12
Mar
?? Video Game Design
Posted under: 
If a well-known video game design company came to you and said “I want a new idea for a video game. Tell me what you want me to make, and I will do it and throw all my best developers, designers, and cashmoney at the project!” … what video game would you ask to be made? MMO, console, computer, iPhone – any platform you like.
I think I would try for a multi-platform MMO. One that was designed from the ground up to work on both consoles and computers equally well.
Possibly post-apocalyptic, possibly steampunk, perhaps even something gothic with wherewolves and vampires being playable races.
The major limiting factor would of course be the program size vs. the rather smallish hard drives availible on consoles.
Actually the details of something like that would be more of a post in it’s own right, perhaps one that will see the light of day next week if I manage to cheer myself up enough to write over the weekend.
Thanks for giving my brain something to chew on, it has been a bit lean on the creativity of late.
.-= Dechion´s last blog ..On Worldbuilding =-.
First, it would be on computer. This is selfish; I have a computer, but not an iPhone, XBox or any other console. (And believe me, it’s really frustrating seeing that ONE game on that one console that is totally interesting looking but not worth the $50 for the game and $300 for the console to play it on). Most people have computers… I’m all about it being available for the masses.
Second, I’d like some level of multi-player. Maybe not MMO (the problem with MMO is the other players, after all) but definitely allow for co-op. I’m a big fan of RPGs, and the thing that always makes me sad about games like Elder Scrolls (or Dragon Age in the theoretical) is the fact that it’s single player. I would love a game that had the capability to run two different instances of the game, but connected to each other.. allowing you to team up with specific people.
Third, even though I burned on WoW in part because it was moving beyond the capability of my computer, Blizzard has a history of making games that can run on a toaster. Yes, I love the big gorgeous stuff, with huge spell effects and things which make lesser graphics cards tremble in fear… but it’s really not necessary. Make something that looks nice, consistent, and doesn’t require investing in a brand new system to even think of playing it.
Finally, I’m a fantasy nut. I would want the game to be more fantasy based than scifi. That being said, I have little preference… I’m pretty equal-opportunity. I’ll consume the typical medieval knights-and-dragons fantasy as happily as the modern urban fantasy. Just remember, magic and fairies > space ships and aliens.
And,um, yeah.. :)
.-= Marianne´s last blog ..So why did I leave? =-.
Pokémon MMO. think wow hunter-like gameplay, except with eyes of the beast on most of the time. pve against wild pokemon and gym trainers, pvp pokemon trainer duels against other players. DO WANT.
@Dechion
I like the cross-platform idea. I look forward to your post! <3
@Marianne
I toooootally hear you on the one game not worth buying a console. Heavy Rain just came out and I want to play it – but not that badly. XD
I’m also a fan of co-op as opposed to contest-style games. I’m not competitive, but I love helping people.
Have you played Drakkan 2 for the Playstation2? You get to ride a dragon for about half the gameplay. It’s still single-player, but man oh man was it awesome.
@Krizzlybear
I WOULD BUY THAT GAME. Exclamation point.
Have you ever played Jade Cocoon 2 for the Playstation 2? It’s got pokemon-esque elements to it, but it’s also very strategy based and a ton of fun, for all that it’s a tad slow to start with and the text was run through babel fish for the american version.
.-= Tami´s last blog ..Return of Warcraft =-.
@Tami — We has no console. But yeah, want to play Heavy Rain SOOO MUCH. (If we get a console, Wii is in the lead)
.-= Marianne´s last blog ..So why did I leave? =-.
An MMO set in the Firefly universe. I don’t have much input for the design/development aspect of it, but I think that that particular universe would work really well for an MMO and would probably give both casual players and hardcore RPers a great environment to run around and be space cowboys in. Unfortunately, there would probably be pretty limited instance and encounter options, since the main baddies are reavers and the guv’ment, but come on. Space cowboys. I’d play it.
@Courtney
This world suffers from a shortage of proper space cowboy action, imo.
(Gads, I miss Firefly)
.-= Tami´s last blog ..Return of Warcraft =-.
Lovely post!
Track Racer!
@Mr.Moore
Bah! I want Bubblewolf first!!
I second the Firefly MMO. mmmm Nathan Fillion avatar. Yummy.
Fun side note for the Firefly people up in here (and I third that motion on the MMO, though I’d be a Kaylee), my husband and I just finished Halo: ODST, and three of the NPC’s are voiced by Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, and Adam Baldwin. I kept asking hubby, “Is that Mal??”
Brook brought this up the other day. She thinks “The Man with the Golden Torc” by Simon R. Green would make a good single-player game. I haven’t read it yet, but from the plot breakdown, I’d generally agree. There’s potentially one issue they’d have to work around (something makes you nearly invulnerable but has some kind of limitation I’m not too clear on).
…I’m still thinking about my multi-player, menu-based RPG with vampire-sheep. Let’s just say it’s either a really good thing or a really bad thing that I’m not friends with influential people in the video game/B-movie markets (although I really do want to see “Wereshark 2: Return of the Reverse-Werewolves” and a movie-version of the story I’m trying to plot).
@Brad-o
I want both that movie AND that game to happen.
.-= Tami´s last blog ..?? Video Game Design =-.
I don’t know if any of you remember it, but I would definately take any MMORPG with the old (original) Star Wars Galaxie engine. You didn’t have to go raiding. Each class had a “pinnacle” to it. Was about as balanced as it could be. If you wanted to be a salesperson you could level up and be a Master crafter/salesperson. There were different weapons/masteries.
You did not have to level in warfare to be great at the game. I had a Master doctor with a droid and I went around just healing people and putting up “health clinics” out in the middle of the desert where people would fight those Krayt Dragons. I had a ton of fun. My “companion” in game mastered mining and selling. We were set with money and extremely enjoyed the roleplay aspect of it. Our guild leaders were Master Tera Kasi (hand to hand combat) and another was a Master Sharpshooter. Long live the rebellion! ;-)
.-= Byrd´s last blog ..Stardate… er… Feb. 18th 2010 =-.