how to turn an offline game into an online multiplayer game?

Question

I'm thinking of buying the license of this game and turns it into a multiplayer game with ranking. What programming skills should I have? Node.js, SQL?

https://codecanyon.net/item/airplane-battle-html5-game-capx/21877457?s_rank=9

Answer 1

First things first: does "buying the license" also mean you get the rights to modify/extend the game? If not, don't try/do it. It's illegal.

If so, it will depend on what the game is build in. I higly recommend you use the same language. For data storage you can in fact use anything, from a blockchain to a relational database. But I guess a SQL database is a good starting point since your database will be small in the beginning :) You can always change later, with some pain and work.

Answer 2

Boem Shakalaka but let's suppose I can change the game code (I still do not know if I can), will turning offline play into online would be very difficult? Would I need advanced programming skills to do this?

Answer 3

「ＨＡＰＰＹ ＴＯ ＨＥＬＰ」 What is your game?

Answer 4

Well supose you can change the gamecode.. What I said, you first have to know if you have the RIGHTS to change the code. Like the permission from the developers to do so. Otherwise you are developing illegal.

But lets say you have the right to change the code. For me, as a developer without gamedevelopment expierence, it would definitely be a challenge to make such a thing. And by that i mean a real challenge, which would take me weeks or months on my own. The standard development tasks like databasestuff and internetstuff would be easy, but applying it to a game and truly understand what's going on.. that's a whole differrent kind of thing to learn/understand and so will be hard

Answer 5

Let's see what you're buying here:

* Graphics
* Some very simple game logic

Let's see what you're going to have to build here:

* You may need to almost completely rewrite the game logic, especially if it assumes one player.
* A server program.
* Heavy modifications to the client-side program to make it send data to the server.
* A state syncing system.
* A drop-in drop-out system
* And a bunch of other things

Not to mention you're going to have to pay to host the server somewhere.

Look: I'm not saying it's going to be too difficult. It's not. It's actually an excellent exercise. I'm just saying you're not getting your money's worth.

Answer 6

Vlad Serbu But I'm thinking of putting ads in the game for it to be profitable. I thought about making a game online, because people would always come back to play on it and that would be profitable. Are you saying that it is better to play offline?

Answer 7

Marcus Xavierr Oh, I thought you were just doing it as an exercise. In that case, go for it. Just make sure the newest Chrome update doesn't break it.

I would also like to formally state that I am not to be held responsible if this idea of yours ends in you losing money. (aka please don't sue me)