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On MMORPG Franchise Fundamentals
Thanks to MMORPGDot for its editorial discussing some of the most interesting franchises which are yet to be turned into MMO games. The author mentions: "Personally, I think a franchise game can be just as good as a game with an original world, if not better. It's all a question of what you do with the IP and if you make a fundamentally fun game out of what you've been given", before suggesting MMOs based on Star Trek ("The other great science fiction franchise is easily as deserving as Star Wars of it's own graphical massive game"), James Bond ("More of a realization that I'd like to play in a spy MMOG than anything else, I think a spy MMOG branded as a Bond game would get really good traction"), and Oz ("I think Oz would be an amazing vehicle for a MMOG centered on younger gamers.") Other suggestions?
The authow mentions Shadowrun, too. That's about the only one
I'd be interested in. Star Trek could potentially be as messed up as SWG.
I dunno about a spygame - doesn't Bond work alone most of the time?
Even in the Oz they're refering to, The Wizard of Oz, according to a friend who read Frank Baum's books the Wicked Witch is green because her mother was raped by a munchkin.
By and large the franchised single-player game stinks. And always has done, going back to ET on the Atari 2600 and the numerous 1980s 8-bit attempts from Ocean and the like.
Franchises are worse news still for MMORPG.
When we see a film or read a book, by and large we want to read about exceptional people who are (in scifi & fantasy anyway) usually heroic. A world of heroes just doesn't work. We can't ALL be off killing Darth Vader. We can't ALL be "the one" spoken of in prophesy. The scifi/fantasy genres don't lend themselves to being about the average man in the street (and lets face it, thats who we play every hour of every day in real life anyway).
Some argue that existing in the universe of X is fun enough. But if we look at SWG as a testcase, many said they were happy to be a humble citizen (say, a crafter or small time hunter, what have you) but it hasn't worked out that way ultimately. Every other person (before I left) was a level-grinding Jedi wannabe. And from what I've seen since, every other person just about is now actually a Jedi. Good intentions came to nought as SOE pushed the Jedi class in order to ramp up interested in putative subscribers (never mind alienating their existing player base, but thats another rant).
In the end the best MMORPGs will not be based on franchises. In a genre supposely all about imagination and open horizons we don't need or want a roadmap.
Plays violent online games as: Nerfherder76
I think Xanth would make a great "magic MMORPG". Everyone could choose to have a unique magical talent that would be weak to begin with, but unlike the books, with experience you could "level up", and make your talent stronger or different. The game software could keep track of assigned talents and make sure no two are exactly the same (one of the base assumptions of Xanth). :-)
Imagine- fighting the Gap Dragon or dueling with another player who can create holes under your feet. Way cool
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I was actually thinking about this the other day, and realized that Stargate would make a very interesting MMORPG. Lots of different worlds and races, and a lot of conflict to induce fights. The biggest disadvantage is that there aren't a lot of classes (fighter, medic, scientist, anything else?) and no real magic system (though varying levels of technology could be considered magic).
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Personally, I think Babylon 5 would make for a far more compelling MMOG than Star Trek would. Star Trek's sense of conflict was always generated by large-scale disagreements which disturbed a utopian balance - in essence, there were a few major characters (Federation, Romulans, Cardassians...) duking it out. But B5 brought that sense of conflict down to a personal level, where individuals had conflict with one another because they lived in an imperfect society - one wrapped up in a spinning tin can, to boot.
You could *have* space combat, if you wanted. But you wouldn't *need* space combat in B5 - there's enough potential for plot material right there on the station. Star Trek would be hard-pressed to do the same, since generally everybody on board any ship or space station was already on the same side.
You know, when I first read this one, I didn't think much of it. Then, when I started thinking about it, it got better and better.
I mean, you pretty much have the entire world to explore! Start off a new character and use Hogwarts as a base to learn basic spells and skills, as well as a healing location. Have a room with limited storage for you character and hundreds of low level quests based around the castle.
You can integrate the sorting hat into character creation, specalize in whatever class you want at the school, etc..
When you graduate, the entire world opens up. Solve magical quests, play professional quidditch, run a magic shop. Raise a family, interact with Muggles, etc. Heck, be a professor at the college and teach newbies.
If you want to be evil, start in Slytherin so you aren't persecuted for being compleatly evil, but when you get a couple levels, you can leave the school and be an evil witch/wizard with a good foundation of spells and skills.
You have an established but open mythology and a HUGE fanbase. It would be a pretty good game.
(My girlfriend just told me "That would be an onling game I'd actually play", so it passes that test.)
Calmiche
Hell, I wouldn't mind seeing a Rifts game period.
I always thought the world and story to Rifts was cool. However, although I tried playing in a few different campaigns of it, I ultimately decided I couldn't stand it -- the game mechanics in general and the combat in specific just bogged down WAY too slow for me. It wasn't unusual for a decent sized combat to suck up an entire night by itself.
A computer, on the other hand, could crunch those numbers and make all of those parry/dodge/roll/etc. rolls instantly, taking out the part of the game that I hated and leaving most of what I thought was cool.
Harry Potter's got to be the most obvious one, overlooked by EA in their lust for shitty game design.
;)), learn magical powers, etc. Carving one's own story is always more interesting than rehashing an oft-retold one.
:)
Seriously, with the books and movies being so good, why would you want to rehash the action again in a game? Wouldn't it be more fun to make your own character's story in the HP universe? I'd love to see a virtual hogwarts, filled with thousands of other subscribers who are enjoying making their own way in the magical world. They could have their own groups and alliances, explore different sections of the grounds (perhaps using something like instancing so that more people can go in the same areas without choking them
Whenever a book comes out, EA wouldn't have to wai for the movie to come out, too. They could just add the characters and areas as a small expansion. There's plenty of source material already, and I know a lot of people (such as people who also frequent HOL) would love to be involved in that kind of fun game.
I hope someone ballsy enough to do this gets the licence at some point. It's so great an idea for an MMO
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Harry Potter Online has been worked on by EA for years. The first one was cancelled at the same time they cancelled UO2 (OWO:O) and Privateer Online. I've heard the second attempt was cancelled, too. The current version under development is called "Hogwarts Online" which gives you an idea of where they are headed with it. Battletech 3025 was also developed previously by EA, and cancelled. The Matrix Online is coming out this fall. There are several other IP franchises that are worth considering: Traveller, Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, Mad Max, Terminator, etc. Bruce
I think the best mmorpg would be based on real life.
No weird ass magic, no weird ass weapons.
set in some realistic looking city.
just you, weapons that really exist and your wits, and societies lack of morals,
Wanna be a crime boss. go for it.
Wanna fight crime. go for it.
Wanna be a corporate bigwig go for it.
there would be lots more.
psycho killer, grifter, medical, shop keeper, maufacture of needed items.
Think about it. What current, wildly popular game series has a huge young fanbase, and is based on the idea of striking out on your own to seek fame, fortune, and power?
Pokemon. You know... "I want to be the very best, like no one ever was"?
Actually, the Pokemon series is fairly deep, and was fairly innovative the first time around. Given that the gameplay already revolves around PvM (fighting and capturing wild Pokemon) and the occasional PvP (fighting other trainers), it'd be way too easy. Plus... I for one would actually play a 3D Pokemon MMORPG.
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"massively multiplayer version of Car Wars/AutoDuel, in which the scenario is the same, but the gameplay focuses on your vehicle" You may want to check this out: http://www.autoassault.com/ It's still in development phase but it looks promising.
Remember Battletech 2035? I played the beta for a few weeks, and it was a lot of fun. Not quite an MMORPG in the traditional sense, but it was an MMO game nonetheless.
Pity it was canceled.