Is it possible to make a game like 'A Dark Room' in C2?

Would it be possible to make a game like 'A Dark Room' in Construct 2?

I think this kind of game is called an 'incremental game' or 'idle game'. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incremental_game)

Does no one have any thoughts on this? I'm not after a step by step walk through or anything, just thoughts on whether it would be possible, and what a general approach might be.

I hadn't heard of the game before. Just had a look at it, very innovative. My initial thought is sure it could be done, why not? I think it would be easier in traditional languages though.

Yes it's a very cool game. Very imaginative and kind of deep and evocative.

The original version was made for web, I'm not sure what the original was coded or developed in. Then it was ported to mobile by another guy.

My problem is I don't know how to program, so even if it would be easier to make in traditional languages I still need to look to a program like C2.

I can't see why it couldn't be done in C2. I actually played it for a while. I haven't decided whether it's just a standard resource/priority handling game that is presented a bit differently, or something else. Maybe I haven't hit the 'aha' point in the game yet. I'm curious why you chose this type of game to try and emulate. I am intrgued though

Edit: in summary, yes it could be done.

I just found it so deep and intriguing. It taps into something primal in the psych. Compared to so many other games that I play on PC and mobile, many of which are just time killers or provide some short lived entertainment, I found A Dark Room to be really... I don't know how to describe it exactly, but it resonated with me. I found it to be melancholy, dark, sinister, thought provoking, fun and sad all at once.

I'd be interested to hear your opinion once u play it through codah. It's actually quite a short game, maybe 4-5hrs I think.

So yeah. The developer has made the code for the game open source.. You can go and download it but I have no idea where to start to modify it and change it into my own game.

I have ideas for an adaptation though in terms of themes and variations to game play.

I read up on the game. The developer contacted the original game author and asked if he could write a version for mobile. Apparently it made quite a bit of money but he has no intentions of going into full time game making.

I'll go check out the code.

I will say though, that I go way back with gaming (like, text only games) and it's not often I play something and think 'oh, ok that's different'.

I have the game on the go and I'll try and see it through to the end and report back

Ok codah. Yes from what I have read the original web based version had a following and the mobile version was highly regarded as well. I'm not sure how much $ it generated but from what I can tell most people who play it are drawn in / impressed by it.

I haven't played many text based games so it was a pretty new thing for me. And it was quite a revelation that such a visually minimalist game could draw me in so thoroughly! Normally I'm a very visual person.

Had a play just for fun click below

A very quick 'A Dark Room' prototype

Edit: BTW I didn't spend too long looking at the original's code as it's javascript

ok so what's that link exactly codah? You took the source code and put it into a webpage? Just to test it, is that right?

No I just created that in C2 from scratch

It reminds me of Candy Box! http://candies.aniwey.net/

Absolutely love that game, too. It starts off so simple and it expands out into something pretty huge!

Don't see why this couldn't be done in C2; an array to store your collectible items, and a separate array to store your text. A function to print items from the array to the screen at set time-based intervals, with other functions to interrupt that at given points and show/hide things, or to start new timers and respond to things the user does... yeah <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile"> I think it would be pretty simple.

You've intrigued me; I may well try and work on a small prototype, myself. Have you thought about just giving it a go and just seeing how far you get?

angellondon did you try the link 3 posts back? Just a quick proof of concept but I don't think there's much doubt it could be done. This kind of thing is not C2's strong point though. It's non-trivial doing a simple message box..

codah Yeah I did! Looked pretty cool. In my head it's a simple execution, but it probably isn't in actuality.

Yeah, I think it would possibly be easier written in a traditional language, as you say. Might have a go in C2 later though.

It reminds me of Candy Box! http://candies.aniwey.net/

Absolutely love that game, too. It starts off so simple and it expands out into something pretty huge!

Yes Ive noticed that Candy Box and A Dark Room often seem to be spoken of in the same sentence. Many people say the two are similar and they enjoyed both. I am currently playing Candy Box 2 to get feel for what that game is all about.

Don't see why this couldn't be done in C2; an array to store your collectible items, and a separate array to store your text. A function to print items from the array to the screen at set time-based intervals, with other functions to interrupt that at given points and show/hide things, or to start new timers and respond to things the user does... yeah <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile"> I think it would be pretty simple.

Thanks for those general pointers. I am very new to C2 so any general advice like that is appreciated.

You've intrigued me; I may well try and work on a small prototype, myself. Have you thought about just giving it a go and just seeing how far you get?

Yes I totally intend to have a go at this and see what I can come up with. Soon Ill have time to sit down with C2 and put a couple of solid days into learning how to use it. Just madly trying to close out some client work first.