Hi! A friend and I are interested in creating a game that is sort of like a MUD, only it's not Multiplayer, and it would be its own program, not over telnet. The concept is this -- You move locations and interact with objects and people just like a mud by typing whatever command it is you'd like to perform. The only real difference is that I'd like to show a picture in one corner of your character, and a picture in the other corner of the person or object you're interacting with; and I'd like these to change depending on what you do (ie, there is a treasure chest. you use the key and open it, and the picture changes from a closed chest to an open chest, and you character will grin). Obviously we'd have to spend a lot of time writing the actions for each command typed PER object/person you run into.

My questions are these...What program should I use to create this game? We're both beginners, does this seem like something plausible to create or is it too complicated? I'd like to create a game like this for my baby daughter for when she starts getting old enough to use the computer. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you.

It's definitely plausible(I even think it's been done before - although an example isn't popping to mind).

In terms of programs to create the game...why not learn a programming language and use that? Simple games like the one you described are created by a lot of beginner C++/Java programmers.

It sounds like a great beginner project and something that can really help you learn to program. As for the language, you are pretty open to whatever you feel you want to learn. I would suggest a nice graphical looking language like Java where you could learn the text based programs and then easily go into something more graphical and with sound. Plus you learn all the basic programming principles so if you want to go deeper into other languages you will find it easier.

Another language you could play with is any of the .NET languages, in particular C#. So you can create an application with buttons and other controls etc.

I would give Java a try first though. Go to the bookstore, grab a Java book or a C# or VB.NET book and see which one looks like it would fit you best and go from there.

I hope that helps.