Game Development Basics: Servers

When crafting ideas for your next hit game or even just a fun simple romp it can feel like the sky is the limit. We can invent and twist new gameplay features, mechanics, gameplay loops and intricate systems that bring he fire to our hearts.

Then we fly further into the sun, asking how great it would be to have others playing alongside us from all over the world or how we want to track all players on a leaderboard that populates when players do something special and have it refresh every week. It we could implement these magical multiplayer features it would really make this game. Enter Servers.

From afar servers seem very mystical. they allow players to play together from all over. they can be dedicated they can be hosted by other players. We see them in the tools section on steam. What are these magical servers and how do i make one for my game?