A fast-paced multiplayer game where players compete in real-time to collect the most cookies from a shared plate. Built to demonstrate UDP networking, client-server architecture, and real-time game state synchronization.

Key Technical Features:

• Real-time UDP socket communication for low-latency multiplayer
• Client-server architecture with centralized game state management
• Lobby system with player ready-up functionality
• Server-side collision detection and validation
• Thread-safe concurrent client and server operations

Core: Python 3.8+ • Pygame 2.0+ • UDP Sockets

Architecture: Client-Server Model • Threading • JSON Serialization • Event-Driven Design

• Python 3.8+
• Pygame (pip install pygame)

git clone https://github.com/TechnoMechno/371_Networking_Project.git
cd 371_Networking_Project
python game_main.py

1. Run python game_main.py
2. Click "Host Game" to start a server
3. Share your IP address with other players
4. Click "Ready" when all players have joined

1. Run python game_main.py
2. Enter the host's IP address
3. Click "Join Game"
4. Click "Ready" to start

• Objective: Collect more cookies than your opponents
• Controls: Left click to grab cookies from the plate
• Cookie Types:
  • 🍪 Regular Cookie: 1 point
  • ⭐ Star Cookie: 3 points (rare)

371_Networking_Project/
├── 📂 game_code/              # Core game logic and entities
│   ├── config.py              # Game configuration and constants
│   ├── game.py                # Main game loop
│   ├── player.py              # Player entity
│   └── cookie_refactored.py   # Cookie entity
│
├── 📂 server2/                # Server-side implementation
│   ├── server_main.py         # Server entry point
│   ├── networking.py          # UDP server logic
│   └── GameStateManager.py    # Game state management
│
├── 📂 client2/                # Client-side implementation
│   ├── client_main.py         # Client entry point
│   ├── client_networking.py   # UDP client logic
│   ├── render.py              # Rendering engine
│   └── Button.py, TextBox.py  # UI components
│
└── game_main.py               # Main application entry point

• UDP Protocol: Implemented custom handshake protocol for connection validation
• Packet Handling: Managed packet loss and out-of-order delivery
• State Sync: JSON-based game state broadcasting to all clients

• Python threading for simultaneous client/server operations
• Thread-safe communication between network and game logic

• Server Authority: Centralized validation prevents cheating and desync
• Collision Detection: Server-side validation for cookie grabbing
• State Management: Enum-based system (LOBBY → PLAYING → GAME_OVER)

• Race Conditions: Server-side validation ensures only first valid request succeeds
• Mid-Game Joins: JOIN_CHECK handshake prevents joining during active games
• Scalability: Modular client-server design allows easy feature additions

• Power-ups and special abilities
• Leaderboard and persistent stats
• Multiple game modes (team play, time attack)
• NAT traversal for internet play
• Player authentication system

This project is open source and available for educational purposes.