zachgonser

game server engineering

Game-Server Engineering Portfolio

A portfolio of dedicated-server, modpack, plugin, distribution, monitoring, and multiplayer-integration work across multiple game technologies.

Status
active
Last verified
Users
Players · Server administrators
Tools
Docker · Linux · Wine/Proton · SteamCMD · AMP

No public links are recorded for this case study.

Challenge and constraints

Each game has different deployment and client requirements, but players still need reliable installation, updates, status, and recovery.

Constraints

  • Linux, Wine/Proton, SteamCMD, AMP, mod, plugin, and client-pack contracts differ by game
  • Production and client proof remain separate
  • Public evidence omits live hosts, players, feeds, and control details

What I owned

Technical ownership, configuration, content direction, deployment design, validation, documentation, and live operations.

Ownership

  • Standardize deployments
  • Package client content
  • Validate multiplayer behavior
  • Document recovery

Decisions and implementation

The decisions define the boundary; the implementation records what was delivered inside it.

Decisions

  • Group projects by demonstrated technical work
  • Keep production and client proof separate

Implementation

  • Server and configuration validation
  • Linux and headless deployment
  • Health review and recovery
  • Client manifest, install, repair, and rollback flows

Validation

Evidence is checked against the surface it is meant to demonstrate.

Checks

  • Server health checks
  • Launcher/feed verification
  • Client join proof
  • Rollback drills

Evidence-backed outcomes

Each delivered result is paired with the public proof basis that supports it.

  • Standardized configuration-to-recovery practices across managed game serversBasis: Shown in the deployment overview and representative game-specific validation diagrams.
  • Established versioned client-content delivery with install, repair, and rollback checksBasis: Explained by the client-distribution and portable-instance flows.
  • Documented game-specific delivery contracts for 7 Days to Die, New Vegas Together, and Rust PvEBasis: Supported by the three approved representative game-specific diagrams.

Evidence gallery

Each artifact is selected for what it explains and reviewed for public safety.

Game-server diagram showing versioned configuration and plugins moving through validation, deployment, health review, and recovery
system evidenceConfiguration-to-recovery flow for managed game servers.Shows how mod and plugin configuration is validated before Linux or headless deployment, then checked against health and recovery practices.
Game-server diagram showing client inventory, manifest validation, launcher delivery, installation, repair, and rollback
system evidenceClient-pack distribution and repair flow.Explains the managed client-content path from curated inventory through manifest validation to player-safe install and rollback checks.
Representative 7 Days to Die validation flow for split server and client mod inventories
validation evidenceRepresentative 7 Days to Die release-validation example.Shows a game-specific server and client inventory validation path before deployment.
Representative New Vegas Together flow preserving stock game files through isolated delivery and recovery
validation evidenceRepresentative New Vegas Together isolation and rollback example.Shows a game-specific portable-instance constraint with validation and recovery.
Representative Rust PvE content flow from reviewed configuration to deployment and recovery
validation evidenceRepresentative Rust PvE content and deployment safeguard.Shows a game-specific managed content path with configuration review and performance recovery.