Quazal ships game networking code for Mac

Quazal, a developer of network gaming code used in titles like Rock Band and Company of Heroes, has announced the shipping of Mac versions of some of its key software, in some cases enabling cross-platform play between Macs and PCs with "very little" extra programming. Net-Z provides a low-level multiplayer core, and handles authoring and integration; mechanics are defined through an object layer, saving developers from the need to define packets, sockets, and client-server messaging.

Rendez-Vous is an API for the creation of multiplayer lobbies, and provides features such as friends lists, chatrooms, matchmaking and rankings, as well as behind-the-scenes technologies such as encryption, authentication and language censorship. Spark!, finally, is a ready-to-use lobby system, requiring only skin creation and correct linking. Lobbies can be mapped to Rendez-Vous, Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network, with non-native functions being handled by Quazar's own servers.

Filed under: gaming, software, developer, networking
Other story tags: Xbox, PlayStation