Kiekko.tk

Kiekko.tk is a java-based ice hockey game, which has over 31,000 registered accounts (a majority of them are Finnish [1]). 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 for with either SMS-messages, Credit card or Phone call.

Playing the game

Every player takes control of one player in the rink. The player is controlled by a mouse. Goalies can't be controlled, as they are computer controlled. To practice, players can join training rooms where players are allowed to leave the rink whenever they see fit. Players can also join a team and play team matches. Players are able to spectate these matches as well as training matches. By clicking and holding the left mouse button, the puck can be passed or shot. By clicking the right mouse button, an automatic pass is send to a team mate closest to the cursor the moment the right mouse button is released. To increase the competition of the game, members have organised leagues.

Rankings

There are four rankings in Kiekko.tk. Novice, Amateur, Pro, and Elite. Members are given these rankings based on the amount of hours played. Members who have played under 4 hours are novices. The other rankings go as follows:

• 10% Elite
• 30% Pro
• 30% Amateur
• 30% Novice

Moderators

Moderators are assigned to ensure that members behave and play the game in a decent manner. Members failing to comply with the Kiekko regulations can be muted by them. Regular members are able to report members using the following command: /report *nickname* *reason of report*

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 combines 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

• Official site
• Official site in English
• Finland - Netherlands video
• article about the game in Helsingin Sanomat.
• article and short video about the game