I wanted to make a game like Club Penguin

DavidLiang1129

Hello everyone, I have a few questions to ask: Is there an open-source version of the popular online children's game Club Penguin? If so, I would like to create a spin-off game based on Club Penguin. What do I need to do for that? I am a complete beginner in game development and need to know what programming languages I should learn
(Flash/HTML5/JavaScript or any others)?
Alternatively, are there any open-source projects I can join? I want to learn something and eventually create my own (and everyone’s) spin-off version of Club Penguin.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your answers!

Peter

DavidLiang1129 what programming languages I should learn

Be aware that the answer to this question is highly subjective and often lead to heated arguing. I recommend Javascript because Penguin Club was an MMO. You could also try the engine Godot and program by "clicking together" a game.

cozzyboy833

DavidLiang1129 Hello, I am actually making something very similar to what you are describing. If you are actually serious about joining a project like this please email me at cozzyboy13@gmail.com. I am building a website just like club penguin, currently using html css and js, I would love some help if motivated Looking forward to hearing from you.

poVoq

As far as I know there is no direct equivalent to that game, but I also have never played it, so I am just guessing.

There are a few 2D top down open-source MMORPGs like The Manaworld that are maybe a bit similar.

DavidLiang1129

poVoq However, I saw on a video platform that someone developed a game based on Club Penguin. I'm very curious about how they managed to do it—did they get their hands on the decompiled source code, or was there an open-source clone or something similar? (By the way, I was supposed to be able to get a copy of it, but it was taken down because he used some other copyrighted materials.)

Note: The following image is protected by copyright.

TPW

Peter I recommend Javascript because Penguin Club was an MMO.

Is it possible that this is an accident? From my point of view, Javascript is a rather exotic choice for an MMO game. Godot is a better recommendation for this, but "clicking together" a multiplayer game will hardly work from what I can tell. Possible that I err here, but I checked out the state of multiplayer support there just a few days ago.

OP, the best recommendation I can give is to tackle a smaller game project, either with Godot, or with a programming language (in this regard, Peter is absolutely right that the "best one" is highly subjective). Realizing what you have in mind is a huge task, and you will need some sound experience in both gamemaking and programming if you want it to work out (and even then, it will be difficult and likely require a team effort).

DavidLiang1129

Thank you all for your replies. Perhaps my next idea might sound a bit odd: since the "MMO" aspect is currently a bit challenging, could we perhaps focus on the parts outside of "MMO" first? For example, we could start by implementing some basic gameplay elements (such as character customization, decorating houses, pet systems, some map scenes, interesting mini-games, and quest systems). Everything would be temporarily single-player. The reason I have this idea is that I usually play this game alone, but I still find it very enjoyable.

Peter

DavidLiang1129 Everything would be temporarily single-player.

No, your idea doesn't sound odd at all. It could actually work out much better than starting the development of an MMO as a programming newbie. It sounds actually like a good plan. In this case I can recommend nearly any programming language. For example Python is good for beginners. Or the engine Godot.

(@TPW has more experience than me so I might be wrong with my recommendation of Javascript and Godot.)

Modanung

DavidLiang1129 Since it looks like it would be all 2D, Godot might be overkill and you may as well use SFML or the Qt library, maybe even start in Processing.
For making the graphics in that style, look into Inkscape.

Skyflare

I imagine that Kaylousberg's and Kenney's assets will be useful for the art such a project (https://kaylousberg.com/game-assets and https://kenney.nl/assets)

The closest project to Club Penguin that I know of is the "Arcade Emulation System (AES)" server in Luanti (formerly minetest), which is server that focuses on minigames (and is pretty fun and chill imo) https://aes.land/en/dark

TPW

I agree with Peter that the idea of making it offline is a good one (it removes a big, bad chunk of complication), and that Godot might be a good fit for it then.

I'd furthermore recommend to start by trying to program one of the minigames you have in mind (either your favorite one, or one that you think is easy to create). No menus, no big hub around it or anything. Just try to realize it, and make it as fun and good as possible. Try to repeat this with a few of the minigames you have in mind.
If you then, eventually, want to create a central hub/a game collection, linking these things together is still possible (even more so, if you use a clean programming style. Godot will probably also give you a rather easy time in this regard, I suppose). If you loose the drive halfway in, you still have a collection of good, little games.

@Peter Now I feel flattered! ;)
As a short explanation: Javascript is mainly a language for bringing a bit of live into (HTML) websites, and is interpreted through the web browser. This makes it a great choice for simple, casual games that people can just quickly play in their browser (like a puzzle, or interactive fictions); but JavaScript has a sub-par performance when compared to other languages, and so you'll likely come into trouble with more complex games.

Also, Javascript is run client-sided (e.g.: on the computer of the person who plays the game, not on the server that hosts it!), so you'll still have to program the whole connectivity and even the server yourself.

Peter

Afaik Javascript can now be server-side, fast and powerful. At least that's what some people say. I actually dislike JS, but it has its good aspects.

TPW

Peter You had me doubting for a moment. Did a quick search, and JS is still a few factors slower (depending on the task at hand) than compiled code. The most "scientific" source I saw said 8x. To compensate for this when performance becomes important will cause work for the user, and will be downright impossible in some causes - so I'd keep up the point that it is not fit for more complex games :3.

Peter

TPW The most "scientific" source I saw said 8x

I've read somewhere they have techniques to execute it fast. But you are right. Factor 8 is quite slow! But I'm still sure it is server-side, too. With Node.js. I don't know whether Python is slow, too.

TPW

Peter The point about the option to run JS serverside is correct, that one's on me ;). What I wanted to express something different with the whole point: You can't save yourself the work dealing with server and client separately by using JS - it bears no inherent advantage over other languages in this regard, but people without knowledge about the mechanisms of web-development could assume that it always has the power to take effect on the server-side (since it seemingly runs "on the website").

Afaik, Python is even slower ^^.

Peter

One question at @DavidLiang1129 : You wrote that you are new to game programming. But maybe you have programmed some stuff not game-related?

Peter

Sorry if I sounded as I didn't agree with you.

If the OP has already some coding experience he should use the programming language he already knows. Otherwise Python seems to be simpler to understand for beginners than other languages, for example because you don't have to add a semicolon after each command, and because you don't need to compile it.

Yes, server-client coding takes a lot of effort.

If @DavidLiang1129 is a total programming newbie, he should start really, really small. It will take some time to reach the status of a cool game.

Technopeasant

As far as slow, I imagine the concern would be handling the player load, given the game itself would use relatively simplistic 2D graphics. The networking might be possible to farm out to an established framework, though I am totally ignorant of such myself (I have never written a networked game at all yet).