Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
A New MMORPG/FPS is needed
Niagro
Member Posts: 13
Right...
I recently went and watched the new transformers movie, which, admittedly, has less than the average amount of plot or storyline. What it does have is special effects and action - lots of it, it's the reason the films are doing well when they otherwise wouldn't be so...
I've been thinking on this for a while now; an MMO based around the movies (I CAN here your groans!) - and now I need to kill 10 minutes anyways. I'm just typing what comes into my head so some of it may not make sense and its not well thought-through but here goes:
I'm not into transformers in terms of lore and names e.t.c.
What i am into is MMOs, specifically MMOFPS type games - and in that respect the brand would serve admirably as a basis for such a game.
Games you ought to try before commenting further on this thread: Exteel, Air Rivals, Savage 2: A Tortured Soul, WoW/any trading MMO.
Reasons: they may not be altogether clear as of yet, but let me elaborate -
Exteel has a brilliant, simple system on which to base the normal combat of the game, allowing for decent TPS (third person) style PvP as well as the infamous resemblance to transformers anyway.
Air Rivals is again fantastically easy to imagine being part of the MMO which we hope to create in this thread, it contains aerial combat which is simple, roughly the same style as Exteel, but also allows for complex manoeuvres to be performed simply in the air during PvP. Look no further for a simulation of what transformers aerial combat should be like.
Savage 2 is nothing like the previous 2, it seems irrelevant until you understand that it is the block/combo melee system that would we good to bring into this game - not the graphics. Implementing the sort of free swing combos found here should allow 1 button changes from fps to melee combat akin to that of savage 2s - perfect again for transformers PvP.
WoW or the other big MMOs are here purely to demonstrate how in order for an MMO to be successful, it MUST have:
Gear/items which are hard to acquire
PvP which is SKILL based
Trade systems that work (e.g. the auction house in WoW)
Group PvE for those non-PvP gear-hoarders
Levelling system that allows a degree of player non-superficial customisability
--> Utilising what these other games display couldn't be easier; they're already done, tried and tested!
So...
on to the dull(er) bit of my article:
How will the game work?!
Map: I have no clue about the planet names or anything about the lore, what i do understand is the need for capital cities for trade, the need for different zones of difficulty, and the need for at least a few zones for open PvP.
Here's what I propose: A 7 planet solar system, with 2 capitals where the layout is C-1-2-1-2-1-C. This would allow a safe home base, with a beginner planet right in front of it, for levelling up to a reasonable standard of power, with minimal involuntary PvP action. After progressing from the first planet, there would be open PvP, with both sides struggling to defend their middle 2 planets and to capture the very middle planet. This would allow a RELATIVELY safe environment for medium-high levels, but with some open PvP, and an out-and-out war zone for the top ppls. In the middle planet (earth maybe?) would be the best loot to be found, including all the big NPC bosses e.t.c - providing the reason for the sides to struggle over it. In order to aviod a stalemate a WoW like area control system would be adopted for the different areas on it. This should stop never-ending wars and still allow both sides at least a bit of the planet if not all of it.
The big problem is how do we implement voluntary PvP for low levels? The answer has to be something along the lines of WoW/WAR's 'Battlegrounds' with level boundaries. I'll let the lore guys work out how that could happen =D
Gear: This is the thing that will set apart Transformers MMO from the others - FPS style games typically find it impossible to gain gear like fantasy games do - Air Rivals does the best job I have ever seen in the respect of gear in an fps... So copy it!
Transforming: This is of course one of the game's big, kickass USPs, so best not to skimp on this aspect! I'm suggesting out of improvisation 4 basic systems. When transforming your stats (mentioned later sorry) would be affected much in the same way as that of WoW’s druid forms buffs.
Normal - essentially Exteel with melee included
Tank - movement with wheeled ground vehicles has no strafing! Sounds stupid, but this allows players to use the ASWD keys to do the full range of movement, freeing the mouse to do its own thing with the turret FPS style. Please note some of them should be able to hover on water akin to a boat (or even just add boats, using the same controls).
Aircraft - 2 words: Air Rivals. You don't get much better than that. For submarines the exact same system should be used.
Animal - This is the toughest one, you’d have to play it something like you would a savage 2 character, with melee being done the same way, but with abilities used to bring up the fps screen for ranged weaponry. Do not refrain from allowing swimming animals, the savage 2 movement system, while none of savage 2 is played underwater, does accommodate underwater movement.
To obtain your transformation, there would be 3 methods:
Via the custom shop – whereby you pick a basis (aircraft, tank e.t.c.), then add parts at cost to you or parts you’ve found. Each basis would require different parts, much in the same way as Air Rivals has an engine slot, a primary and secondary weapon and a chassis for an aerial unit. Once made and given a paint job, it would be condensed into a ‘chip’ which you would insert into one of your 10 (maybe less, possibly start with 1 then unlock more as you level up) ‘chipslots’. Once a form is placed in a chipslot, you may instantly transform into it. Predone chips could be put back into the custom shop and expanded, then altered - i.e you have a jet chip but want to attatch an even bigger lazer...
Via Loot – kill a big boss, it drops a chip, you get lucky and win it in the roll.
Via Replication – I’ve noticed how in the movies they seem to be able to just mimic anything! You would have an ability which adds the targeted civilian or NPC unit as your interchangeable chipslot, which would grant you the ability to transform into it instantly after absorbing its blueprints (or something). There would be level restrictions on the mimic able vehicles (i.e. no jet fighters for level 1s =P). In this form your name/status is not displayed to other players unless in combat, so as you can blend in to your surroundings and affect an ambush – what’s another car in the car park? (lots of fun to be had there). There would only be one interchangeable chipslot for your robot, and it would be overwritten with each new mimic, not a constant stock up of new forms.
Ok... next bit...
PvE: VERY simple section as Savage 2 already has shown that fps style PvE is not a problem.
Minor catches -->
Grinding - EVERY form of robot must have the ability to self-repair AFTER combat, to prevent annoying trips back to town to repair. Quests should work the same way as they do in every MMO, its simple and it works.
Healers - Transformers lends itself to this very well, picture the part of the second transformers movie (rise of the fallen?), where some autobot adds parts from the big stealth bombing Scottish robot to Optimus Prime. Easy, easy, easy - that's healing: -->
--------> and that allows for massive groups of players to form up to have 1 guy with a shield 'tanking' a huge monster, with a few healers and a load of gunners to kill him without taking damage. This is the fundamental setup for any 'raid', allowing the retrieval of nice gear from huge monsters to be split amongst the group. Remember the WoW 'rolling' system for loot, without it everything falls to pieces.
Resurrection - Not sure how well this checks out with the lore guys, but could every time you die some drone (which is invincible and very fast) come, collect your body and bring it back to the nearest outpost of your side for repairs. This allows for time delay punishment for dying, and also the lack of permanent death (which sucks, lets face it).
Loss of Gear - NO. NO loss of gear, in games like runescape where the game is free and is just a bit of a joke really it's fine, but in a serious MMO it's a big NO. However, a compromise for the player that killed the other player is available, in the form of WoW's 'honour' system.
Loot - Transformers lends itself to this entirely, nobody will say 'how the fuck did that rabbit have a sword in its pockets' when the rabbit is a mechanical droid and the sword is a mechanical gun.
Character Creation: When you make a character you would choose wether it would be autobot or decipticon, then you would have 5 preset different types of limb so as to be able to customise its:
-Arms
-Legs
-Head
-Feat
-Hands
-Torso
-Shoulders
Once you’d selected the ones you wanted, you would be asked to assign an amount of stat points to your attributes, in a style akin to WoW’s – that they change your HP, damage e.t.c but don’t affect you on the outside. You would gain more of these points as you level up, and gear would provide them as well. I don’t know what sort of attributes you might have, but obviously strength, agility, stamina are good examples of what to look for. In the way of classes I have found that (through playing the druid class in WoW extensively) stat points and item choice can drasticaly alter your character beyond simple changes in damage or hp: if the items, forms and abilities available for you to use in this game where dictated by the stats you had spent, it would allow a system with 'classes' being based around the stat points you'd spent, as opposed to presets. This makes it even easier to create your perfect class manualy over time, especialy if your choices had a dramatic effect very early on in the game.
The final stage would be to name, and provide a paint job for your robot – possibly also increase the dimensions of its parts in a similar way to how the editors for faces work in Perfect world, Eve Online and other detail-obsessed games.
That's it. Bet you've been waiting for it to be over, even if you've read this far - well it's your fault, you're on this forum.
FYI: I'm 15, I'm not fat and I’d like to think I still have a life ( =S ). Also even if you don't get some of the references to the other games, or even hate the article, PLEASE try the games mentioned, they're all worth a look, and only WoW isn't free - the rest are.
Ok, that's it, but if you happen to know a games developer or just someone with a load of cash and too much time, send it through as an email - you never know you might just get someone to make this game before I get too old to bother playing it.
Thanks for your time,
Niagro
Comments
I didn't read the post, only the start. I stopped because I'm annoyed. Am I the only person in the entire world that love Transformers 2? I'm pretty sure it's my favorite move and the only movie I want to see again at the cinema.
Originally posted by --Name edited out--
EX-PRO PLAYER IN WOW HERE.THIS GAME IS GOOD! TRUST ME IM USED TO BE THE BEST IN WOW BUT JUST A N00B IN AION. ITS CHALLENGEING , TRY IT!
[Sigh, watch out guys, this dude's pro.]
Relax, it wasn't that bad - if you haven't read the rest of the post you don't understand why i need to assure people im not some crazty transformers fan from the 80s
Saying Transformers has no storyline is such an insult. Tell that to Hasbro and all the episodes of cartoons. Im sure their were books also.
Im not saying im a diehard fan either, just pointing out a fallacy.
i enjoyed the movie aswell
Global Agenda?
Tyvm for the post - but as far as i can see GA has no flight, no transformations, a limited trade system and has no end-game content for more PvE-oriented players.
Thanks anyway, i'll look in more depth at GA - let me know if i've missed something
Well, I didn't read everything to it's entirety, but I did skim over a bunch of stuff.
First off, transformers2 has to be the best movie I've seen this year. Why do people need a complicated storyline for a movie to be good nowadays? Transformers2 has a simple story: (Warning, this is a movie spoiler, watch the movie first before reading this post) Optimus Prime's evil ancestor wants to rule Earth, but he needs Shia LeBeouf (or however that name is spelled) and that information in his head. Then, the evil dude will unleash a powerful weapon to destroy the sun, so everyone dies (humans and transformers alike) except the evil dude and his army. Awesome robot fighting action helps seal the deal. The movie doesn't have to be good because of its brutally simple storyline, because with mindless destruction going about, as well as alot of funny scenes added for comic relief, who cares if the story isn't complex?
Same thing with gaming. If a transformers game was made, story isn't important, blowing up stuff (and other people's robots) is what's important.
Also, I have personally found Armored Core 4 for my PS3 to fulfill my robot destroying needs. Now, if only a good mmorpg/fps with robots battling each other was made...
I completely agree with you on the 'just needs action' idea - hence me doing this article despite the 1st paragraph
walls of text tend to kill people's desire to learn more about something.... even my miracle-extra-spacing hasn't helped
Do me a favour and give up five minutes to see if the whole thing is worth keeping up for comment or not XD
Yeah, Global Agenda is looking good. Real-time combat, jetpacks, etc. Can't wait to try it!
Computer RPG means character progression. FPS means twitch skills are more important than character progression.
You can mix them by adding progressive gear or additional hit points to your first person shooter, but in the end you're either on the RPG side or the FPS side of the equation.
Wrong.
Check out Air Rivals
I've moved this thread so it can be looked at by people looking to make/help create MMOs
The new link is Here
I completely agree.
Please stop with the hybrid games, either make a MMORPG or a MMOFPS don't try and combine them, you'll only end up with a mess. History has proven this.
You want to combine RPG progression in a FPS game, look no further then Call of Duty 4 and World at War to figure out how to do it "right."
The starting guns are definetely some of the best, and the perks don't mean jack if you are a good player.
RPG means a lot more than character progression. It also have to do with mood, interaction between players and both npcs and other players. It means that you creates something when playing.
MMO means that your character gets better in a persistant online world, you can easily do a MMOFPS without any RPG in it, like a Natural selection online or something (I would play that).
I just felt like making this post even longer...
Please check out my channel. I do gaming reviews, gaming related reviews & lets plays. Thanks!
https://www.youtube.com/user/BettyofDewm/videos
Dude makes a post about a transformers2 mmo which i've thought about myself and the first 10 posts are about how the movies are good despite getting bad ratings . . . LOL.
I like the idea of having a game with both FPS and RPG elements but i think it's setting the difficulty so high it will be ridiculous and most likely broken. Greenie alludes to the fact that they fail often.
An MMO FPS is always tough just because it's about twitch and twitch + RPG elements = making balance impossible. For me, I'd like to see an EVE type game in any other genre. Sandbox = any other genre I guess.
I like your enthusiasm Niagro, one thing I leanred a long time ago is that if something sounds cool to you doesn't mean it sounds cool to everyone else. I ran into that trouble by thinking i have the best gmame idea ever.
You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.