I'm working on a board game for Android and I'm looking for a way to handle data storage and device communication for players in the game lobbies. Since I can't set up a central server, what are some methods I can use to create private servers using the devices in the lobby?
1 Answer
You can choose one device in the lobby to act as the server. This is how many LAN multiplayer games operate. It’s pretty straightforward and lets everyone connect without needing a full server setup.
One thing to consider is how players will connect to each other. Some games use a central server for matchmaking and then switch to peer-to-peer connections. Older games used direct IP connections, but that can be tricky for less tech-savvy players. You might want to simplify this by sharing the connection info through messages on platforms like Discord or via text.