TCG game using PHP and AJAX?

[Jackolantern]

I have had some interest for a while in creating a TCG game, and it seems like PHP and AJAX would be a lovely combination to do it. Online TCGs can be big business if they catch on, as they are basically like an MMO that heavily relies on a microtransaction item shop, but without the MMO. As long as you can keep compelling art on the cards from various artists (the same artist on every card would get stale pretty fast, you will never really see that on any commercial TCGs) and steadily release new card sets, it would not be extremely hard to maintain. And it seems that PHP could handle the back-end easily with AJAX allowing players to see all of their opponent's actions without having to continuously refresh. What do you think?

[hallsofvallhalla]

I have thought about that a lot also. Its great idea but make sure you stay clear of the actual card game. WOC owns all right s to TCG's. Being online might be a different story.

PHP and Ajax would be a wise choice and I spent some time a month or so ago thinking about how you could do it.

Create the card with divs

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<div id ="card_body">
<div id ="name">
<div id ="strength">
<div id ="pic">

ect....

Store all the cards in mysql, then pull them when you need them, then just fill out the cards

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<script="javascript">
var cardname = "<?php echo $cardinfo3[name];?>";

document.getElementById('name').innerHTML=cardname;

you could even base the card color this way

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var bcolor = "<?php echo $cardinfo3[cardcolor];?>";
document["card_body"].background-color=bcolor;

Pretty simple stuff yet could be really dynamic. If you pursue this jack definitely keep me updated.

[Noctrine]

This is very funny, considering for the past 2 weeks I have been working on making a card game using PHP/Ajax with some friends of mine.

[hallsofvallhalla]

great minds think alike. Its like 3 or 4 of us in the community are making a space game...

Well if anyone needs any ideas or help I have a few.

[Noctrine]

I could have used you when I was working on the card storage bit, but now I think I am good :p

[Noctrine]

Now I am quite concerned, looking into the patent that WOTC has for trading card games. You can find more information about it by looking up patent # 5,662,332. or by clicking http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Pars ... s+Coast%22 there.

Its scary some of the patents that exist in there, like persistent items in a networked computer game.... If I didn't think the IP system of the US was broken before...


Edit: WOTC seems like an evil company, been reading something that they did. They filed a patent and then attempted legal action against a company that had been doing exactly what their patent stated since before they filed the patent.

Looks like I need to patent web based collectible card games before they get to me :p

[hallsofvallhalla]

Yes WOC are very evil indeed. They have screwed so many game markets. Hence why I hate groups that try to exploit developers and gamers alike.

I could have used you when I was working on the card storage bit, but now I think I am good :p

Well thats not all I have but all good.

[Noctrine]

I could have used you when I was working on the card storage bit, but now I think I am good :p

Well thats not all I have but all good.

Then I will definitely hunt you down when I get stuck. Anywho get to making that announcement.

EDIT: More to help understand their patent. http://www.google.com/patents?vid=5662332

[Jackolantern]

I can only assume that there are bits in that patent that are too abstract for enforcement, seeing how many other companies are marketing TCGs that come kind of close to Magic (building up resources, resource points are "magic", discarding, booster packs, attack points, etc.). However, just to be safe, I would want to make my game quite a bit different. And why not? If it is just the same old cookie-cutter TCG, what will attract players?

I was also thinking of a way to offer a TCG for free online. I was thinking that you could have a system where players earn points by competing in games with other players, and those points could be spent on booster packs and starter decks. The game could also keep track of how many points the player has earned, and assign ranks to each player. That way, if there are enough players online, you could match players by rank so players would have about the same level of power in their deck as their opponent (assuming that players will gain rare and powerful cards at about the same rate as other players who have the same number of cards).

[Noctrine]

I like destroying people with amazing cards with simple decks though.