Requirements

Isogenic is a front-to-back solution written entirely in JavaScript which means that a single code-base can be used on both the client-side and server-side. Many developers are still unfamiliar with server-side JavaScript and if you have never played around with it, I would encourage you to check out Node.js. You can imagine server-side JavaScript (which I’ll just call SSJS) just like PHP, .NET or any other of your favourite scripting tools for the backend.

Unlike Flash apps / games which exist only on the client browser, Isogenic is a fully-fledged server as well as being a client-side game engine. This means you can run multiplayer and persistent-world games on top of Isogenic Engine without using third-party server software*.

Isogenic Engine (Online Version)

With Flash, you host an .swf file on a server computer that has a web-server application such as Apache installed, and that file is downloaded from the web-server and then displayed on the browser (this is the most common setup and you may be using it without even knowing if you have a hosting package from a company like GoDaddy, A2 Hosting etc). With Isogenic you still need a server computer but there is no requirement to install a web-server application*, the web-server IS Isogenic Engine which means you do not need Apache etc*. Instead, Node.js is required in order to interpret and run the SSJS code.

Requirements:

• A computer / server machine running Linux
• Node.js installed on the server
• MongoDB installed on the server

Isogenic Engine (Offline Version)

Just like with Flash, Isogenic Engine can also be hosted from a standard web-server and only deliver the files required to run your game on the browser. This is called our “Offline” version because just like Flash, it does not include any realtime multiplayer or persistent-world features built-in.

Requirements:

• Any standard web-server / hosting package (GoDaddy, A2 Hosting etc)

If you are not familiar with configuring Linux, Node.js etc or you do not want to handle multiplayer / persistent worlds, the “Offline” version of the engine will be perfect for you. It behaves just like a Flash game in that you can develop and test it on your desktop. You can run and test your game straight from your desktop computer without installing any new software and are not required to install custom server software when you deploy it to the internet.

* The latest version of the engine currently still in beta (version 0.2.6) no longer has a built-in web server. Once this version has been released, you will require a web server such as NGINX or Apache in order to serve game files to web browser clients.