Browser Based HoMM3 Clone?

[Qunox]

I was playing HoMM3( Heroes of Might and Magic 3 ) with a cuple of friends a while ago and it struck me: This would realy work as a turnbased webgame.
The gameplay could be as of those browser-based chess games found online.

It would be awsome!
Since most HoMM3 games requires some time to go around when playing multiplayer, a casual turn-based web version of it would be nice, just checking every now and then if it's your turn to make a move.

At first i was thinking PHP/JavaScript( AJAX for the Battle system), But i don't know how well it would handle the battles( What if someone disconnected in the middle of the fight....)
But maybe pure Java would cut it?( Handling instances of Maps ect would maybe be easier?) Or even Unity3d( Though 2D ofcourse ).


What do you think? Would it work? Would people like it?
Is idea any thing worth or is it bound to fail?



PS. It's been a while since i was here on the forums but if this is the wrong section please move it

[Jackolantern]

While I haven't played HoMM3, I have seen some videos of it and think Flash would likely handle the gameplay a bit more accurately than PHP/JS. The pros of using Flash for a game like this would be that you have more options for real-time gameplay and animation, the animation can be more complex, and you can have true socket-based networking instead of having to rely on AJAX-style polling or another of its work-arounds. The downside of Flash is that even more of the code will have to be client-side than if you used PHP/JS, the size of the file becomes more of a consideration than with PHP/JS, and it is plugin-based (although something like 90%+ of computers have it, so it isn't much of an issue).

[Qunox]

Flash huh?
Well i never tryed Flash, but it would support all the advanced animations.
Though, can you use a backend PHP for it?

Though hasn't Java a socket based connection?
I know Java isn't the best language but, isn't it simpler than Flash?


I have 0 Experience with Java or Flash( Though i have used a bit of JavaScript, maybe they are similar?)
My guesses is that in the end FLASH is bether?

Then how will you protect the source? Since more needs to be client side...

[Jackolantern]

I would definitely say that Flash is easier to work with than Java. Java applets are very old and don't have the best support anymore. JavaFX, their new RIA solution would not be well-suited for making something like this since it is more like Flex (just like Silverlight). You can make games with them, but it is much harder than doing it with Flash. Plus if you have Javascript experience, Flash's ActionScript is based on JS, whereas Java has almost no relation to JS.

Also, Javascript does not have native socket networking, as it only supports the XMLHttpRequest object as its main networking ability. I believe sockets were considered a security threat in Javascript. There are third-party socket add-ons for JS, but often they do not behave in true real-time fashion because the JS model was simply not made for it.

[hallsofvallhalla]

flash or javascript would work and would be fun. If you like HOMM, play disciples 2.


I would not even attempt with java though.

[Jackolantern]

Yeah, the actual HoMM3 is fairly simplistic, meaning that it looks like you make a move, an animation and game mechanics occur, and then the other side gets to go. If that is the case, JS could work with it.

[Qunox]

Well if I'm going to make a project of this i might aswell use a more powerfull language/scripting than JavaScript and HTML.


Flash seams to be more stable and bether if i want to improve it beyond the original game.
Though i wounder if Unity3d's Webplayer would be bether?

It uses an JavaScript/C# Syntax aswell as it's a powerfull Engine.
The game dosnt really require any fancy graphics and i like to show what engine i developed the game with it so i guess the "Free" version will work great.

Thoug, 2D is a bit complicated( To me it is, never really tryed ) in a 3D Editor/Engine.
Flash have a native support with 2D and ofcourse just about everyone has the Flash plugin.

It's a hard choice though if i could make it, Unity3D will be bether Engine and Feature wise but Flash would be easier at the beginning.
Well in the end i would love to learn both but ....one thing at a time.



Anyone has more input?
Would love to hear what you surgest or if you think it would sell.

[hallsofvallhalla]

Well if I'm going to make a project of this i might aswell use a more powerfull language/scripting than JavaScript and HTML.


Flash seams to be more stable and bether if i want to improve it beyond the original game.

not entirely true....

[Qunox]

@Hallsofvallhalla:

Well i did say "Seams", I'm not a pro so i don't know.
But maybe you know( You work with UNity3D don't you? ) if it's hard to make a large 2D game?

[Jackolantern]

I think it is difficult to make 2D with Unity, but I am not entirely sure. I would assume it is completely optimized for 3D, meaning all 2D would have to be faked the way DirectX fakes 2D. But I could be totally off base and it may have nice 2D support. I have just never heard anything about it.