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Decoupling state computation and state dissemination for scalable virtual environments using spatial publish/subscribe
Smit, P. J. 2025. Decoupling State Computation and State Dissemination for Scalable Virtual Environments Using Spatial Publish/Subscribe. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/abed4cb9-6163-45d3-875b-b440ab884562
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614002632196096 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Smit, Petrus Jurgens |
| author2 | Engelbrecht, H. A. |
| author_browse | Engelbrecht, H. A. Smit, Petrus Jurgens |
| author_facet | Engelbrecht, H. A. Smit, Petrus Jurgens |
| author_sort | Smit, Petrus Jurgens |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Smit, P. J. 2025. Decoupling State Computation and State Dissemination for Scalable Virtual Environments Using Spatial Publish/Subscribe. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/abed4cb9-6163-45d3-875b-b440ab884562 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132426 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:06.534Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132426 Decoupling state computation and state dissemination for scalable virtual environments using spatial publish/subscribe Smit, Petrus Jurgens Engelbrecht, H. A. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Virtual reality -- Data processing Computer networks -- Scalability Spatial publish-subscribe Client-server computing UCTD Smit, P. J. 2025. Decoupling State Computation and State Dissemination for Scalable Virtual Environments Using Spatial Publish/Subscribe. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/abed4cb9-6163-45d3-875b-b440ab884562 Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The scalability of state dissemination has long been a critical challenge in the development of Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). Traditional Interest Management (IM) approaches, such as the Area-of-Interest (AOI) model, have struggled to effectively manage the exponential growth in state updates as the player count and computational complexity increases. This thesis investigates the use of Spatial Publish-Subscribe (SPS) as a potential solution to enhance the scalability of state dissemination and state computation in MMOGs. The primary focus of this work is the integration and evaluation of the SPS system, implemented using the VAST SPS library, within the context of the Minecraft MMOG. This integration process involves decoupling the game state computation from the game state dissemination in the Minecraft Server and extending the VAST library to accommodate the specific requirements and complexities of Minecraft. The SPS-based system is then subjected to a comprehensive comparison against the conventional AOI-based IM approach, examining key performance metrics such as latency, network traffic, update dissemination, computation and memory demand, as well as packet loss. The results of the evaluation demonstrate that the SPS-based system, utilising a distributed network of brokers, exhibits superior scalability in terms of update dissemination compared to the AOI-based systems. For instance, with 30 clients, the SPS system reduced packet transmissions by up to 26 times compared to the baseline Minecraft server and nearly 11 times compared to the optimised Spigot server. This highlights the SPS-based approach’s ability to more efficiently manage the exponential growth of state updates in large virtual environments. This thesis underscores the potential of SPS as an effective alternative to AOI-IM. The findings suggest that SPS not only scales more effectively than the conventional AOI-based approach, but also that it can sustain acceptable latency and manage packet loss under increasing client loads. The work in this thesis provides a blueprint for enhancing scalability in other MMOGs and VEs facing similar constraints. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die skaleerbaarheid van die verspreiding van die speltoestand was al lank ’n groot uitdaging in die ontwikkeling van massiewe multi-speler aanlyn speletjies (MMOG’s). Tradisionele belangstellingsbestuur (IM) benaderings, soos die area-van-belang (AOI) model, sukkel om die eksponensi¨ele groei in speltoestand-opdaterings effektief te bestuur namate die aantal spelers en berekeningskompleksiteit toeneem. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die gebruik van ruimtelike “publish/subscribe” (SPS) as ’n moontlike oplossing om die skaleerbaarheid van speltoestand-verspreiding en -berekening in MMOG’s te verbeter. Die primˆere fokus van hierdie werk is die integrasie en evaluering van die SPS-stelsel, ge¨ımplementeer met behulp van die uitgebreide VAST SPS-biblioteek, binne die konteks van die Minecraft MMOG. Hierdie integrasieproses behels die ontkoppeling van die berekening van die speltoestand van die verspreiding van die speltoestand in die Minecraftbediener en die uitbreiding van die VAST biblioteek om aan die spesifieke vereistes en kompleksiteite van Minecraft te voldoen. Die SPS-gebaseerde stelsel word dan vergelyk met die konvensionele AOI-gebaseerde IM-benadering, wat die belangrikste metings soos boodskap-tyd, netwerkverkeer, opdateringsverspreiding, berekening-tyd en geheueverbruik, sowel as pakkieverlies ondersoek. Die resultate van die evaluering toon aan dat die SPS-gebaseerde stelsel, met behulp van ’n verspreide netwerk van makelaars, uitstekende skaleerbaarheid het in terme van die verspreiding van opdaterings in vergelyking met die AOI-gebaseerde stelsels. Byvoorbeeld, met 30 kli¨ente het die SPS-stelsel pakkie-oordragte met tot 26 keer verminder in vergelyking met die standaard Minecraft-bediener en byna 11 keer in vergelyking met die geoptimaliseerde SPIGOT-bediener. Dit beklemtoon die SPS-gebaseerde benadering se vermo¨e om die eksponensi¨ele groei van speltoestand-opdaterings in groot MMOG’s meer doeltreffend te bestuur. Hierdie tesis beklemtoon die potensiaal van SPS as ’n effektiewe alternatief vir AOI-IM. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat SPS nie net meer effektief skaleer as die konvensionele AOI-gebaseerde benadering nie, maar ook dat dit aanvaarbare reaksietyd en pakkieverlies kan handhaaf onder toenemende hoeveelheid kli¨ente kan bestuur. Die werk in hierdie tesis bied ’n bloudruk vir die verbetering van skaleerbaarheid in ander MMOG’s en virtuele omgewings wat soortgelyke beperkings in die gesig staar. Masters 2025-06-06T10:50:28Z 2025-06-06T10:50:28Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132426 en Stellenbosch University xv, 171 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Virtual reality -- Data processing Computer networks -- Scalability Spatial publish-subscribe Client-server computing UCTD Smit, Petrus Jurgens Decoupling state computation and state dissemination for scalable virtual environments using spatial publish/subscribe |
| title | Decoupling state computation and state dissemination for scalable virtual environments using spatial publish/subscribe |
| title_full | Decoupling state computation and state dissemination for scalable virtual environments using spatial publish/subscribe |
| title_fullStr | Decoupling state computation and state dissemination for scalable virtual environments using spatial publish/subscribe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decoupling state computation and state dissemination for scalable virtual environments using spatial publish/subscribe |
| title_short | Decoupling state computation and state dissemination for scalable virtual environments using spatial publish/subscribe |
| title_sort | decoupling state computation and state dissemination for scalable virtual environments using spatial publish subscribe |
| topic | Virtual reality -- Data processing Computer networks -- Scalability Spatial publish-subscribe Client-server computing UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132426 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT smitpetrusjurgens decouplingstatecomputationandstatedisseminationforscalablevirtualenvironmentsusingspatialpublishsubscribe |