The Demand for Multiplayer Games

There is a great demand for multiplayer games and it is the tech experts, creative thinkers, and game designers who have made them what they are today. There are a variety of reasons that have contributed to the popularity of this genre of games and the most noteworthy of them all is the kind of social interaction it offers to the players. The players can interact with one another about their interests and passions which provides them with a sense of community. This kind of a powerful draw lets the users make friends and build relationships by communicating about their shared experiences in the game.  The other aspect is the competitiveness that this category of games brings to the players through leaderboards and rankings. The competition seems to be extremely satisfying and thrilling for the players. In addition to that, there is a range of gameplay that multiplayer games offer including game modes, characters, maps, and more, keeping the players interested and engaged throughout. In all, the exciting experience that comes with multiple players gaming together comes from no other and there are various elements that support that kind of experience and that type of gaming.

Important Aspects Behind Designing a Multiplayer Game 

The rising demand draws the majority of game developers' focus toward creating more such games. Let’s elaborate on how multiplayer game design isn’t as simple as just throwing together some mechanics and calling it a day. There are key considerations that go into creating one, such as -

Balance

When we talk about balance in game design, it involves creating a balance in elements such as fairness, win-loss conditions, game states, economy balancing, difficulty levels, and others in a way that can contribute towards improving the gaming experience of the player.  In multiplayer games, there is a concept called meta which are different strategies used by gamers against one another outside of the game. By playing the game, again and again, the strategies that win the game are identified which creates an unbalancing in the game. Here, the game is overpowered (OP) by the strategies and calls for a balanced approach for individual players involved in the game. Nerfing is a change implemented in case a character or aspect of gameplay tends to show an overpowering nature. It is important that such an anomaly is identified and corrected to achieve a greater competitive balance in the game. Similarly, Buffs are the kind of changes that are made when certain features or video game mechanics need to be tweaked to make them significant in the game.  While there is a lot of maths that goes into game balance, the basics include understanding the analytics that covers the aspects like character’s potential moves, move set, buffs, special abilities, etc. by referring to statistics like graphs, matrices, hypothesis testing, and other dry statistical data. Then this understanding can be used to ensure that no element of the game overpowers any other aspect and that the symmetry of the gameplay is maintained. 

Accessibility

Video games and products must be more accessible - including the segment of the population that experiences situational, temporary, or permanent impairment. Any unnecessary barrier must be avoided that prevents such people from accessing and enjoying a game.  There are game accessibility guidelines that help avoid such barriers. By creating a balance between reach (the number of people who benefit), impact (the difference made to those people), and value (cost to implement), the guidelines can be achieved at different levels of the multiplayer game development process. And now, there are Accessibility features that can be added to the game settings like captions, color blindness, co-pilot mode, speed adjustment, skip levels, and more to assist the players. Making games more accessible not only increases the game base but allows game app developers to create better games and help players to improve their social space and quality of life.

Matchmaking

In multiplayer games, players are grouped for online play sessions through matchmaking. There are certain factors based on which players are matched - location, skill level, and wait time. The balance between these three aspects results in a fair experience for all players. Fair matchmaking ensures competitive matches and variety in game configurations. Matching on the basis of skill levels makes sure that players with similar abilities play against each other. Also, Playlists are another way of matchmaking in highly configurable games where play fields are segregated in accordance with similar game types offering players the choice to select the type of game they would like to play. 

Social Features 

Social Features in video gaming increase user engagement levels by providing a sense of community and belonging to the players. Features like activity feeds, in-game chats, push notifications, guilds (groups of gamers), and more creates a sense of competitiveness among players, improve retention, and keep the gamers motivated through in-game rewards. Adding social elements.

Monetization

Some of the popular methods of monetization include in-game ads, in-app purchases, paid games, rewarded video ads, data monetization, subscriptions, and player trading. These strategies of revenue generation from the games can be used individually or in combinations - anything that suits the game owner.

Multiplayer Game Design - A Walkthrough

So, before designing a multiplayer game, it is vital to make a strong base first. You can follow these steps to design a multiplayer game. 

Develop an Interesting Game Concept

Not all have a good understanding of creating a game concept and the considerations that go into making one. It involves the genre, niche, style, storyline, features, look & feel, and other elements of the game. Once you have clarity on all those aspects of the game says that you have a full-proof idea that is ready to be worked upon. 

Multiplayer Network and Server Models

In multiplayer games, the network models include the architecture and design that sets up the communication between the source of information and destination between a client and server, or between peers. Two popular host servers to choose from are the Peer-to-peer Model (P2P) and Client-server Model. While the P2P model involves players directly connecting with one another, the central server architecture is where a server hosts the game logic and sends information to the client.  The Server Models are either client-hosted, P2P or there is a Dedicated Game Server (DGS) and the right server model is chosen based on the genre of the game and other factors like latency, players per session, precision, cost, cheat mitigation, lock-in, etc.

Create a Game Design Document (GDD)

The information about what the game is and what resources will be required to create it must go into the comprehensive game concept that is designed into a Game Design Document (GDD). A GDD not only ensures that all information is in one place but also makes sure that everyone involved in the making is also on the same page with that information. It must include the idea, genre, story and characters, core game mechanics, gameplay, level and world design, art and/or sketches, monetization and the game marketing strategy. Keeping a record of all the details will help you stay organized, identify potential risks, and allow you to stay ahead of time. Once the game concept is in place, it should be investigated and validated by creating a proof of concept (POC). This helps the team assess the technical viability, feasibility, limitations, and financial implications of the game idea.  Once the POC is given a go ahead, the writers, game artists, designers, developers, engineers, QAs, and others collaborate and understand the technological constraints, ensure consistent visuals, color palettes, and art styles, and elaborate on the in-game mechanics, physics, and how objects will render on a player’s screen. 

The Basic Game Design Principles

The principles of Game Design involve art and science that focus on ensuring a good experience for the player. Some key points to focus on are mentioned below and hopefully, help improve game design. 

1. The object of focus - Provide a primary focal point to the player, never make them have to predict what they need to focus on while playing the game, and make them realize they were wrong this time. And it is the designer’s job to provide that clarity when it comes to plot points and objectives in the game through the visual and visceral aspects of the gameplay. 
2. Anticipation - Inform the player about the action before it is about to happen through behavior or sound effects, for instance, a lightning sound before the rain or the moving of grass before a helicopter/chopper arrives.
3. Announce changes - The player should be aware of the changes (rare and less frequently happening in the game) at the correct time and correct event through visual cues.
4. In-game Behavior - Every action, reaction, and emotion in the game must occur according to the expectations of the player and must satisfy their subconscious acceptance test. This behavior should be justified through elements and actions at various levels to make gameplay and story look more believable.
5. Maintain Game Dynamics and Physics - If there is only one change occurring at a time in the game, the dynamic is lost. It is important to ensure that the right number of events occur at the right time keeping in mind gravity, force, density, buoyancy, etc. The dynamics and the physics should be logical and should make sense to the player.
6. Player and the Environment - A player’s interaction with the game environment and the assets plays a major role in making a game a hit. Orchestrating progression for the player in a game is one important factor that can make the player feel competitive, anxious, accomplished, and other feelings that lead to them contributing to the experience. An immersive gaming environment that maintains a spatial relationship between elements and the player allows the players to interact freely and without being subjected to any illogical behavior.
7. Sound Design - The importance of sound is as high as that of a visual. Both aspects complementing each other can help achieve the desired effect for a player to have an exceptional experience.

Determine the Software and Skills Required

Game Designing isn’t just simple designing but also includes various tasks like game design documentation, project management, storytelling, modeling and game animation, audio editing, etc. There is a range of general-purpose digital tools that help in creating and shaping the different systems, game mechanics, core game concepts, characters, narratives, and rules of the game. Every game has its requirements for a unique set of tools that allows it to become a success. A few popular design tools are:

In April 2019, India conducted its first ever international E-sports event — CobX masters which was hosted in Mumbai. So far, the industry was already doing great and with the lockdown and stay at home orders coming in, the growth outstripped and esports became an overriding form of entertainment for people. The hype created by the top esports event, EGLX was huge with the entire event going virtual in 2020. The event was watched by over 12 million fans around the world. Game developers have given us some great projects in the year, 2020 and we expect nothing different this year. 2021 is expected to bring innovation and excitement into esports and the industry. Some exciting upcoming titles to anticipate in 2021 are League of Legends: Wild Rift, Wukong is surely going to be one of the most awaited games of 2021, the upcoming new championship for League of Legends, and there are others on the list.

The million dollar industry is big and esports is making the online gaming industry enormously popular with esports betting, marketing, publicizing, and so much more. There are celebrities and athletes supporting, participating and getting engaged in esports and raising money for charity through tournaments by involving their fans and supporters. 

The most popular games on esports are League of Legends, Fortnite, DOTA 2, Counter Strike: Global offensive and Hearthstone with League of Legends having the highest monthly active players of over 100M. Esports popularity and live streaming of Esports games gathers a humongous amount of viewers and followers. The video gaming industry has changed and now it just doesn’t come out as another great source of entertainment for millennials but also as a professional career opportunity. The gamers, game developers, Esports sponsors and influencers think of it as a lucrative opportunity considering it’s increased popularity, impressive prize pools, one-on-one sponsorships, and continuous in-flow of revenue. 

Esports has millions of fans from around the world and they follow and stay tuned to see their favourite players play and compete on international levels. Esports tournaments have become one of the biggest platforms for both gamers and companies and hence, for development in the gaming business. This platform has made video game players and teams popular. The longest-running event in the industry is the eSports World Convention which started way back in 2003 and has grown ever since, in different genres. From the times when Fifa eWorld Cup tournament was played sitting in the living room to now on the big stage, this tournament has been very popular around the world since 2004. The tournament was broadcasted live on Youtube, Twitch, and even on some TV channels in some countries and was open to everyone for participation. Call Of Duty and Counter-Strike Championship are also amongst the most played video games ever, with highly competitive online scenes, more regional competitions, and as to be expected their own international tournament only open to the highest level of players out there. Offering big prizes and incredible recognition. The year 2020 has been a great year for esports and following that Free Fire will be hosting four powerful tournaments for India across two pro circuits with a total prize money of more than 2 crores.

Over and above that, let’s talk about a few trends that are expected of Esports in 2021.

The rise of 5G

Globally, 87 percent of gamers find the process of downloading games frustrating, a small increase of two percent since last year which may represent an improvement in performance. The length of time it takes to download games was noted as the top issue, with 32 percent of gamers citing this as their primary concern. Expert gamers and aspiring professionals have the most frustration with download speed, with half of them noting this.

Source: LimeLight

The frustration of downloading a game on a low bandwidth and the importance of speed, latency, and stability in using the internet is known to all. And, rise in 5G is expected to drop the latency down to less that 1 millisecond. Yes, that’s right. The highly anticipated 5G is what is expected to bring change in the future of gaming and solution to the problem of reduced latency. The latency in 5G is believed to reduce to below 5 ms, which will be a 10-fold improvement to that of 4G. For Esports, this progress would mean augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), multiplayer mobile gaming, and interactive and immersive gaming for players.

The next generation gaming consoles 

Xbox series X and PlayStation 5 by Microsoft and Sony will exhibit the improvement that has been brought in the gaming technology with every new generation of hardware. These next generation consoles will for the first time let gamers take a majority of their existing library with them, be it physical or digital onto the new gaming platform. With 4K, solid-state drives and other spec changes, the next-gen gaming consoles by Microsoft and Sony will also support almost every title in the existing console platforms’ libraries on either Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One while Sony’s PlayStation 5 will support a majority of PS4 games. The players will decide where they want to play and whether they want to upgrade to a newer version or not. There are also a few far-reaching franchise releases like Call of Duty, Black Ops Cold War, and the new Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. 

Cloud Gaming

Cloud gaming or gaming-as-a-service will let people play any game they like through a live stream on their device. With the use of high performance servers and high-speed internet connection, Cloud gaming will make sure that gamers are able to play latest games irrespective of the type of gaming hardware or its performance. This is revolutionizing the gaming industry in ways we cannot even imagine by outsourcing computational needs to remote hardware.

In 2018, the value of the cloud gaming market worldwide was $1 million. Industry insiders predict that by 2025, it will grow to $8 million.

Source: CompareCamp

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) in the gaming market was valued at USD 7.7 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 42.50 billion by 2025.

Source: WioNews

The ever-evolving and user-focused technology has been a blessing for the gaming industry. AR and VR games are doing even more well than the traditional games during these times. 2016’s Pokemon Go game showed Augmented reality in its full form and made people crazy giving the game 800 million downloads. Like 3D films, 3D effects in games are enjoyed by people as it gives them an immersive and captivating experience. AR technology brings real-time interaction for gamers and makes games more engaging for them.

Mobile Esports

One of the fastest growing fields of today along with massive mobile esports tournaments. Over the years, mobile gaming has changed from being casual to now competitive. And, 2021 is said to be the year of mobile esports games. Popular titles are played on mobile devices and enter mobile esports business and this has gained great popularity among the players in Indian and countries overseas like in North America, Europe, China, and South Korea. Card games, first-person shooter games, strategy games are all available on mobile devices and excite the users. PUBG Mobile Esports programme, Supercell’s 2021 Clash Royale League (CRL), Call of Duty Mobile Championship, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Garena Free Fire Esports are going to be few of the most popular games and esports leagues of 2021.

With all that said, Logic Simplified is a game development company in India that has experienced game app developers creating multiplayer games, tournaments with best-in-class features and art. We believe games to be one of the great ways of storytelling with narration & art and our intent is to provide the gamer with an immersive experience. People take video games to be a great source of entertainment and we believe in delivering just that.

The board games market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 10% during the period 2018-2024.

Source: Report Linker

1. COVID-19, the virus 

With the coronavirus hitting our lives and then the followed stay at home orders were reasons good enough to resurrect the popularity of board games. The lockdown post the pandemic made people’s life boring and made them crave for social connection for which many turned to board games. It was perceived as a great way to release stress so people started playing such games remotely. 

2. All kinds of stress management 

Heard of the phrase “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. Yes, there is truth to it. Life can be boring at times and with work, there should also be some leisure time. There is a need for friends and family to spare some time to bond and spend quality time together. But how? With COVID-19 and other precautionary norms over our head? Fret not, because digital media has more ways than you know to keep you connected with fun-filled board games that you can play in the comfort of your house whilst maintaining social distancing. They make an enjoyable experience. Did you know, Endorphins, the “happy hormone” is released when you play games which also improves conscious and unconscious mind functions. If only that was it, but playing board games also helps improve blood circulation and maintain blood pressure. 

3. Social media and social networking

The Internet and social media have helped build the craze for online multiplayer board games by bringing the world together on a platform. The sales are increasing year after year. Around the world, with digital expansion, buying board games online has become the norm these days. Ludo, Chess, Scrabble, and Monopoly being some of the most popular board games that are played.

4. They make us feel nostalgic

If you go back to the days when you were young and when smartphones did not exist, everyone of us will remember board games being a part of those times. Those were the times when engaging board games were the most widely played indoor game and we all loved spending time with our family and friends chatting and playing. So, yes we started playing these old fashioned games when we were kids and it’s pretty obvious that they make us all very nostalgic and are preferred by many. People already seem to be aware of the rules and the game and it comes as an easy activity to them for fun.  In other terms, these games are quite relatable.

5. Targets not one but all

There is not a particular section of people that board games target unlike other genres. These games have easy rules to follow and are hence played by all - kids, teens, adults, and the elderly population. The young crowd has always been into gaming and made use of it to kill boredom, but now a time has come when it is just not the millennials but also the Gen X, the baby boomers, and the silent generation who are enthralled by board games.

6. Brings people together and allows them to bond

A fun fact about board games is that they are not played alone but with others. They bring people together and strengthen relationships. They kill loneliness too by letting you connect with people.

7. Competitive fun

Who doesn’t like some good competition now and then? And board games for sure bring out the competitive side of us as they by design divide us.

8. Former popularity contributes too

Games have been popular for a long time and the overwhelming craze for board games is spurring the board games market. Well, people are understanding that it has become necessary and it is refreshing to step back from the hustle of our day to day lives, and enjoy gaming with others or alone. This means people are looking to be involved in engaging activities and playing board games is one of them. It wouldn’t be wrong to say it’s popularity also contributes in making such games more popular.

According to Statista, the global market value of board games, alternatively known as tabletop games, was estimated to be around 7.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2017 and was forecast to reach a value of 12 billion U.S. dollars by 2023.

Source: Statista

9. Board games bring along multitude of options on the table

People are confined to their houses because of the pandemic and the variety in complexity and genre and types of board games has given people options to deal with the boredom. 

10. Bringing technology and board games together

Were all those reasons already not enough? That now board game developers thought of incorporating technology into their products to better the player’s experience. One such example being

applications which make these games more available and add to the experience by guiding the user through the setup and teaching them how to play. Game app developers are combining technology and board games to make game development, funding, marketing and selling easier and better which has made board games all the more interesting. NFC and bluetooth technology, Augmented Reality, 3D printing, and other such technologies are contributing to the swift progression in the experience of playing board games.

11. Learning capabilities

Multiplayer board games are entertaining and at the same time develop our mental and cognitive functioning. There are many options in board games that are created to motivate learning different skills that include counting, reading, and reasoning. Other than that, patience and learning to follow rules, enhancing focus, teamwork are also on the list.

Board games have created their own buzz in the gaming industry and calling them a success would be an understatement. Big game development companies are competing to build games and their better versions to give the players an exceptional experience. One such company is Logic Simplified, a multiplayer board game development company in Dehradun that holds game designers and developers who are capable of producing creative and unique games in both dimensions - 2D and 3D. They are well versed with different techniques that go into making a game that stands out and is compatible across various platforms. Not just that but most importantly they ensure that the games developed by them are entertaining that will make them popular. Share your thoughts, enquiries and suggestions by writing to us at enquiry@logicsimplfied.com, and we will get back to you shortly to provide you with ultimate gaming solutions.

Note: The list is based on the information recently revealed by NPD (an American market research company) and is only for the United States games market. Also, the list is for YTD ending February 2020.

Here are Top 10 Best Selling Games of the Year so far

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an action RPG game published by Bandai Namco.  Inspired from Dragon Ball Z sagas, Kakarot is a high-quality Dragon Ball adaptation that tests your combat skills and surprises you with story moments never seen before in any of the previous Dragon Ball video games. This game was released on January 17, 2020, for  Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Epic boss battles across vast battlefields with destructible environments are catchy in the game, along with the storyline that keeps players engaged. Relive the life of Goku and other Dragon Ball Z characters as you fish, fly, eat, train, and battle to level up your power and rise to the challenge. Of all the video games released in 2020 so far, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the only one currently on the list, with over 1.5 million copies sold in just its first week of release. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a first person shooter (FPS) game that was released in October 2019 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game was the 16th overall in the series of Call of duty, but the first to support cross-platform multiplayer and cross-platform progression. The FPS game, which was published by Activision and developed by Infinity Ward, follows a storyline in which a CIA officer and British forces team up to combat against Russians forces to save the fictional country of Urzikstan from invasion. Although the game got some criticism over the handling of the campaign's subject matter, it managed to generate a staggering $600mn within three days of its release and is still among the top 10 grossing video games of 2020.

NBA 2K20

NBA 2K20 is a basketball simulation game based on the National Basketball Association (NBA). This game is the first in NBA 2K series to include all twelve teams from the WNBA. The game was released in on September 6, 2019, for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It also came out on Google Stadia on November 19. NBA 2k20, which was published by 2K and developed by Visual Concepts, became the best-selling game of 2019 during its first month on the shelves. It was later dethroned by Call of Duty in October 2019.

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V, an action-adventure game published by  Rockstar Games, was released in 2013 for PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. The video game still rocks the gaming charts with over 120 million copies sold so far. Rockstar’s epic gangland adventure offers a vast, beautiful open-world environment to players to commit crimes (in a fictional world obviously) and use their skills to evade authorities. Grand Theft Auto V, which is also supported online with regular updates, is rated very high on its engaging narrative, anarchic humour and several sub-quests, side-missions and secrets. The December 2019 NPD report also established Grand Theft Auto V as the best selling game of the decade.

Madden NFL 20

Madden NFL 20 is another sports game that made headlines for being one of the best selling games in 2019. Madden 20, published by Electronic Arts and developed by  EA Tiburon, is a football video game that simulates National Football League (NFL). Madden 20 was released in August 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. Unfortunately, no information is available on the revenue and number of copies sold of Madden NFL 20 so far, but NPD’s analysis currently puts it among the top five best selling games of 2020. 

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

This video game sets you in Stars Wars universe, with action-adventure ensured. Players take the role of  Jedi Padawan who fights with his lightsaber to kill slain enemies and improve his abilities to move further in the game. Follow Jedi as he completes his training, masters his lightsaber skills and develops new powerful Force to toss back rocket launchers. Stars Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which was released on November 15, 2019, and published by  Electronic Arts, had sold eight million copies by the end of January 2020. This new 3rd person action-adventure title from Respawn Entertainment got favourable views from critics and seems deserving to be one of the best selling games of 2020.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The eighth in the Mario Kart series, this new game lets you participate in kart racing, with 42 characters to choose from. The Inkling Girl and Inkling Boy from Splatoon are the new additions as playing characters to Mario Kart 8, along with a new battle mode, “Renegade Roundup”.  The Nintendo Switch game was released in 2017 and had sold more than 22 million copies worldwide by the end of 2019. The success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe made it the system’s best selling game ever and it is still played by millions around the globe. 

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a crossover fighting game, published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The fifth in the Super Smash Bros. series, this game comes with a big gamut of game modes, including a campaign for single-player and multiplayer versus modes. Adding more playable characters to the previous version, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate takes the roster to over 40. Developed by Bandai Namco, the game was released worldwide on December 7, 2018. As of September 2019, the game had already sold nearly 16 million copies worldwide and became the best selling fighting game ever released.

Ring Fit Adventure

Ring Fit Adventure is an RPG game that allows players to convert their real-world actions into in-game movements to battle against a bodybuilding dragon and his minions. The game comes with two accessories (Ring-Con and Leg Strap) and these are must to play the game as your interactions would be tracked by the motion controls. You jog, sprint, high knee and even make some yoga poses to level up and unlock more exercises to cause even more potent damage. Developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch, the game was released worldwide on October 18, 2019. For the number of copies sold, the game touched the over-two-million mark by the end of 2019. 

Minecraft

Having sold more than 176 million copies worldwide and surpassing 1984’s Tetris, Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time, with over 112 million monthly active players by 2019. The sandbox game was developed by Mojang and released worldwide in November 2011. Microsoft purchased Mojang and the ownership of the Minecraft intellectual property for US$2.5 billion in 2014 and has ported the game to various platforms since then. By default, the game is a person first shooter, but you can also choose the option to play from the third-person perspective. The gameplay involves mining and placing 3D objects, such as dirt, stone, ores, tree trunks, water, and lava, to build things.

With this, we have come to an end of the top 10 best selling video games of 2020 so far. The global list may vary slightly as the data provided by NPD was mostly for the US gaming market. The video game industry is expected to grow over $180bn by 2021, which means game businesses will only bolster their coffer going forward, be it for mobile phones, consoles and PCs. The new revolutionizing technologies, including AR, VR and AI, will also add to the impetus the gaming industry is witnessing for the past few years. For all the dreamers and visionaries who want to build on their game development ideas, Logic Simplified is a go-to game studio even to build from the ground up. We provide Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning game development services as well to bring the smart factor in your game and keep players highly engaged. Game development is in our DNA, and we have already served various happy clients from different cultures world over. You may visit our website to learn about the range of game development services we offer or get in touch with us for any sort of game-related query by writing to us at enquiry@logicsimplified.com.