Kiekko.tk

Kiekko.tk is a java-based ice hockey game, which has nearly 50,000 active users (a majority of them are Finnish [http://hockey.tk/about.cws] ). The game is developed by Jouko and Mikko Pynnönen. The game is free to play, but some features such as starting a team have to be paid with either SMS-messages or PayPal.

Playing the game

Every player takes control of one player in the rink. The game is played only with a mouse. Goalies can't be controlled but other players are controlled by humans. Players can play in training rooms where players constantly change, or join a team and play with friends. Players can also spectate other players or teams playing the game. By clicking and holding the left mouse button, you can shoot the puck or manually pass. By clicking the right mouse button, you will automatically pass it to another player on your team. Players have organized leagues to increase the level of competition.

Rankings

There are four rankings in Kiekko.tk. Novice, Amateur, Pro, and Elite. You are given these rankings based on how many hours you play.

Technology

* Game server, server side code was written in C language (compiler GCC).
* Web-interface was developed with dynamic content development system called CWS, which ombines the flexibility of JSP- and ASP-like tags with the power and sophisticated features of C++, supports FastCGI.
* MySQL-database
* A piece of middleware written in Perl, working as the glue between the game server and the database.
* The game Applet is written in Java and is developed with J2SE1.4.2.

External links

* [http://www.kiekko.tk Official site]
* [http://www.hockey.tk Official site in English]
* [http://mklforums.freehostia.com/index.php Major Kiekko League (MKL)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX1yIcE0yCc New Kiekko Move "Tuzu"]
* [http://sunbeam.setti.info/~creak/FIN-NL.avi Finland - Netherlands video]
* [http://blogit.hs.fi/pressikatsomo/koko-kansan-kiekkotk/ article about the game in Helsingin Sanomat.]
* [http://www.tablehockey.de/multiplayer_hockey_online_game.html article and short video about the game]