Wild West MMO?

Raenz

After playing Read Dead Redemption, I got to thinking if a MMO with a backstory set in the Old West could even have a hope of making it in the industry.   I realize that fantasy seems to be king, there have been some sci-fi based ones, and there is SWtOR on the horizon, but even that has a well recognized IP.   I wonder how well a new wild west IP could do in the MMO market.

Would be people be content to log into a game, make a custom character, be a lawman, a gunslinger, a gambler, a rancher, a prospector or a drifter?

(NOTE: I figured this has been discussed many times, but after using the search function I could not find a single thread about it)

Malcanis

Does RDR not have much replay value then? You kind of sound like you've finished it.

Lexica

Since RDR its just Grand Theft Pony I am sure an APB on horse back would not be too much of a stretch.

Martinmas

  I have thought for a long time now that an Old West game would be the perfect setting for a sandbox MMOG. I am glad to see that Red Dead Redemption is doing so well because it will of course lead to many copy cat games which will more than likely also spill over into to MMO market. I think it would be a pretty safe bet to expect a Wild West MMOG within the next couple of years.

Malcanis

Originally posted by Martinmas

  I have thought for a long time now that an Old West game would be the perfect setting for a sandbox MMOG. I am glad to see that Red Dead Redemption is doing so well because it will of course lead to many copy cat games which will more than likely also spill over into to MMO market. I think it would be a pretty safe bet to expect a Wild West MMOG within the next couple of years.

 

A couple of years, eh? I bet Cryptic could knock one out in that timescale.

Cik_Asalin

Originally posted by Malcanis

A couple of years, eh? I bet Cryptic could knock one out in that timescale.

And completely destroy the idea in the meantime.

vinwiesel

I for one, have seen enough elves for this lifetime.  Assuming all other gameplay aspects were up to par I'd play it.

Chuckanar

 I would love to see a Steampunk mmo

Kothoses

Originally posted by Malcanis

Originally posted by Martinmas

  I have thought for a long time now that an Old West game would be the perfect setting for a sandbox MMOG. I am glad to see that Red Dead Redemption is doing so well because it will of course lead to many copy cat games which will more than likely also spill over into to MMO market. I think it would be a pretty safe bet to expect a Wild West MMOG within the next couple of years.

 

A couple of years, eh? I bet Cryptic could knock one out in that timescale.

I can knock one out in about 5-10 mins, its nothing to brag about.

 

However I am of the belief that there is room in the growing and maturing MMO market for a whole bunch of niche games along side 3 or 4 mega mmos.  I think we will see a wild west mmo, steampunk mmos shadow run mmos etc coming out soon and running at a few hundred thousand subs or less (Remember pre wow 250k subs was a raging success and profitable business).

 

I dont think your idea is far fetched, the single player industry is trying to nail new sub genres at the moment, Red Dead Redemption and Alpha Protocol are two examples of such, while the big boys play with tried and tested models the small-medium houses will be where the new ideas that filter up come from.

Malcanis

Originally posted by Cik_Asalin

Originally posted by Malcanis

A couple of years, eh? I bet Cryptic could knock one out in that timescale.

And completely destroy the idea in the meantime.

 Yeah that was kind of the point I was making

Dubhlaith

I too would love a steampunk MMO. You could even throw in a little magic for fantasy, and have a world of anarchy that would be very suitable for a game.

I also think the general level of anarchy in the American West would go over very well. There is already have a general backstory for the game. You might be able to make some historical changes for just about any steampunkesque game. With the wild west, you have any number of interesting avenues for PvP.

But of course, it is all in the implementation.