Need info to start a evony type game

[phelix]

I would like to develop a game website that is very similar to evony.com or ikariam.com. Would someone be able to help guide me on the best way to go about doing this? Is there a game engine that I can use that will help me do this or is it something that needs to be developed from scratch? Sorry I am a newbie to this. However I am a successful web developer and run a network of websites that do very well, however I am wanting to try and get into the game business and would really like to get something put together that functions and works like one of these websites. Any help would be highly appreciated.

If anyone has a game like this that would they would like to sell I am interested.

Thanks!

[AltarofScience]

I am morally opposed to generating more travian clones, which is essentially what evony is, but probably you could write the code in a month or so with php and mysql and obviously javascript to be pretty. Depends on free time, motivation, and how much you understand code. Any other scripting language would probably work too.

[jack13580]

and don't confuse java with javascript they are both completely different

[AltarofScience]

its so irritating because javascript naturally shortens to java, so i always forget to write js. maybe i can hire a shrink to do some operant conditioning on me.

[BlackScorp]

I am morally opposed to generating more travian clones, which is essentially what evony is, but probably you could write the code in a month or so with php and mysql and obviously javascript to be pretty. Depends on free time, motivation, and how much you understand code. Any other scripting language would probably work too.

huh? build ikariam from the scrash in one month? i want to see this

[Chris]

There is quite a lot of free scripts around (after 50 posts you get access to ScriptVault board which has collection of these, IIRC). But non is of sufficient quality plus these are identical with hundreds of games run by hordes of kids around. Actually, the coding of the script is far from being the most troublesome and time consuming part of maintaining a browser game. Personally, I would just code it from scratch, in a long run it is doing yourself a favour (the code quality, saving on server bills).

Also don't get the wrong impression, the "I have several websites and I want to add a browsergame to them" won't work. You need a total focus & dedication if you want to survive in this business.

[hiigara]

I would like to develop a game website that is very similar to evony.com or ikariam.com. Would someone be able to help guide me on the best way to go about doing this? Is there a game engine that I can use that will help me do this or is it something that needs to be developed from scratch? Sorry I am a newbie to this. However I am a successful web developer and run a network of websites that do very well, however I am wanting to try and get into the game business and would really like to get something put together that functions and works like one of these websites. Any help would be highly appreciated.

If anyone has a game like this that would they would like to sell I am interested.

Thanks!

Buying such a game is expensive. I would say minimum $7000.
Free scripts and cheap scripts are nowhere near the quality of ikariam or evony.
If you don't have expendable cash, you have to do it yourself, and it's a long road.
Having said that, if you do have $7000, PM me

[Topazan]

Hi phelix, I remember you from mmorpgmaker.com.

I tried ikariam, and ultimately I stand by what I said about the mechanics of the game, but let me clarify.  Even though that game has a very fancy interface with lots of media assets (ie pictures) and it's never easy to design a balanced and fun game system, the actual game itself boils down to simple arithmetic.

Of course that doesn't mean that it would be easy to produce a game like ikariam, but the hard parts would be the game design and the user interface more than the actual game programming.  One or both of those things needs to be unique for your game to stand out.   For that reason, I wouldn't advise looking too hard for an engine.