Downlink: A Web-based Uplink Clone

[EddieRingle]

A few years ago, a friend and myself had the idea to create a clone of the game Uplink, by Introversion Software. The catch was that it would be done completely on the Web, however. Back then though, the technology wasn't quite up to par (these were the pre-Chrome days), so we had to put the project on hold.

Now, we've decided to return to it. Using CSS3 and JavaScript (with some help from jQuery, of course), I've begun recreating Uplink's UI in the browser. So far, I've got a small proof of concept working with a dummy login/enlist box, plus a button that generates more windows. All the windows that include headers are draggable (using jQuery UI).

I thought I'd begin a sort of dev blog here to post updates every once and awhile. Hopefully we get something playable running this time instead of getting lazy.

The most recent demo of the proof of concept can be found here: http://orion.idlesoft.net/downlink/poc.html

And a milestone image, the first public proof of concept:


Also, you should probably be using Chrome if you want the best experience.

[dr-snipe]

Just downloaded the demo of it and got addicted. Thank you for sharing.

I would just recommend to make it compatible for more browsers just in case someone is too lazy to do so. But yeah it is a good idea and a fun game. Keep at it.

[eatcomics]

Heh, blackphantom and I (both of us having been inactive on here for a loooong time) used to play Uplink all the time. I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye on this project. Good luck to you sir :D

[EddieRingle]

Thanks for checking it out.

At the moment, I've made the decision to package it up as a Chrome app, which will allow me to make an awesome game without worrying about the cross-browser compatibility. Despite that, I have been testing it in Firefox alongside Chrome and aside from a few quirks that can fixed with some CSS tweaks, things are moving swimmingly. I'm at the point where I am basically building the game itself now. That is, I've got all the UI components and layout figured out and am in the process of piecing them together to make the game. Last time I worked on it, I was busy implementing the enlistment process you'd see at the beginning of creating a new Uplink profile. I think my happiest moment so far is when I emulated the hint text down in the lower left corner, complete with the typewriter effect.

My current roadmap is to emulate Uplink for the time being, and once the basic game functionality is in I'll give a nice 2012 spin to the look-and-feel (Uplink was originally designed over a decade ago, after all) and work on my own storyline.

Some newer screenshots:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3274458/downlink/21212-1.png

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3274458/downlink/21212-2.png

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3274458/downlink/21212-3.png

[THe Floating Brain]

Looks neat I cant wait to play when it is done!

[lalacomun]

Great work, awsome project to follow!