Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

MMO Devs: How about some different genres?

echolynfanecholynfan Member UncommonPosts: 681

How about an MMO about something other than Gnomes and Elves? There are so many different genre possibilities out there and the same ones get regurgitated over and over again.

Some off the top of my fingers:

The Old West

1920's Chicago Gangland

American Revolution

Nasa - Space program

Spies - Espionage (The Agency was really promising - too bad it was canceled)

Submarines - Naval

Planes - Air Force

The ideas are endless but instead we get the same old tired fantasy MMO's and even the Sci-fi is stale.

Currently playing SWTOR and it's MUCH better than it was at launch.

Comments

  • LoktofeitLoktofeit Member RarePosts: 14,247

    Several years ago was the pirates phase, followed by the post-apoc phase and now it seems space is the big thing.It's not that the devs aren't making them, it's that players seem to gravitate more toward the fantasy games than the others.

    There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
    "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre

  • XexvXexv Member Posts: 308


    Originally posted by echolynfan
    American Revolution

    Oooh, yes please ;)

    Redcoats inc, yo.

  • TalthanysTalthanys Member Posts: 458

    Wild Wild West could be such an incredible venture for an online world. I see it more as a sandbox, but it could work as a themepark, I suppose. Better yet, a hybrid.

    image

  • generals3generals3 Member Posts: 3,307

    I'd like the napoleonic wars as an MMO. I really liked the "ground" combat in Pirates of the Burning sea, but ya, lacked a lot of polishing and the game was mainly centered around sea battles. So i would really love an MMO which does just that.

    i'm getting tired of the typical medieval fantasy MMO's, or Futuristic ones too for that matter. Time to pick an era in between em ;)

    Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt.
    Among those who dislike oppression are many who like to oppress.

  • WhySoShortWhySoShort Member Posts: 315

    What about...

    The Crusades. Talk about PvP and distinctive factions there. 

    Feudal Japan. A sandbox game with samurai.

    The Spiritual World. Angels and Demons duke it out in Earth, Heaven, Hell, the Abyss and more.

    Mythology. Okay, so it's still fantasy, but it still should have been done a LONG time ago.

    Steampunk. Like serious steampunk. With steam... and punks... and all that stuff.

    Zombies. Braiinnns and walllettss....

    Prehistory. Like, the Flintstones. Have some fun and screw the science over with this one.

    Raygun Gothic. Like, the Jetsons. Okay, I like cartoons, so sue me.

    Wold Newton. This could be an incredible game, but it would take more than one great mind to make it happen. 

    image

  • Havok2allHavok2all Member UncommonPosts: 190

    Originally posted by echolynfan

    How about an MMO about something other than Gnomes and Elves? There are so many different genre possibilities out there and the same ones get regurgitated over and over again.

    Some off the top of my fingers:

    The Old West - Can't argue with this. If done right, could be a a really cool MMO.

    1920's Chicago Gangland - Wouldn't be a large enough target audience.

    American Revolution - Again, too small of an audience

    Nasa - Space program - You may have to expand more on how you are invisioning this as a MMO

    Spies - Espionage (The Agency was really promising - too bad it was canceled) - Agreed, could be a cool MMO.

    Submarines - Naval - Not sure how this could be an MMO. Seems very limited in the option area.

    Planes - Air Force - Same as subs

    The ideas are endless but instead we get the same old tired fantasy MMO's and even the Sci-fi is stale.

  • Goatgod76Goatgod76 Member Posts: 1,214

    Originally posted by Talthanys

    Wild Wild West could be such an incredible venture for an online world. I see it more as a sandbox, but it could work as a themepark, I suppose. Better yet, a hybrid.

    I actually have been working up somthing for this in notebooks for a couple of years now. MMOFPS in a way. No rule sets but what the players make...just like the real West was. 1st person gun fights...players coudl be anythign they want...Cattle Rancher, Train Robber, Gun Slinger, Rustler, etc.,etc,etc.

     

    Not going to go into all the details.....I am sure someone will steal it anyways. Not like I have the cash to make it or anything.

  • echolynfanecholynfan Member UncommonPosts: 681

    Originally posted by Havok2all

    Originally posted by echolynfan

    How about an MMO about something other than Gnomes and Elves? There are so many different genre possibilities out there and the same ones get regurgitated over and over again.

    Some off the top of my fingers:

    The Old West - Can't argue with this. If done right, could be a a really cool MMO.

    1920's Chicago Gangland - Wouldn't be a large enough target audience.

    American Revolution - Again, too small of an audience

    Nasa - Space program - You may have to expand more on how you are invisioning this as a MMO

    Spies - Espionage (The Agency was really promising - too bad it was canceled) - Agreed, could be a cool MMO.

    Submarines - Naval - Not sure how this could be an MMO. Seems very limited in the option area.

    Planes - Air Force - Same as subs

    The ideas are endless but instead we get the same old tired fantasy MMO's and even the Sci-fi is stale.

    I'm not sure about the target audiences being too small but I guess that's a possibility.

    As far as the Subs and Planes - the possibilities here are endless for a combat MMO. I mean - Nuclear powered subs all over the world - protecting counties and territories? Pure gold! Conquest and acquisition of those countries and territories. So much that could be done.

    Planes - Flight training and aerial battles. So much here it's scary - even down to wanting to work on/building planes in factories, assembling squadrons with your unit (er Guild) Nation vs Nations..etc etc.

    But - as you've mentioned the target audiences would not be as broad as for fantasy but that doesn't mean that individual genre-bending MMO's couldn't be profitable as well.

    Wow has ruined the business model for MMO's driving the genre creation towards more of the same in hopes of Wow-like success but it's caused the MMO industry to become stale and boring. Hopefully this trend will change.

    Currently playing SWTOR and it's MUCH better than it was at launch.

  • DarkPonyDarkPony Member Posts: 5,566

    Add ponies & bronies to the list plx!

  • DiovidiusDiovidius Member UncommonPosts: 1,026

    Innovation in terms of gameplay is waaaaaaay more important to me than innovation in setting.

  • IrishIrish Member UncommonPosts: 259
    Free Roam in Red Dead Redemption is like a quarter way there to all the decent wild west MMO one could ever need. I think if a successful western mmo was to launch, it'd have to borrow heavily from that game. Otherwise, the audience probably just won't be there. To me, I thought Bully (also from Rockstar) would have made a great multiple-faction mmo. I have a pretty extensive design doc on that myself, but actual paying jobs keep me from polishing it up.
  • LoktofeitLoktofeit Member RarePosts: 14,247

    Originally posted by Havok2all

    Nasa - Space program - You may have to expand more on how you are invisioning this as a MMO

    Moonbase Alpha is one approach.

    Submarines - Naval - Not sure how this could be an MMO. Seems very limited in the option area.

    Navy Field is a good example of one. However, for ultimate coolness, Google "MMOWGLI" image

    There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
    "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre

Sign In or Register to comment.