Skip to Content
 

computer card game design.

5 replies [Last post]
CIDIC
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969

i am designing a card game that will be on the computer only (for now atleast), considering the amount of control i would have over probability and number crunching and such, what design elements/ideas/ect. do you think could be used that wouldn't work on the table top.

Brykovian
Brykovian's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/21/2008
Re: computer card game design.

CIDIC wrote:
i am designing a card game that will be on the computer only (for now atleast), considering the amount of control i would have over probability and number crunching and such, what design elements/ideas/ect. do you think could be used that wouldn't work on the table top.

That would *not* work for a tabletop game?

Hmmm ... cards that change their appearance ... self-moving cards that depend on other items/values in the game (card slides towards player with the most value of a certain type in his hidden hand) ... exploding cards!! ;-)

Are you talking about custom cards, or a standard deck of cards. Somehow I'm thinking I'm not quite understanding your question ... ;-)

-Bryk

Brykovian
Brykovian's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/21/2008
computer card game design.

Also, since most computer-based games talk is usually not encouraged here, you might feel more comfortable discussing things over at the Game Programming Wiki (http://gpwiki.org) ... click on the Community Forums and look for the "Game Design" forum.

Cheers,
-Bryk

CIDIC
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
computer card game design.

I wanted input from the people on this forum because they seem to know ALOT about design of games and since this is a card game i figured i could get help.

Brykovian
Brykovian's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/21/2008
computer card game design.

CIDIC wrote:
I wanted input from the people on this forum because they seem to know ALOT about design of games and since this is a card game i figured i could get help.

Okay -- I completely empathize with that! ;-)

So, can you give some more specifics about what you're looking for? Are you talking about customized cards or a standard deck? And, am I understanding you right, that you're looking for things that would make for interesting game-play but could *not* be done with physical cards across a tabletop?

-Bryk

Anonymous
computer card game design.

Are you talking about a computer card game in which one player plays against one or more computer opponents (not very interesting from a board game design point of view), or are you talking about a game in which multiple players play against each other using a computer or computers to interface their game components and control the game environment (more interesting from a design standpoint).

For the second, there are many things that can be done when a computer is controlling the game. Bids in auctions can truly be blind with no player knowing how much money/monetary item any other play has or bids or has remaining after paying their bid.

Computers can also be used to track truly hidden movement on a playing surface. A player can enter their move and the computer will store that information and give out clues to other players as they search for them.

Regarding card games, Bryk had some great ideas. Generally, anything where information is hidden and kept hidden or where there is a lot of bookkeeping.

My impression of games that either incorporate electronics or are entirely electronic (or played by computer over the internet) is that they are usually inferior to a good game created and played the old fashioned way. I would suggest that you try to find ways to make your game work well without the computer if you can.

Sure, you can't have total control over probability, but there are ways to control such things. Testimony of Jacob Hollow uses numbers on cards to resolve combat. That way, the specific distribution of possible numbers is very controlled.

Gloom has a unique way of changing game states of cards in play as the game progresses.

It's not that I'm against using electronics for an interface when designing a game, I just like to see people come up with innovative and creative solutions to game design challenges that will continue to drive game design forward.

Syndicate content


forum | by Dr. Radut