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General: Four Worlds Ripe for MMO Treatment
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
In today's No Elves Allowed, we spend time speculating about one of the big questions of life, "What if...?" What if your favorite franchise was an MMO? We've got several examples that should set your brain on fire so keep reading!
Once again, we're back with No Elves Allowed. I hope Valentine's Day was not an all-out disaster for you guys out there. Given that Valentine's Day, when not otherwise a season for blatant commercialism, can be a day for hope, this week's No Elves Allowed will be dedicated to 'what-ifs'. What if your favorite franchise was an MMO? What if? Below is a list of franchises that I would definitely shell out subscription money for.
Read more of Cassandra Khaw's No Elves Allowed: Four Worlds Ripe for MMO Treatment.
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Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Westerns
Indiana Jones (Pulp Fiction 1920's - 1930's)
The works of author Jules Verne
Riverworld
"Don't corpse-camp that idea. Its never gonna rez"
Bladezz (The Guild)
Glorantha
Le sigh, Discworld, how I want thee!
I think it would work very well, as a non combat MMO. I mean hell, all the arguements against are pretty much typical MMO comparisons, no it wont work like *that* because DW isn't like that! It could just be a real sandboxy world with tales and stories to work through, people to enjoy.
Can't believe you didn't pick pokemon though, yeah yeah it's cheesy but comooon! It's fucking pokemon! I don't think I'd ever play any other game again. Stupid ninty, just make it already!
Rather than talking IPs, why not talk about gameplay? Take M:tG. The idea to take from it is not the IP, it's the "power set" idea that each land has its own spellbook to acquire and use, themes and synergies instead of rigid classes and the emergent Timmy-Johnny-Spike trinity.
(although if you do want to talk IP, "planeswalkers" already has all the excuses for hopping between worlds covered)
Space: 1899
Car Wars/ Interstate '76
Sub Culture
Traveller
Any of the two fantasy series by James Clemens so:
The Banned and the Banished (Wit'ch Fire etc)
The Godslayer series (Hinterland etc...although, I'd just settle for book 3!)
A proper shadowrun mmo would be awesome. a few games have taken insiration from it but none have actually used the real ip and game concepts.
Totally agree. I have no idea why this hasn't been done yet. A 3D version of the pokemon world, with all 500+ pokemon roaming around freely. I mean the game is practically set up for multiplayer (You fight other "Trainers" all the time in the game) and there already is a pretty amazing end game ("Catching them all" is no easy feat). That and a huge following of both older nostalgic gamers (Me!) and the younger crowd. It's a recipe for success. They could continue to release their handheld games, and then follow each one up with an "expansion" to the MMO that adds that world and the pokemon in it (Obviously that means two different development teams working closely together, but I believe they have the funds for that, and the MMO would make enough money for that).
Also, I'm sure Nintendo wouldn't mind having something like that on their console
Personally I think MMO's based on 3rd party IP's are simply a bad idea.
That said... the one company who really could have taken advantage of IP's they own... without spending hundreds of millions to aquire an entire studio just to get an IP....
Was EA....
Why? Simply because EA owns every IP that belonged to OSI (Origin System Inc).
Privateer expanded into a game that included planetary content would be a great IP. Especially if you want to build a game around PvP... between the various factions right down to people trying to get your precious cargo. (space alone off hand I can think of: Privateer, Wing Commander and Space Rogue)
If you can think of a "genre" there is probably an IP from OSI that covers it. Tho they also licensed to some degree for a few. Auto Duel for example was based off Steve Jackson Games.. Car Wars.
Of course like anything else you have to actually make a decent game which is a big enough challenge. I just have really lost interest in companies making games based on IP's they don't own. Simply because of the IP fee and limits on creative use of the 3rd party IP.
Shadowrun
Rifts
The Dark Tower Cycle
Elric Of Melinibone
Firefly
David Gemmells Drenai
Dragonlance
World Of Warcraft (Just kidding.......:D)
Horror MMO's have yet to be very successful and you have 3 of them in your list? I find some of the replies offer better suggestions than your article. All opinion of course, but a developer has to make money on them to be really considered.
I'd really love to see either a Mech Warrior or Armored Core MMO. Something with battle mechs.
Hmm, my own additions:
- Steven Eriksons' Malazan Chronicles of the Fallen: one of the richest and indepth fantasy worlds I've encountered so far.- Frank Herbert's Dune
- a properly done Game of Thrones
- Tad Williams' Otherland: seems like a perfect fit. I know 1 is in the making, but I'd prefer one with somewhat more near future tech and revolutionary game design (like for example different rules for each world that is represented)
- Stephen King's Dark Tower magnum opus
Oh, and a Lovecraft MMO with Amnesia style of gameplay mechanics. It's kinda covered by TSW, by I'd prefer one where fear or insanity could be actual factors that count in gameplay, also the horror level could be amped up a bit.
No, No, No..just NO!
Look, I know you guys need something to write an acticle about, but these "What IP/World would make a good MMORPG?" discussions arent helping move the genre forward.
In fact I believe it contributes to holding it back.
We dont need any more established IPs becoming MMOs. They all fail.
Putting up articles like this, and having people respond with their own ides, just adds fuel to the wildfire that is substandard and shallow MMOs because it gives game companies the idea that we the players would prefer them over something original.
Please, please, please! Game Development Companies! Create something unique to you. Not something already thought up by someone else.
Original MMO Worlds > Pre-established IP Worlds
Tried: EQ2 - AC - EU - HZ - TR - MxO - TTO - WURM - SL - VG:SoH - PotBS - PS - AoC - WAR - DDO - SWTOR
Played: UO - EQ1 - AO - DAoC - NC - CoH/CoV - SWG - WoW - EVE - AA - LotRO - DFO - STO - FE - MO - RIFT
Playing: Skyrim
Following: The Repopulation
I want a Virtual World, not just a Game.
ITS TOO HARD! - Matt Firor (ZeniMax)
Anyone remember the pen and paper game: Gamma World? That could be fun.
Or perhaps a crazy game: Paranoia (promotes insanity and back stabbing fun)
When I was much younger, I enjoyed Robotech. Lots of mechs.
It's not about fighting, it's about balance. It's not about enlightenment, it's about balance. It's not about balance.
All the most popular MMOs today come from previous IPs.
Granted I'l like to see new IPs as well, but brand power sells.
How good/bad a game is has nothing to do with whether the IP is new or old. Either can be absolutely horrible or completely awesome. It all depends on the mechanics that surround it.
A Discworld MUD exists for those who are interested in text-based MMOs. It's actually pretty decent and includes Guild and city politics.
Like a previous poster said, games based on 3rd party IP rarely succeed, and mostly suck. There are very few exceptions to this.
Cant beleive you missed out The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Its like it was written to be an MMO.
Cluck Cluck, Gibber Gibber, My Old Mans A Mushroom
Discworld indeed
planescape
Those are some examples I never would have thought of.
And as far as I know... NO ELVES! YAY!
A writer and gamer from the Philippines. Loves his mom dearly.
Can also be found on http://www.gamesandgeekery.com
I'd love to see some form of:
MAGIC THE GATHERING: MMO
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.