   Simple/Easy tools to program a board game
  If this isn't in the exact forum it should be, I apologize. I'm designing a board/card game and I'd like to create a VERY simple/modest computer version of it to test out and have others test out as well in order to finalize the rules and balancing. My question is: What are my possible options as someone who has absolutely no experience or knowledge of programming and computer based languages for trying to do this? The game itself is very simple looking--4 card categories, several small game pieces in 4 different colors, and the board is only a few zones. Art isn't a necessity to the game, but color is. Any help is greatly appreciated--And I'll understand if there really aren't any easy/simple ways to do this as a beginner, but I just wanted to ask.   
  http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson56.htm (skip past the Q&A to the part that lists simple/easy tools for novices).   ;  One thing you could do is use an online whiteboard system for your board. That way you don't need to actually program any game logic; you just need to make mockups of your pieces. It gets a bit trickier with card decks. If you know some programming, making a bot that randomly deals out cards isn't too difficult, but you'd probably find it easier to just have one player be the dealer (ideally a player who is good enough to not let their knowledge of other players' hands influence their decision-making). If you aren't planning to actually have a computerized version of the game in the long run, then making one just so you can do testing online is probably not worth the effort.   ;  Thanks for the link Tom, I'll check it out. You might be right, Derakon. I drew a rough version of the map and cards in MS paint, I think my desire to make a rough PC version was because I don't really know anyone where I live, and it's really only me and my girlfriend, so a PC version could have let me send it to people I know elsewhere and have them test it. If I can't manage the PC version though, for one reason or another, I'll stick to creating it physically.   ;  That was why I suggested the online whiteboard system. You can make images of your board game and put them on the whiteboard, and then other people can interact with the whiteboard to take their turns playing the board game. That way you can play remotely without having to write any code.   ;Quote:Original post by PurgatorioIf I can't manage the PC version though, for one reason or another, I'll stick to creating it physically.Check these if you go that way:http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson20.htmhttp://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson38.htm   ;  I'll check out the whiteboard idea for a possible online version. Interesting articles, Tom. The physical version won't be that difficult to construct, given what I've visualized. I'm considering making the "board" out of a good sturdy fabric and having my zones embroidered on (my girlfriend is an industrial embroiderer, among other things). But reading about the process was helpful.Right now I'm working on figuring out what the cards do for the players, and some of the other mechanics; I didn't want the game to be complex, but desired to have the game seem fresh during each play. I'll keep your articles in mind if/when the game works out, so I can at least get it patented and protected properly.   ;  For a simple board game you can do it in DHTML. Board is done in HTML and CSS, moves can be done using &#106avascript... unless it's a complicated board game requiring animation or something. If it's a simple click here... move piece on board, next player click there... move piece on board... DHTML is cool. Flash... VB can also be used as well but are expensive.   