MySQL locking behavior depends on the table engine/type you use. The old MyISAM format is table-level locking. InnoDB is row-level and supports all the "big boy" RDBMS features you'd expect to be there (like foreign keys...).
Also ideal is to have the client not update the number of deaths on each attempt but only either on completion of the level or at a timed interval. No need for that date to be real-time, so it can be aggregated.
Also ideal is to have the client not update the number of deaths on each attempt but only either on completion of the level or at a timed interval. No need for that date to be real-time, so it can be aggregated.