Josh Creek
86a597f0f5
Client now sends the last 4 ticks' actions per packet (newest-first, already-supported by net_codec's wire format from Phase 1) instead of a single action with no redundancy. Server gains a real per-slot ring buffer (new InputJitterBuffer class, scripts/input_jitter_buffer.gd) that consumes exactly one sequence number per physics tick: repeats the last action on a starve, zeroes only after a sustained 500ms stall, and reports real input_buffer_depth/last_input_seq/echo_client_send_ms in every snapshot instead of the hardcoded zeros Phase 2 shipped with. InputJitterBuffer is a standalone, scene-free RefCounted (same pattern as net_codec.gd/net_interpolator.gd) specifically so it's unit-testable against scripted arrival traces (tests/cases/test_input_jitter_buffer.gd): sequential consumption, redundancy surviving a 3-packet burst loss (3.1's own acceptance criterion), starvation repeat-then-zero timing, stale/ reordered packet handling, buffered-depth reporting, and ring-wraparound slot-tagging safety. One real bug found wiring this into a live match: the server's ring buffer started counting its own "expected sequence" from 0 the instant a player's slot was created - well before that player's first real packet could possibly have arrived (connection handshake, arena/ship spawn all take real time first). Since both sides only ever advance monotonically with no resync mechanism, that gap between the server's arbitrary local counter and the client's actual from-1 sequence numbers never closed, so the ship simply never received the client's input (0m movement in a two-process test). Fixed by seeding the buffer's expected-sequence counter from the client's own numbering on first real ingest, rather than assuming a shared from-zero baseline. Verified with real two-process runs: clean baseline movement restored, zero starvation observed under 25% random simulated input loss (well above what redundancy-4 needs to fully absorb), and correct starve-then- stall behaviour confirmed under 100% loss as a sanity check that the mechanism isn't a silent no-op. Full regression suite, including the net-sim-latency milestone gate, re-run clean.
Cosmic Clash
In "Cosmic Clash," the heart-pounding action takes place in variable gravity environments where vehicles hover just above the ground. In this thrilling spiritual successor to Rocket League, players engage in high-speed, gravity-defying matches set in the far reaches of space. Each pitch is situated in a unique environment or planet, offering breathtaking vistas and challenging terrain. But instead of cars, competitors pilot rocket-powered ships, each equipped with its own set of customisable features and special abilities.
Ships hover just above the ground, defying the laws of physics and adding an extra layer of intensity to the gameplay. With no friction to hold them back, players must master the art of control as they glide effortlessly across the pitch, executing precise manoeuvres and lightning-fast aerial tricks. With precise control and lightning-fast reflexes, players boost, drift, slam and even turn upside down on their way to victory, scoring epic goals against their opponents.
Whether you're soaring through asteroid fields, navigating treacherous alien landscapes, or battling in the depths of cosmic storms, "Cosmic Clash" delivers non-stop action and adrenaline-pumping excitement that's out of this world! Get ready to take your skills to the stars and dominate the galaxy in the ultimate celestial showdown!
Reason for being
Since Epic Games bought Psyonix, Rocket League has never been the same, and rather than releasing an Unreal Engine 5 version of the game, or giving any meaningful updates, instead item trading was removed and 'Rocket Racing' was added to Fortnite. With no one else stepping up to the plate, it falls to the Open Source Community to come up with a spiritual successor, to keep the spirit of the game alive.
Legality
The concept of 'vehicle soccer' cannot be copyrighted, but the original expression of ideas such as the specific code, art, music and narrative of a game can be. So long as all code, assets game design and other elements are made from scratch, this project will remain legal. The use of an alternative game engine, Godot, serves to ensure that this is achieved, as does the move to using space ships instead of cars as the vehicles.
Technical Information
This project is composed of two parts:
- Godot game
- C# backend
Contributing
Eventually there will be contributor guidelines, but for now open a PR and make sure it has been formatted according to the auto-formatting rules.
Gameplay
The core gameplay is still football/soccer but with vehicles, however there are key changes to the format used in Rocket League. The vehicles are now space ships, which hover above the surface of the pitch. This will impact core game mechanics, enabling near-immediate changes in direction (thanks to those spacefaring engines!), the ability to play upside down (which will change the way you interact with the ball in as-yet unknown ways), slamming down at full boost speed, and many more that will be discovered along the way.
Bots
There will be default bots available, trained using reinforcement learning, and it will be possible to train your own using a gym for submission to be included in the game itself. It will NOT be possible to connect bots to the game, and with the community itself ensuring rigorous anti-cheat measures are in place we will aim to keep it that way. Cheaters have no place here.
MVP
The first version of this game will be JUST the game, no server-side functionality at all. It will be a local only game where you can play against bots. Split-screen multiplayer could be added in a version 0.2 if demand is high enough. If there is sufficient interest then the server-side functionality can be added to enable online play, with a system in place to ensure that servers can be paid for (perhaps a cheap monthly subscription model?).
Monetisation
The aim for this project is NOT to monetise it. Rocket League saw terrible changes once the Item Shop was added, and even the costs for crates and keys prevented some members of the community from collecting items and fully enjoying the game. Instead, this game will, if it becomes successful enough to warrant online servers, only use funding to keep itself running, and in the event anyone needs to be employed full time to maintain it with a growing playerbase, to pay them a fair wage for their time. Any additional profit in any given year should be held for maintaining servers in the future should demand fall, or for any future needs of the game such as a large effort to upgrade to a new engine, anti-cheating measures, etc.