer to Peer
  • Room
  • Server
  • Listen Server
  • Dedicated Server
  • Steam Game Server
  • Transport
  1. Steam
  2. Multiplayer

Terminology

Say what now?

PreviousSetup LinuxNextMulti-Platform Project

Last updated 1 year ago

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Introduction

This is just a list of terms I will use in this article, they are not necessarily the right terms or standard terms, etc. Again this is just me sharing info and this section is just meant to help you translate my dribble.

Client

The client it's is a term that can mean many things. In general a "client" is a consumer of some service, a game for example as in the executable you run to play the game ... that is a "Game Client" even if there is no network it is still a client. Within a single program such as your game, you may have components that are acting as a "client" to other components that are acting as a "server" This is rather common.

In general, networking when we say "Client" we mean that which is connected to a "Server". This gets more complex in P2P where one of the "Clients" is also the "Server" Some networking APIs refer to this as "Host" as opposed to "Server" to try and differentiate the concepts.

Game Loop

The flow the player takes through the game from start to finish and back to start again. You can think of this as the workflow of playing your game to use a more business-style term.

HLAPI

A Unity Specific term: aka a High-Level Application Program Interface โ€ฆ see what we say HLAPI now. When we use this, we are usually referring to a networking tool like Mirror, MLAPI, FishNetworking, Mirage, etc. They are APIs but not all of them. What they do is handle the relationship between your game objects and the network โ€ฆ they tend to refer to the network as LLAPI

LLAPI

A Unity Specific term: As noted in HLAPI this stands for Low Level Application Program Interface. When youโ€™re talking about tools like Mirror, MLAPI, etc. they have a concept of a โ€œtransportโ€ that is the part of the system that deals with sending and receiving information and handling connections. The interface that transports is built on โ€ฆ that is a LLAPI. In the case of Steam-based networking solutions that would be SteamNetworking and SteamNetworkingSockets as the LLAPI that is used to create the various Steam Transports.

Lobby

This term gets abused very often by the developers of networking APIs.

A lobby is not a networking feature

A lobby is best thought of as a chat room. It exists before there is a network session set up at all it's where your players will meet to agree on what kind of session should be set up. In most cases when the network session comes up and the players join it, they would leave any matchmaking lobby they are in.

Lobbies can be used for loads of features that have nothing at all to do with networking or even multiplayer. They are fundamentally just chat rooms associated with a Steam App that players who are running the same app can join, attach metadata to, search for, etc. This makes lobbies useful for matchmaking, and player groups/parties are used in Steam's remote play feature and through the parties system can be used to invite players to come to play the game with you or watch you play the game over Steam Streaming.

Mirror, Photon and others have a concept of a "Room" ... this is not a lobby and not related to a lobby.

A Room is not a lobby, it's a strange concept used by some networking systems as a sort of pore man's matchmaking service. It doesn't make any sense to me as to why you would use such a thing. It seems it would be easier to simply manage your network environment yourself self but to each, their own just understand it is not a lobby and in no way related.

NetDriver

For example, Steam Socket-based NetDrivers can use either a Steam ID as an address or an IP:Port though generally, Steam ID is the way to go ... for example, an address might look like steam.123456789123456789 where the number is the int64 value of the target system or user's Steam ID.

NM or Network Manager

A Unity-specific term: Network Manager, Most HLAPIs have a concept of a network manager. This is your game's main point of interaction with the network at least so far as starting and stopping a connection. The NM would be what references the transport or transports you wish to support and shuttles data between the rest of the HLAPI such as Network Behaviours to and from the LLAPI via those transports e.g., Send/Receive

P2P or Peer to Peer

This term gets abused and this time my Valve (Steam) directly. With regards to Steam documentation a "Peer" is anything that has a Steam ID, so Users but also Steam Game Servers. This means as far as Seam is concerned communication between a Steam Game Server (dedicated) and a Steam User (client) that is "P2P".

For the entire rest of the world and even in contexts that are not networking ... a "Peer" is that which is the same as you. So Client to Client or Server to Server. Therefore in game networking when we say the game is "P2P" we (unless we are Valve" mean that there is no server, game clients connect to game clients e.g. Player to Player connection with no server at all.

Room

We don't use this and don't recommend anyone does. Room is a concept seen in Mirror, Photon and a few other networking solutions. I see no reason to use such a thing especially if you have a proper backend service provider like Steam or PlayFab.

A room is a full network connection so really if you can connect to a room why not just go ahead and be connected to your session since you already are?

This concept is mostly used by people who let the network manager manage which scene is active, another thing we do not recommend. If you do let your network manager manage your scenes then read up on how "room" works with your API if at all.

If you managing your scene structure (strongly recommended) then the room offers no benefit and can be ignored.

Server

Another often abused term.

In its simplest form a "server" is anything that serves other things. For example, GitBook is a web server, serving your browser with HTML content.

A computer running a server OS used to serve other computers with services is also a server

A Unity session that is being connected to other Unity sessions is a game server

Unity builds can be both servers and clients and most NM's have a concept of "Host" which is exactly that, it is where your NM is acting as both a client and a server. That is it is asking for content (From itself and serving that content (to itself and others).

Listen Server

The technically correct term for a "host" or a Client that is also a Server such as used in Mesh and Peer to Peer based network structures.

Dedicated Server

The technically correct term for a build that does nothing but server, that is there is no client here. This is sometimes also called a Headless Build.

Steam Game Server

We have an article on this here. In short, a Steam Game Server is when you have your "Dedicated Server" e.g. your "Headless Build" register itself on Steam's backend such that it can use Steam Game Server APIs such as Steam Networking Sockets and such that Valve can issue it a Steam ID enabling it to be addressed as a Steam ID.

Transport

A Unity-specific term: Again, a common term with HLAPIs like Mirror, MLAPI, etc. This refers to a simple object that acts as an adapter between your HLAPI and your LLAPI e.g., Fizzy Steam Transport lets the Mirror HLAPI talk to the SteamNetworking LLAPI

A Unreal Specific term: this is similar to the Unity concept of a "" in that it is the low-level technology that handles sending and receiving data over a network. It generally also defines what a connection is and how it is addressed.

A lobby however is not a server, browsing for lobbies is not a way to make a server list. Server discovery is a concept that Steam handles please see the and for more information.

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