SIP and Gaming

SIP is a lightweight client easily embedded in end-user devices. Wherever there is a requirement for real-time sessions to be established, SIP can reside in the communications device and handle these sessions. On-line gaming is one application of this.

Gaming requires real-time data sessions to be set up, typically using a secure socket over UDP. Currently, many games also use Instant Messaging for communications between players during a game, in order to co-ordinate and plan activity. SIP supports this functionality and opens up new possibilities.

Using SIP it would be possible to use other media, in addition to a datastream, within a gaming session. If appropriate, it would be easy to talk to other users in a game environment. The nature of games could move towards a more interactive, voice-driven format. Examples could include Risk, murder mysteries, quiz games, "capture the flag", Monopoly, (game shows?).

SIP's inherent presence information sits perfectly with online gaming. Instead of blindly logging on to a games master server, it would be possible to see who's playing and invite other users to join a game. A user just has to subscribe to the presence information of friends. This presence information can be displayed in "buddy list" format showing who is playing, who is online and available, and who is not. Third party call control could even automatically initiate a gaming session when everybody was ready.