Who Ya Gonna Call: The Potential of a Ghostbusters MMO | MMORPG.com

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Who Ya Gonna Call: The Potential of a Ghostbusters MMO | MMORPG.com

As franchises go, Ghostbusters is an odd one. It's had some video game success, but one genre it's not dipped its toes into, yet, is the MMO genre. Ryan makes the case for why it could work.

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Kelador

As much as I like the original films I don't want to play an MMO in that universe.

Slapshot1188

Ehh... I don't think Ghostbusters works in any way shape or form as an MMO.


But I DO believe it's ripe for a deep RPG treatment like BG3. That could be a heck of a lot of fun.

Angrakhan

A game that would probably have better success would be a new IP. An MMO that was a modern day setting where you play as some sort ghost hunter that has access to some sci-fi equipment that can deal with them. The problem with Ghostbusters is that it's too campy. I think MMO gamers like to take their games and their immersion in it pretty seriously, and Ghostbusters was largely a comedy. Even the newer ones still hold to that campy comedy vibe. If you set aside the Ghostbusters IP you could let the game get pretty dark and scary. A looter shooter ala STALKER series could be interesting.

Sovrath

I think it could work in a setting like left4dead where people cue up for missions. MMORPG? Not really.

Xiaoki

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehh... I don't think Ghostbusters works in any way shape or form as an MMO.


But I DO believe it's ripe for a deep RPG treatment like BG3. That could be a heck of a lot of fun.

You can make almost any IP work as an MMO.

It just needs to be a good video game and fit the feel of the IP.

With Ghostbusters I would go with something like The Division. Third person shooter, you would have different types of equipment. Such as, different proton or foam guns, different proton packs for more energy, different types of ghost traps. And, of course, you would fight bigger and badder ghosts around New York.

But, Ghostbusters definitely would not work as an RPG. With a deep story? What story? Find ghosts, shoot ghosts, trap ghosts is all the story you need for Ghostbusters.

Slapshot1188

Xiaoki said:

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehh... I don't think Ghostbusters works in any way shape or form as an MMO.


But I DO believe it's ripe for a deep RPG treatment like BG3. That could be a heck of a lot of fun.

You can make almost any IP work as an MMO.

It just needs to be a good video game and fit the feel of the IP.

With Ghostbusters I would go with something like The Division. Third person shooter, you would have different types of equipment. Such as, different proton or foam guns, different proton packs for more energy, different types of ghost traps. And, of course, you would fight bigger and badder ghosts around New York.

But, Ghostbusters definitely would not work as an RPG. With a deep story? What story? Find ghosts, shoot ghosts, trap ghosts is all the story you need for Ghostbusters.

Think you have it totally backwards.  Last thing I want is to see 10k "Ghostbusters" wandering around with proton packs fighting legions of undead.  Instead, I'd love an actual RPG that had a story, character interactions, dig through the mystery/backstory of the event, crafting (develop new technology), and character development.  Heck it could even be a business where you get to take on cases, have to pick/lease/build a base. Get a vehicle to drive around town... so much you can do there.

But thats why we have discussions.  Everyone gets to have an opinion.  

harken33

The biggest decision would be whether to go with Ray Parkers Jr's Ghostbusters 1984 song or Bobby Browns On Our Own from Ghostbusters 2 as the theme music. The rest would work itself out

Lemme tell ya something, bustin makes me feel good.

Slapshot1188

Its not open for discussion.  Ray Parker Jr

Aeander

I don't see it. The charm and humor of the series would be stretched pretty thin if it just became a grind/day job.

Sovrath

Xiaoki said:

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehh... I don't think Ghostbusters works in any way shape or form as an MMO.


But I DO believe it's ripe for a deep RPG treatment like BG3. That could be a heck of a lot of fun.

You can make almost any IP work as an MMO.

It just needs to be a good video game and fit the feel of the IP.

With Ghostbusters I would go with something like The Division. Third person shooter, you would have different types of equipment. Such as, different proton or foam guns, different proton packs for more energy, different types of ghost traps. And, of course, you would fight bigger and badder ghosts around New York.

But, Ghostbusters definitely would not work as an RPG. With a deep story? What story? Find ghosts, shoot ghosts, trap ghosts is all the story you need for Ghostbusters.

Is the Division really an MMORPG? I don’t think it is.

Also, ghostbusters has had several stories. I wouldn’t call them “deep “ though.

cameltosis

I can't see it working at an MMO. Having hundreds of ghostbusters walking around a city?


Maybe it could work like the Division (which, with a player cap of 12, is definitely not an MMO!). Mostly a solo game, but with the ability to group up with a few other people for some quests, or up to 12 people for mega-ghosts? Sure, that could work.



I like the idea Slapshot mentioned earlier. Having to recruit your own team, rent a building, take jobs to earn money to expand your business, research / buy better equipment etc. The "jobs" could be procedurally generated for the most part, with an underlying storyline of some badass ghost that is stirring up trouble.

I could see that idea working as an RPG, a CRPG, or something like XCOM.

ShinyFlygon

Nah. The IP works a whole lot better as a plain old multiplayer game. It would be utterly impossible to get the premise of the game to function in an MMO context without making hauntings so commonplace that the mystery and magic of the movies drains away.

Also, eff you for pretending "Ghostbusters II" doesn't exist.

Raagnarz

The world would be amazing. I think it would be incredibly fun. You'd have to set it at maybe like a Harry Potter style "school" maybe which would explain away why there are so many Ghostbusters. Make the story the Ghostbusters opened up a university to train them to franchise out to other cities. It could function like the OG Guild Wars, the school is the hub for quests, crafting, research, loading out, and forming a group. Then the missions you're set on are instanced so that you don't see 1000 Ghostbusters running around during your mission. An ode st SWG maybe have research classes that are non combatant, or tech crafters that make the packs/traps and other gear or upgrade them with new tricks, or classes that specialize in certain types of ghosts. On that note make each ghost be of a certain class type or tier type (tier 1 ghost tier 2 ghost etc). As others have said make it a pure multiplayer game with a few friends similar to the 2000's Ghostbusters game would probably be more ideal, but an MMO could absolutely work. However to quote Ian Malcolm and kind of applies here..."your scientists were so preoccupied on whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

Terazon

Terrible idea. Create new IPs

Xiaoki

ShinyFlygon said:

Nah. The IP works a whole lot better as a plain old multiplayer game. It would be utterly impossible to get the premise of the game to function in an MMO context without making hauntings so commonplace that the mystery and magic of the movies drains away.

Also, eff you for pretending "Ghostbusters II" doesn't exist.

"Mystery and magic of the movies"

Come on, its Ghostbusters. Only the first movie was good and even then it wasnt exactly high art.

Maybe in Slapshot's RPG version you explore the mystery and backstory of how ghost fellatio works. Perhaps, even make it a little mini game.

Scot

Great as say a co-op, no way would it be a good MMO pick.

ShinyFlygon

Xiaoki said:

"Mystery and magic of the movies"

Come on, its Ghostbusters. Only the first movie was good and even then it wasnt exactly high art.

The entire narrative still relies on the fact that ghosts are weird and rare. It's not a world where you see dozens of spirits swirling around every city block every night.

You could have a game like that, but it wouldn't be in line with what makes Ghostbusters work as a story. Much like you can make a Dune game without Fremen, and it will be the most boring, stupid waste of time ever.

Theocritus

Scot said:

Great as say a co-op, no way would it be a good MMO pick.

Isnt that pretty much what Phasmophobia is? A co-op ghost hunting game in the spirit of ghostbusters? Also they thought making a sequal to the Ghostbusters movie was a good idea...that didnt turn out so well....I think the original movie caught lightning in a bottle....IT was unique for the time, had a cast with a couple of major stars, and it was entertaining, but I dont think it would play out well in a MMO at all.

waveslayer

a ghostbusters MMo? No, nothing about Ghostbusters screams world needing to be explored, I couldnt even imagine thousands of ghostbusters running around the country side.

If someone wants to create an MMoRPG based on an existing IP there are plenty of good ones, almost anything imaginable could be packed into a game based in the Stargate Universe, yet you hear absolutly nothing about someone trying to aquire the rights to it

ValdemarJ

There already a multiplayer Ghostbusters game. It's a 4v1 asymmetrical coop. The classic single player game has been remastered as well. Do we really need another Ghostbusters game?

KnightFalz

Sovrath said:

Xiaoki said:

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehh... I don't think Ghostbusters works in any way shape or form as an MMO.





But I DO believe it's ripe for a deep RPG treatment like BG3. That could be a heck of a lot of fun.

You can make almost any IP work as an MMO.

It just needs to be a good video game and fit the feel of the IP.

With Ghostbusters I would go with something like The Division. Third person shooter, you would have different types of equipment. Such as, different proton or foam guns, different proton packs for more energy, different types of ghost traps. And, of course, you would fight bigger and badder ghosts around New York.

But, Ghostbusters definitely would not work as an RPG. With a deep story? What story? Find ghosts, shoot ghosts, trap ghosts is all the story you need for Ghostbusters.

Is the Division really an MMORPG? I don’t think it is.

Also, ghostbusters has had several stories. I wouldn’t call them “deep “ though.

It isn't a MMORPG which may be why it was referred to as a MMO which it could be aptly described as.

KnightFalz

ValdemarJ said:

There already a multiplayer Ghostbusters game. It's a 4v1 asymmetrical coop. The classic single player game has been remastered as well. Do we really need another Ghostbusters game?

It is not a question of need but desire, and that for Ghostbusters in a MMORPG form may not be high enough to make it viable.

It may be an easier sell in other genres, such as a mission based cooperative looter shooter.

Scot

KnightFalz said:

ValdemarJ said:

There already a multiplayer Ghostbusters game. It's a 4v1 asymmetrical coop. The classic single player game has been remastered as well. Do we really need another Ghostbusters game?

It is not a question of need but desire, and that for Ghostbusters in a MMORPG form may not be high enough to make it viable.

It may be an easier sell in other genres, such as a mission based cooperative looter shooter.

Just about better in any other genre, but I think Valdemar is right, as the need is more likely to come from the studios than players.

KnightFalz

Scot said:

KnightFalz said:

ValdemarJ said:

There already a multiplayer Ghostbusters game. It's a 4v1 asymmetrical coop. The classic single player game has been remastered as well. Do we really need another Ghostbusters game?

It is not a question of need but desire, and that for Ghostbusters in a MMORPG form may not be high enough to make it viable.

It may be an easier sell in other genres, such as a mission based cooperative looter shooter.

Just about better in any other genre, but I think Valdemar is right, as the need is more likely to come from the studios than players.

Applying the concept of need to that entirely driven by desire isn't an optimal way of thinking. It can lead to companies making bad decisions when they perceive a need for their game that in reality does not exist.