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New Technologies Attack the One-World Problem

Posted by Zonk on from the can't-reach-the-folks-on-theta-epsilon-earth dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "An MIT Technology Review article has new details on the challenges of a 'one world design' in Massively Multiplayer Online Games. Most games shard their servers, putting up artificial barriers between friends and family members. Technologies are now being developed to keep lots of players within a single world, some of them based off of the unique PvP-heavy title EVE Online. The best part - the technologies don't just apply to gaming. 'NASDAQ, for example, can be thought of as a very large MMO, supporting very large numbers of 'players' performing billions of transactions daily in a graphically intense environment, all within a single shard. Technologies that solve this problem effectively, says George Dolbier, technical lead for games and interactive entertainment at IBM, will have applications in any industry that requires spotting and reacting to trends, or "anything where behavior is dynamic and you need to move resources around rapidly."'"

13 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. No shit, sherlock by geekoid · · Score: 2, Funny

    ", for example, can be thought of as a very large MMO, supporting very large numbers of 'players' performing billions of transactions daily in a graphically intense environment, all within a single shard. "

    Jeezs, you mean there are large transaction systems out there? Thank god MMO's brought the technology to the world! Gah. MMO's do nothing technically new regarding transaction.

    Also, what is the 'Graphically intense' interface the NASDAQ has? Compared to MMO's it's nothing.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    1. Re:No shit, sherlock by WED+Fan · · Score: 4, Funny

      Remember that scene in "<Redacted>" where they're 'flying' through the contents of the Gibson? That was just a video capture of some day trader dumping his MS stock.

      bzzzzt

      For even mentioning that movie, your Geek Factor suffers a -10 hit.

      You're RPG equivelant is now "Tunnels and Trolls", and your Star Wars equivelant is set to "Jar Jar".

      Want to worsen it? Mention that Sandra Bullock movie./p.

      --
      Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong fix.
  2. Gamers Changing the world... by happy_place · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't you love it how gamers try to make themselves relevant to the rest of the world? I love gamers... they're so... important... to... um... well... Just keep playing, guys!!

    --Ray

    --
    http://www.beanleafpress.com
    1. Re:Gamers Changing the world... by toleraen · · Score: 2, Funny

      Support small independent publishers - Looks like everyone is just trying to stay relevant around here, aren't they?
  3. NASDAQ=MMO by pieaholicx · · Score: 5, Funny

    NASDAQ, for example, can be thought of as a very large MMO, supporting very large numbers of 'players' performing billions of transactions daily in a graphically intense environment, all within a single shard. But mom, I can't go to bed, my NASDAQ guild needs me to do another raid...
    --
    http://blog.heavensdomain.net
  4. NASDAQ MMO by Digital+Vomit · · Score: 4, Funny

    NASDAQ, for example, can be thought of as a very large MMO...

    And you thought the grind in WoW was boring!

    --
    Modern copyright is theft of culture from everyone and it retards the progress of the useful arts and sciences.
    1. Re:NASDAQ MMO by HarryCaul · · Score: 4, Funny

      Leveling up in NASDAQ is a lot more fun than in WOW. The gear is a lot better too.

    2. Re:NASDAQ MMO by Achoi77 · · Score: 2, Funny

      yeah, but it really really sucks when you get PK'd in NASDAQ. Nothing you earn is nodrop/soulbound

  5. Worst. Pun. Ever. by Valdrax · · Score: 4, Funny

    Personally, I locked onto to the "graphically intense" part of that comment.
    Doesn't seem to me that thousands of stock-trend charts and graphs really count, unless you're making a terrible pun.

    --
    If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
  6. Re:dumbass by MiharuSenaKanaka · · Score: 5, Funny

    We have no choice! Our mod points can't repel flamebait of that magnitude!

  7. Nice Try by WED+Fan · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're trying to get me to say the name of that other Sandra Bullock computer movie.

    Well, it ain't working, sparky.

    --
    Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong fix.
  8. Re:Don't knock Tunnels and Trolls! by WED+Fan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Star Wars for Geeked Geeks

    I know I'm moving off topic and replying to my own post but I'm reminded of a few years ago, I was back in San Diego at the home office, I was the Far East Technical Training Manager for the company and GL had just re-released "Empire Strikes Back". I was in the theater with a bunch of kids who weren't born when it was first released. The kid next to me was mouthing almost every scene and getting all excited at the key points in the movie. When Darth announces he is Luke's father, this kid almost splooged the entire aisle, and reacted as if it were the first time he had heard the line.

    I know he's posting on /. around here somewhere.

    --
    Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong fix.
  9. Re:That's fine by C0rinthian · · Score: 2, Funny

    But will Linux blend?