[Wanted] Flash boardgame engine / framework

[Ampa]

I have designed a 2 player board game (working title "Monkey Dash"). Early play-testing, with a paper and glue prototype, has gone well, with the game getting a great reaction.

I would like to proceed to the next stage... a test on a larger scale. I need to get the prototype out to a wider audience, and would also like to gather statistics about how the game plays.

The best solution seems to be software!

The ideal: A Flash based framework specifically designed for boardgames.

Why Flash? I have done some Flash work before so the learning curve would be smaller.

Why a framework? I'd rather not reinvent the wheel!  Surely I don't need to code the board layout code, or simple rules for orthogonal movement of the player's pawn.

Any one know of such a thing? I have searched, but not come up with anything that looks very promising.

Ampa

[Deozaan]

I don't know about any Flash board game framework, but there is some software called Zillions of Games that is a framework for boardgames and supposedly easy to customize for your own rules. It might be worth a try.

[tinjaw]

Ampa,

Do you need/want this to be web-based, or can it be a stand-alone application? If the latter, then I recommend that you try out Game Maker 7 (now owned by YoYo Games). It is very easy to use and the basic version is free. I suspect you can build your whole game with the free version to a prototype stage yourself. If you want some help, I highly suggest <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=ISBN-10%3A%201590596153&tag=chaim-20&index=na-books-us&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">The Game Maker's Apprentice: Game Development for Beginners</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=chaim-20&amp;l=ur2&amp;o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />. I am half-way through it and think the book is excellent.

If the game is well received, let me know. I have plenty of contacts in the casual table game business and the computer casual game business.

[tinjaw]

Zillions of Games looks really cool. Thanks for mentioning it Deozaan. I've already downloaded the demo.

[Deozaan]

Zillions of Games looks really cool. Thanks for mentioning it Deozaan. I've already downloaded the demo.

Sure thing. Let me know how it is. I owned a copy of it years ago but lost it somewhere before I even got to use it. Oops.

[Ampa]

Thanks for the replies guys - have downloaded both and will look into them when I have the time.

Discovered ZunTzu while browsing around which looks like an interesting alternative... it is, I suppose, a virtual table, which allows a user to move pieces on a board, and simulates dice roles etc. BUT doesn't attempt to implement any logic or rules what-so-ever, relying instead on the game players themselves to regulate the game - just like real life

Ampa

PS - Any other suggestions still welcomed.

[Deozaan]

Heh heh. I remembered this topic but forgot it was started by you, Ampa. I came back here looking for the link on Zillions.

So what were your thoughts? Did you find anything useful? I'm guessing not due to the download I received to test out Monkey Dash.

[Ampa]

So far the effort has all been on the 'real' physical version of the game.

However I would still like to creat a 'virtual' software version. I have cast my eye over all the suggestions above, and am sure that any of them would work, but I think Flash is the way to go, as it is readily accessible my the majority of internet users, and is already accepted as a home for casual games.