1500 Archers on a 28.8: Network Programming in Age of Empires and Beyond

This paper from Mark Terrano and Paul Bettner explains the design architecture, implementation, and some of the lessons learned creating the multiplayer (networking) code for the Age of Empires 1 & 2 games; and discusses the current and future networking approaches used by Ensemble Studios in its game engines.

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131503/1500_archers_on_a_288_network_.php?print=1
HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17568149