The tragic and techy tale of terror and triumph over technology. (Rated T for Tyrannosauruses, Tetrahedron and Toilet Paper.)
"How dare you ask me that after we just met! I am not that sort of video game."
This was the scene just a few short days ago. Sorta of. You might be one of the many curious players wondering what is causing the hold up of the Dragon travel forms in AdventureQuest 3D. I know you hunger for the gnitty gritty truth like a vampire hungers for a rare steak (not to be confused with a Rare Stake.) Thus... behold! But be careful what you wish for. You just might get I.T. (Note I.T. stands for "information technology")
Your computer has an address. Every computer connected to a network does. Without this, your electronic devices could not talk or let you post inappropriate political memes causing you to be unfriended by family members on Facebook. Back in ancient times (The 1990s) the internet was a simpler place, we only used one type of address. It was known as the almighty, "IPv4" which stood for Internet Protocol version 4. We still use it today. If you are a gamer, you have probably seen these. You know, they look like this! 192.168.1.1
"WHAT!? You are still using IPv4? Dude, that was like so 2015, you need to be using the new IPv6 -- also, we removed the headphone jack."
OK, so there is a little problem with that old IPv4 system... there are nearly more computer devices than there are IP addresses! A LOT MORE! So some clever computer scientists invented a whole new system. It has actually been around a really long time. But you know how this technology stuff works. Things evolve and mutate as fast as a zombie virus outbreak... but lurch forward equally slow. (And hunger for brains.)
# of IPv4 Addresses = 4,294,967,296 (4.2 Billion Total -- cannot be increased)
# of people with internet = 3,424,971,237 (3.4 Billion and growing)
# of devices connected to internet = (22.9 Billion and growing)
OMG! THEN WHAT DO WE DO!?!?!?!
No problem, the new IPv6 can support up to: 340 Undecillion
(Note: That is 3.4×10^38.. or basically enough IP addresses for every cell of every person's body--and way more than needed for Skynet to launch the Terminator robot rebellion of 2025) We have plenty of IP addresses now... for the future!
Great question. So our game servers, like most, use the ol' simple, classic IPv4 system. Which is fine, it would be virtually impossible to ever phase that system out since most of those 22.9 Billion devices out there depend on it. But one of our target platforms is no longer approving apps that solely rely on IPv4. You could say IPv4 is being dropped the same way headphone jacks, firewire, and HDMI ports are >_>.
"WE ARE IMPLEMENTING IPv6 SUPPORT IN ADVENTUREQUEST 3D VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY QUICKLY!!!!!!"
As of High Noon ("It is always high noon somewhere") earlier today, Warlic and Zhoom had already implemented IPv6 for AdventureQuest 3D and put it into testing. Testing this was actually a bit tricky. (We had to create a special access point and disable IPv4 then connect to it.) Testing came back with a few problems-- needless to say they they will keep at it until it is working. Then we will have a short testing period and re-submit the game to all platforms... while doing the special "please approve our app dance" that we have been practicing at the local ballet school. Those shoes really hurt my toes.
We have been solving, fixing, and conquering a never ending waterfall of strange device specific issues like this. It is what truly makes building a cross-platform game so challenging. Just imaging how much we have been learning through the process. Every device and piece of hardware has a different "Gotcha!" This is not the first, and it will certainly not be the last. But with each step we are getting better at handling and anticipating these type problems. I am really proud of the team for how they always step up to the plate no matter how tough a problem is. Gotta love those gals and guys.
Meanwhile, the content team is hard at work on the upcoming new Volcanic Dragon Lair saga. Thank you for everyone in the Discord chat and for the creator of AQ3D Memes for these images :D
Check back tomorrow for a sneak peak at the concept art for our upcoming new villain.
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Pun-slinging Paladin
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