Creating a card game (multiplaye online with AI).. what do I program this in?

[anothersoldier]

Hi, first let me start off by sayign I have some experience in web design and visual basic, flashmx and actionscript.


My Question: what should I use to code this, and where should I begin? I am unsure of what would be the best way to create this game


The important points
I need to create this as simple as possible (remember there will be graphic animation)

I need to be able to connect online with someone


and I need to have it set up so I can see my cards, but my opponent can not.

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What I am trying to do is create a multiplayer card game. The idea is to somehow connect online with another designated person, and begin playing the game together.

The game itself is pretty complex. I will need two computer players, and two empty seats for me and my opponent (which will be my friend, not just someone random).


In total I have 4 players. The game uses a standard deck of 52. I want it to be visual so that we see the back of everyones hand, and you yourself can see your cards, fanned out.

The dealer is determined by default, or by the last round winner. The dealer then gets a randomly generated deck of cards and deals one at a time to each player, going clockwise. When he runs out of cards, I want the game to automatically sort each players hand from highest to lowest card, in order, by suit.

for example:
king, nine, ace of hearts.
Queen, Jack, nine, 4, 3, ace of spades.
4, 3 of diamonds.
7, ace of clubs.


The player will be able to see his cards in this order, fanned out like a real deck.



The player with the seven of diamonds plays the card in the middle. Then the game continues, going clockwise. If the next person has a 6 or 8 of diamonds, or a seven, he can play. If he has more than one play, he chooses the best possible one (there is strategy to this game). For the computers artificial intelligence, I will somehow tell it to evaluate each "play card" and put them in order from highest priority to lowest priority. Each time it's his turn, the priority play cards will be re-determined, and the highest priority card will be played.


The player who gets rid of all of his cards first, wins the game, and is titled "dealer." A new round is started, and he deals.

[John]

Java is probably the most ideal language for this project.