Skip to main content

Lab13 Lobby - Real-time Game Discovery

· 2 min read
Ben Allfree
Ben Allfree
Dank meme hunter

Lab13 now features a lobby showing the player count and online status of all JS13K Online games! The new lobby provides real-time visibility into game activity, making it easy to find active games and join the fun.

What's New​

🟢 Now Playing Section​

Games with active players are prominently displayed in a dedicated "Now Playing" section. Each game card shows the current player count, making it easy to jump into games that are already in progress.

🔵 Needs Players Section​

Games waiting for players are organized in a separate "Needs Players" section. This helps new players find games they can start fresh, and existing players can easily see which games need more participants.

📊 Real-time Monitoring​

The lobby connects to each game room and monitors player in/out activity in real-time. Player counts update automatically as people join and leave games, giving you the most current information about game activity.

Technical Implementation​

This is accomplished by connecting to your game room and monitoring player in/out activity. The lobby establishes WebSocket connections to each game's relay server and listens for player lifecycle events.

Enhanced Reporting with Lab13 SDK​

If your game uses the Lab13 SDK, reporting will be better because:

  • Roll Call Support: The client knows how to respond to roll calls
  • Agent Filtering: Connections that are monitoring agents are properly filtered out
  • Accurate Counts: More precise player tracking and reporting

Getting Your Game Listed​

You just need to add your game via a PR and we will then list it in the lobby and track online status. The process is simple:

  1. Submit a pull request with your game metadata
  2. We'll add it to the lobby automatically
  3. Your game will start appearing in the appropriate section based on player activity

Try It Out​

Head over to the Lab13 Lobby to see the improvements in action! You'll notice the difference immediately - games are now organized by activity level, making it much easier to find your next multiplayer adventure.

What's Next​

Presence is up and running again with the new JS13K Online relay! The infrastructure is more robust and ready to handle the growing community of multiplayer games.

Whether you're looking to jump into an active game or start something new with friends, the improved lobby makes game discovery a breeze.

SDK v0.0.1 Released

· 3 min read
Ben Allfree
Ben Allfree
Dank meme hunter

We're thrilled to announce the first release of the js13k SDK - a complete multiplayer infrastructure designed specifically for the JS13K game jam! This release brings everything you need to build tiny multiplayer games that fit within the 13KB limit.

What is js13k?​

js13k is a multiplayer infrastructure that lets you focus on what matters most: your game. No server code, no deployment headaches, no infrastructure complexity. Just pure game development with real-time multiplayer capabilities.

What's New in v0.0.1​

🎮 Complete Multiplayer Infrastructure​

  • State Relay Server: Hosted at online.js13kgames.com - handles all WebSocket complexity
  • Client SDK: Simple JavaScript library that abstracts away connection management
  • Zero Server Logic: Your game runs entirely on the client - the server just forwards state changes
  • Free Hosting: The entire infrastructure is provided free for JS13K participants

📦 Client SDK Features​

  • Automatic State Management: Built-in state merging and synchronization
  • Player Lifecycle Handling: Automatic connect/disconnect management
  • TypeScript Support: Full type definitions included
  • Tiny Footprint: The SDK doesn't count against your 13KB limit!
  • Simple API: Just a few lines of code to get multiplayer working

🎯 Key Benefits for JS13K​

  • No Server Code: Focus on your game, not infrastructure
  • Real-time Multiplayer: Instant state synchronization between players
  • 13KB Compliant: Everything fits within the game jam limits
  • Zero Configuration: Works out of the box with no setup required

Quick Start​

Getting started with js13k is incredibly simple:

import Js13kClient from 'https://esm.sh/js13k'

const client = new Js13kClient('my-awesome-game')

client.on('state', (state) => {
  // Update your game with new state
  renderGame(state)
})

client.updateMyState({ x: 100, y: 200 })

That's it! Your game now has real-time multiplayer capabilities.

Live Demos​

See js13k in action with these working examples:

Each demo showcases different multiplayer patterns and demonstrates how easy it is to build engaging multiplayer experiences.

Community & Support​

Join the growing js13k community:

  • Game Lobby: Browse and play games built with js13k
  • Documentation: Comprehensive guides and tutorials
  • Examples: Working demos to learn from
  • Free Infrastructure: No cost, no limits

What's Next​

This is just the beginning! Future releases will include:

  • Enhanced error handling and reconnection
  • Performance optimizations and monitoring
  • Additional game templates and examples
  • Community showcase and game submissions
  • Advanced multiplayer patterns and tutorials

Get Building!​

Ready to create your first JS13K multiplayer game? The infrastructure is ready - now it's your turn to make something amazing!

The JS13K game jam just got a whole lot more exciting with real-time multiplayer capabilities. Happy coding! 🎮

js13k is built on partyserver and designed specifically for the JS13K game jam. Build tiny games, make big connections!