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Transformers MMO?
norse25
Member Posts: 98
I would be killed if I named the source, but I can't help throwing the premise out there for reaction. As a Transformer's fan from the 80's, I got goosebumps hearing about this:
- An MMO set in the Transformer's Universe with of course 2 playable factions; Autobots and Decepticons.
In the 2 strarting faction locations, the player is 'revived' in their new body on Earth. - Damage (melee and ranged), Utility (healer), Leadership (tank), and Hybrid classes will be available with corresponding vehicle (Travel-mode) selections for each class.
- There will be 'Travel-mode' Transformers only with no shirinking cassettes, big guns, or space ships. Travel-modes and the resulting robots will be to scale. Initial Transformers will be fun machines, but not semi-trailers, tanks, or fighter jets; these 'Epic' characters can be unlocked later in the game, but options will exist to upgrade your original Transformer should you so desire. No 'beast' Transformers are planned for players, but possibly NPC's.
- Teams of 5 can combine to create a larger robot who's abilities will depend on the classes involved. 1 player will be the leader and will have control of movement, while the others can target enemies and perform maintenance on the group-bot.
- Approximately 20% of the content will be instanced. No talk of raids or raid sizes.
- Certain human groups will help each side, but the game will generally reward players for staying in travel-mode while around civilians.
(easy on the flames, I just a messenger)
Comments
Yes that would rock btw.
"There's no star system Slave I can't reach, and there's no planet I can't find. There's nowhere in the Galaxy for you to run. Might as well give up now."
Boba Fett
See you in the dream..
The Fires from heaven, now as cold as ice. A rapid ascension tolls a heavy price.
Aawww...don't ruin it for me
Maybe it is Bioware's big sercet!!!!
Tarantino
I VOTE YES
These "facts" sound more made up honestly.
I think it's all just smoke and pipedreams at this point. As far as it being able to be done? I don't know. Stupid people think they can slap any franchise on an MMO and make millions of dollars, but the fact is almost all franchise MMOs are viewed as 'flops' by the community.
I'm a huge transformers fan, but I think it would be very hard to get an 'interesting' mmo out of it.
I would only trust perhaps BioWare, Cryptic Studios, or Blizzard with this franchise. No one else could do it justice.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
There would need to be 3 factions:
1 - Autobots
2 - Decepticons
3 - Humans
In the cartoons and comics, while the stories focused on the Transformers, Humans played a vital role in their plans.
There should be 3 character slots. One for an Autobot character. One for a Decepticon character, and one for a human character.
The Human characters would be primarily social in nature, but they would also play a support role. Autobot and Decepticon alike made use of materials and facilities of human construction. Many humans willingly assisted the former and were inslaved by the latter.
On the issue of no shrinking casset transformers or big guns, I would hope not. The primary characters from the series should be unique. And while some models may be freely used, the EXACT color schemes of the main characters of the same model should not be possible. For example, I may have a design that is shaped JUST like Ironhide or Bumblebee... But I cannot have the same colors.
Of course, everyone will want to play Optimus Prime. And really, I don't see anything wrong with having Prime's appearance (but not his colors). I also believe that such a design should not be available at default, but be available as a Refit.
REFITTING:
When a Transformer is defeated in battle, it will sustain varrying degrees of damage. This Damage must be repaired after the fight. However, victories in battle will earn refit points. When next needing a repair, I could spend my refit points to "buy" a new body design. This will allow the player to change model without having to create a new character to experience its gameplay. But it will also allow those who have demonstrated great skill in battle and the ability to achieve remarkable goals, the refit process may present the option to upgrade to a more powerful base model.
My Autobot's design may start out looking like a pickup truck. If I do well, I could refit to an SUV design. If I do that one good, I could get a Semi truck like prime. Now here's the downside. Just because I have a better body, so to speak, it does not mean that I have the upper hand. Let's say that I have a Lvl 20 SUV before upgrading to the Semi. If I refit to the Semi, I lose the Lvl 20 status and start over at Lvl 1. The Lvl-1 Prime-model robot would be better than the Lvl-1 SUV model. And as he is advanced over time, gaining new weapons and abilities, upon reaching Lvl-20, he would far outstrip the Lvl-20 SUV model. So yes, a refit would grant a bigger bang for the buck, but not immediately, and only based on the choices of modifications made at maintenance cycles (level-up events).
THE STORY
The Story should loosely follow the comics and cartoons, not so much recreating the events recorded therein, but introducing the elements of the series in a linear sequence of events. The Awakening would be one such event.
The Space Bridge between Cybertron and Earth would be another element. At some point one could be constructed. The components would be there. But the players will need to figure out how to put them together.
ENERGON CUBES
Energon is clearly the primary source of sustenance for Transformers. In many episodes, we see them being consumed... A little heavy on the electrons...
Converting raw materials on Earth into Energon Cubes would be one of the primary non-combat aspects of the game. Energon would be used in restoring power to a Trasformer. Actions would deplete power so carrying a supply of energon would be vital. Yes, Transforming would be considered an action. If power hits zero, no actions can be performed and the transformer will be stuck in whatever form it was in when power ran out.
This will require the need of strategic retreats from a battle if there is no relief force to take up the fight. Either that or have a healthy supply of energon cubes stockpiled near the battlezone.
Humans as Transformers:
Exosuit technology could allow human characters to be as strong as smaller transformers in biped mode, and as fast in vehicular mode. The suits could provide lesser (but not insignificant) firepower for humans. We see this first demonstrated in "The Transformers: The Movie" when Daniel learns to use the suit to save his father.
Headmaster technology can allow a human to operate a detatchable head module of a regular transformer. However, this transformer must be manufactured as a headmaster model. It would have no conscience of its own. This would be an advanced option for human characters.
SHRINKING TRANSFORMERS:
When Megatron transformed, he became a rifle which could be held by one of his goons. Funny that he ended up tiny in non-bot mode compared to his robot form. I would say that a very high-level device called a "Molecular Compression Field Generator" could be installed allowing for size alterations. There would be a trade-off. It would cost a lot of power to use it, and it would take power to maintain the field. So the smaller size could not be maintained indefinitely, neither could it be done in rapid succession.
A gun model in the hands of another transformer:
Megatron often transformed to gun mode and was wielded in combat typically by Soundwave. I figure that Soundwave probably had extremely high marksmanship, and since his non-bot mode was not designed for battle, when grouped in this manner, the two transformers complemented each other quite well. Megatron as a rifle clearly packed a powerful punch.
The Soundwave model and the tape-bots:
Essentially, I think that the tape bots would be akin to pets. Their purpose is clearly espionage and sabottage. Rumble and Frenzy provided good demolitions capabilities, and were demonstrated in "The Movie" as being able to disrupt the Constructicons' merging capabilities. Laserbeak was typically used for aerial reconesance and occasionally in assault. Ravage was typically a hunter. These drones, if deployed by a Soundwave model would not show up on radar unless they take an offensive action.
Just my opinion on this
In Christ,
G. B. Jackson
The Opinionated One
LOL very first thought that came to me heh... Funny I was looking up
some info earlier today trying to find out some info on the new Sony
game and came accross this.
"Dow Jones in reporting that Sony Online
Entertainment president John
Smedley, speaking at this year's Austin Game Conference,revealed that
the company is soon to release a subscription-free MMO.
It has for a long time been the norm for MMOs to charge a monthly
subscription fee and this has been the way these games made money. It
now appears that SOE are confident this is not required, with the sale
of optinal add-ons, such as new levels and weapons being the new way
to make money from MMOs.
Smedley didn't announce any further details on the game, but did say
that the company is "going to be launching this quickly." Nov 1, 2005
"Initial Transformers will be fun machines, but not semi-trailers,
tanks, or fighter jets; these 'Epic' characters can be unlocked later
in the game, but OPTIONS WILL EXIST TO UPGRADE THE ORIGINAL TRANSFORMER SHOULD YOU DESIRE"
That is interesting, especially when you read part of the statment above where it says "It has for a long time been the norm for MMOs to charge a monthly
subscription fee and this has been the way these games made money. It
now appears that SOE are confident this is not required, with the sale
of OPTINAL ADD-ONS, such as NEW LEVELS and WEAPONS being the new way
to make money from MMOs."
Very interesting, hell I don't think even I could stay away from another SOE game if the Transformers are involved. Not saying that it is for sure, but you never know.
------------------------------
You see, every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with their surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You spread to an area, and you multiply, and you multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet.-Mr.Smith
Not to be one of 'those guys', but I'm sure it was Starscream who normally weilded Megatron. I'm breaking out my comics now to check...
You are probably right... It has been ages since I watced Transformers. I'm surprised (maybe I should be scared) that I remember some of the details.
I seem to remember Soundwave wielding the megatron-gun. It seemed more logical seeing as Soundwave was loayl to Megatron, but Starscream would just as soon toss him out an airlock as look at him, and Megatron knew it. If I were Megatron, I'd rip out my own optics before I'd putmyself in Starscream's hands, even if it IS so he can shoot Autobot scrap.
Oh...KAY. I'm starting to freak my own self out. I think I'll go get some sleep before it gets any worse.
Night, all...
In Christ,
G. B. Jackson
The Opinionated One
Not the mmorpg...but definately worth the mention.
The Transformers Movie....and not some lame attempt...teaser looks like it will be quite enjoyable....
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/transformers/
I've always dreamed of a Tranformers MMOG. It would have to be a MMOFPS though, not a MMORPG. Dice rolling combat does not accommodate the Transfomers world.