Cardfight Vanguard Online Simulator Using Unity Game Engine

Abstract

In recent years, trading card games have become very popular for their entertainment value and competitive appeal, creating a growing community of enthusiasts. Cardfight Vanguard has emerged as a notable contender, steadily expanding its player base. Despite its popularity, there is a noticeable lack of accessible online simulators for Cardfight Vanguard, including official ones. This thesis addresses this gap by proposing the development of a simulator using Unity, Visual Studio Code, and C#. The main goal is to provide the Cardfight Vanguard community with a user-friendly and efficient platform for gameplay simulation. Unity serves as the development environment for building the simulator, while Visual Studio Code helps with the programming. The game mechanics are coded in C#, ensuring smooth and intuitive gameplay interactions. The simulator created in this thesis project is currently operational, featuring basic gameplay functions and essential game phases necessary for play. It allows players to simulate duels, faithfully replicating key aspects of Cardfight Vanguard gameplay. The simulator includes several core features such as a turn-based system, card drawing mechanics, and phase transitions that mirror the official game. Additionally, the game provides a set of sample cards for players to playtest, enabling them to learn the basic mechanics and strategies of Cardfight Vanguard. These sample cards cover fundamental aspects of gameplay, such as attacking, defending, and triggering card effects, which help new players grasp the essentials of the game quickly and effectively. However, the simulator does not support online multiplayer functionality due to the complexities involved in developing a robust and scalable online system. Sound effects have not been integrated, which limits the immersive experience of the gameplay. Additionally, there is no deck-building feature, restricting players from customizing their decks within the simulator. The available card pool is limited to a few cards, which reduces the variety and strategic depth of the gameplay. The implementation of skills and card effects is currently absent, resulting in a simplified version of the actual game. Finally, there is no AI bot available for beginners to practice against, which could be a barrier for new players trying to learn the game. By leveraging these tools, the simulator aims to offer players a seamless experience, enabling them to engage in duels quickly and effectively. This project not only enhances accessibility to Cardfight Vanguard gameplay but also showcases the potential of integrating game development technologies to meet the evolving needs of gaming communities. Despite its limitations, this simulator lays the groundwork for future improvements that could address these gaps and provide a more complete gameplay experience. In the near future, work will focus on addressing the current limitations. This includes adding online multiplayer functionality, integrating sound effects, implementing a deck-building feature, expanding the card pool, incorporating skills and card effects, and developing an AI bot for beginners. These enhancements will aim to provide a more comprehensive and engaging experience for all players.