Developer(s) Tony "Ponder" Cannon Development status Active Type Middleware | Stable release 0.30 (May 10, 2011) Operating system License Proprietary | |
GGPO (short for Good Game Peace Out) is middleware designed to help create a near-lagless online experience for various emulated arcade games and fighting games. The program was created by Tony Cannon, co-founder of fighting game community site Shoryuken and the popular Evolution Championship Series.
Contents
History
Before its creation, GGPO creator Tony Cannon was completely dissatisfied with the 2006 Xbox 360 re-release of Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting after experiencing its criticized online capabilities. As a reaction to its service, Cannon began development on GGPO and released the first ever version in late 2006. Cannon later demonstrated GGPO to Capcom, which was positively received.
The downloadable GGPO client currently supports many games from Capcom and SNK including Super Street Fighter II Turbo, The King of Fighters 2002, and Metal Slug X through use of emulator. Video game companies have also implemented a licensed version of GGPO. Games using it include Skullgirls, Killer Instinct (2013 video game), and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition.
Design
GGPO uses a netcode technique called “rollback”. Rather than waiting for input to be received from other players before simulating the next frame, GGPO predicts the inputs they will send and simulates the next frame without delay using that assumption. When other players’ inputs arrive, if any input didn’t match the prediction, GGPO rolls back the state of the game to the last correct state, then replays all players’ revised inputs back until the current frame. The hope is that the predictions will be correct most of the time, allowing smooth play with minimal sudden changes to the game state.
The client program can allow players to manually adjust latency in high-ping situations, either creating a possibly-jerky yet accurate representation or a smoother game with input delay.
GGPO client
The downloadable GGPO client itself has a matchmaking system for every game provided. Players can request challenges while others are able to spectate and chat. Once a challenge initiates, the match runs a ROM from emulator FinalBurn Alpha.