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For streaming, you would at minimum need:

1. An asynchronous resource loader.
2. An advanced visibility system , which can be easily queried , and which can decide which resources are to be discarded / loaded, based on a set of rules.
3. A 2 level vertex cache system , with an apropiate cache policy. One level holding visible objects in vertex arrays for rendering, the 2nd level caching objects in system memory.
4. potentialy, a texture cache


Note that current cipher terrain implementation cannot be streamed. Generally , heightmap bassed terrains, cannot be stremed, and anyway there is no need for streaming such a single heightmap terrain implementation. heightmap. Terrain rendering speedup can be done in many ways, but the very nature of the algorithms contradict streaming.

Also, straming can or not be usefull for a particulare game stsyle.

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Anywho...

For your demo, why not just say take a look at Cipher for good terrains? Then again you could take a look at a couple of Steampipes examples using 3DGS... Or if you say writing an Octree culling system is so easy - why not hack away with the SDK to add an advanced terrain system using adaptive quadtrees?

Why not use BITS? Because it is not intended for game applications. It really only works well with XP and 2003 server. It isn't terribly secure itself. You would be better off to stream the binary data with normal network traffic directly through the normal TCP connections. As far as the user never even knowing they downloaded an update...bad idea. Numerous MMOGs have tried those techniques, but lawyers convince them otherwise. Not to mention the joy of a person with 2 MB left on their hard drive and you decide to stream data in. Currupted files and crashes Oh My! Too bad that it happened when they had their only copy of their thesis open and not saved - and it is now lost. You will hear from their lawyers shortly.

And how many games need to access SQL databases? So, what do people who need it do? Write a plugin. There are several available. It isn't too hard to manage either. Further, what SQL database would you like to access? MySQL, Oracle or MS SQL? Perhaps PostgreSQL. Each of them should have their own interface especially in something as resource intensive as a MMOG.

XML? What do you want from it...other than it is another buz word now? BTW - there are plugins for that as well. Nothing special with XML over say a normal text file.

C#. I hear they have support groups for people like you. Anywho, if you have the time and really want to use C# it should be possible within the next year or so:

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The engine will be split into a platform independent EXE module and a DLL. A defined DLL interface allows using the renderer from other programs or programming languages, like VC++, Delphi, or Visual Basic. See Example for accessing the engine through a C++ interface. A new A6 Plugin SDK will use the same inferface for easier developing plugins without the need to initialize engine variables and functions.

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