Making a game

[Takatow]

I was wondering for a person that isn't super good with computers, how hard would it be to create a simple browser based text game? I really want to make one and am willing to learn the basics of creating games. The most I've done with creation of games is making maps with warcraft world editor. (I made a lizard into an invincible killing machine)

[Sinzygy]

Are you looking for advice on how to do it in Java or...?

[hamish4000]

Please can you teach me how to make a really basic game?

[Zeggy]

Check The Starting Line board.
It's got some helpful topics for those who are just starting out

[2nd21]

I want to know how to make a game like rs how do i make controls for characters and what programs do i use for that and 3d graphix designing? i would really apreciate the help. -_-     

[FirePenguins]

Probably you're gonna want to start with something a lot simpler than runescape.  Runescape as it is now is a very big game with a lot of content and a big development team.  However, runescape started as just one or two guys, so it is possible to get something like that started.  But you have to learn all the basics first.

So...

Runescape was programmed in Java.  The beauty of java for a web game is that you can program applets.  Applets run in a web browser so the client doesn't have to download and install a bunch of files.  Java has both a 2D and 3D graphics library built in called Java2D and Java3D respectively.  (crazy names eh?)  Anyways those are both decent options.  However, there are outside graphics libraries available such as opengl and directx.  I would say for 2D you are fine with Java2D, but 3D the best to use is probably opengl.  Both opengl and java3D will work on any common operating system (unlike directx which is windows only) but I think opengl has better support for features such as shaders.   Though Java3D would be fine for a game with the level of graphics as Runescape.

[Qwerty]

You'll probably want to download the Java Development Kit (Here), and read through some of the tutorials to get started. But if you don't have any programming knowledge, I suggest you do something more simpler than making a 3d game. Text based games are easy to develop.

[lolninja]

Learning to program in Java is probo the best thing you can do, starting out in PHP can lead to some VERY bad habits. Though if your only intent is to make games then PHP will be alright. Its worth writing some really basic games first, one of the first programs I wrote years ago in Pascal was a mine field game, where that was a 10x10 grid which had an increasing number of mines in, and you had to get across to the other side without standing on a hidden mine. Although it was insanely basic I learn't a huge amount from that experience

[FirePenguins]

Although it was insanely basic I learn't a huge amount from that experience

Yeah I learned insane amounts about java just by making one simple game in which you controlled a space ship with the arrow keys and flew around on the screen and bounced off the walls :p took me about 3 to do.  Then I tried to network it for multi player, but that only ever half worked.  Looking back i was jumping in over my head, but it paid off in the end.  I think that it is necessary to jump and just start doing stuff even it is beyond your current level because you will learn.  But you have to be a careful about trying something that is so far above you current level that you can't get anything to work and just get frustrated.

[xBleuWolfx]

start learning php and mysql

I agree. PHP would probably be one of the best languages to start making web based text games.
This is a good book to learn PHP from and it is what I used.
http://www.dmcinsights.com/phpmysql2/

You'll probably also want to check out PHP's site.
http://php.net/

And here is a good site that can teach how to make games in PHP.
http://buildingbrowsergames.com/