fr0st2k

I used to be a huge fan of browser-based RPG's.  The one I played most was called, "Archmage," later reconstructed under the name, "The Reincarnation."

 

The interesting thing about this game, and its genre, was that there were no fancy graphics.  It was based entirely in 1998 browser windows, displaying stats and text with some cool images sprinkled here and there.

 

I would say that this early genre was the foundation for games like Farmville.  In both games, you manage, 'buildings' which grant you income/economy.  You use that income to grow your city.  

 

The main difference between Archmage and Farmville, however, is the amount of cooperation and competition involved.  Farmville and subsequent games have no challenge.  You work with others, and you grow your 'land,' but through an investment of time, not strategy.

 

Archmage on the other hand allowed users to compete with each other.  Strategically, you had to manage your army, and economy correctly, or risk losing units or structures.  You focused on gaining "land" to expand your territory, like Farmville, but it could be stolen from you in battle and you too, could expand by attacking others.  

 

The other difference, and the main meat of this topic discussion, is that Archmage doesn't use a 'field' or placement grid for buildings.  Your city was represented as a bunch of numbers, with gold regen(+ or -) mana, building count, etc.  As is your army.  When you attack, you don't do anything manually.  You are presented with a report, and wit how much land/gold you gained and how many units died.

 

Is there a place for games like this still?   Games that focus more on strategy and numbers than handholding and graphics?  

 

I suppose the questions comes up, does implementing graphics/2d fields/grid take away from the strategy, or hamper the experience.   

 

To start the discussion off, I would argue that, in a way, it does hamper the experience.  If the gameplay requires constant building/rebuilding of structures (which archmage would), it would get annoying to have to manage placement of buildings that might vanish or be destroyed.

 

You could choose to visually show expansion by managing a dynamic image which changes with player power, but I think thats about as necessary as it would get.  

 

This means that the main question is, would players be able to handle a game with no graphics?  I think there is certainly a niche, but could that niche be expanded and grown?

I am developing a neat little browser based RPG in jquery mobile. 

 

The best way I can describe it is by referencing, "Archmage - The Reincarnation. (or essentially, the grandfather of Farmville)."  The game takes place entirely through text and images, similarly to Rage of the Bahamut.  Your actions are controlled via "Turns" which you accumulate over time, mixed with some management of gold/mana/population.  You raise up large army's and seek to steal resources from other players to raise your rank.

 

IMO, its a REALLY fun genre which deteriorated with the simplicity and anti-competitive nature of games like Farmville. 

 

Anyway, I am to the point where I need to implement a Newsfeed.  Essentially, a little widget that I can throw on the page that lists all recent actions taken upon that character: such as,

 

being attacked

attacking

recruiting

land management (destroy / build / etc)

buffs running out

warnings of negative economy regen

etc

 

Now I have an idea as to what I will do, but I know this has been done before, and I want to make sure im doing it the right way.  Anyone have experience in this area in regards to designing the Database?

 

My current thoughts is:

 

Table1:  Messages

message_id

message

 

Table2: Messagebridge

mb_id

message_id

user_id

 

variable1

variable2

variable3

variable4

 

Something like the above.  Where variable 1 - 5 would contain specific information pertaining to the message which would be sorted out in PHP functions.

 

i.e.

 

Message:

1. You have recruited <#units>, <#unit type>

Variable 1: normal int

Variable 2: pull unit info from unit_tbl via 'unit_id'<- which is what is stored

 

It seems cumbersome, and I am usually not too fond of serializing.  Though I can see a slight benefit in doing so.  

 

Anyone have some suggestions or recommendations? 

 

Really interested in conceptualizing a world(region) domination game based on augmented reality.  

Firstly, groups would be formed from things like facebook groups, google hangouts, zip codes, regions, etc.  The player may choose to play in one, or many.  

The idea would involve a Four-Square type check in style of gameplay, where, if you are in a relatively close proximity of a location, you can "take over."  Depending on how many times you are there, you reinforce your position.  Others can then attack you and attempt to bring you down.  

This would be done by using augmented reality.  Once you are inside the location, you seek out, "targets."  However, this is funky and clunky and requires you to look funny aiming your phone around a building in public.   I think a better idea would be to user Augmented reality for a search...allowing you to seek out specific 'target' locations

If we wanted to get REALLY complex, we could focus on a hub system, where you could only attack buildings by owning a specific other building.  these hubs might come from specific advertising budgets from advertisers.   This means, larger advertisers would get more traffic because players would have to go to that area to expand quickly.  

Like I said, this is just preliminary planning....straight off the top of my head.  If anyone is interested in discussing this, let me know, we can get together on skype / google docs / an SVN, or brainstorm right here.