Okies, so as the title says, this post is unlikely to be coherent, but I''ll try!! My last idea of a bomberman/worms hybrid has me losing interest already, so I''ve pretty much shot that idea out of the sky by my own lack of interest. So I''ve been sitting here today trying to work out what kind of project I want to work on next. I''m in a perfectionist mood today though, so I''m not liking a lot of my ideas, however amongst my random thoughts I think I may have the basis of something quite new, exciting, and best of all, something actually maybe feasible!! Okay at my disposal knowledge-wise I have: 3D Tiled Heightmap top down perspective, input, basic network core structure, rudimentary AI techniques, knowledge of particle systems, putting together code to control sound, understanding of inventory control, user interface. All the above and possibly more, I believe I have enough understanding and experience of through my previous projects to attempt something a little bigger. Now I don''t want to jump into something as almighty as a huge MMORPG that I couldn''t possibly hope to create enough content for, but I do wish to produce something unique, something fun, and something I can potentially use as a demo to help hunting for a job. My idea with this knowledge is not entirely original, but I believe has not been fully taken to it''s potential yet. Okay, so think along the lines of a cross between an instant messenger client, a MUD and an RPG and you''re thinking along the same lines as me. Take EverQuest, it''s a game that places a big focus on the game, but has the side effect of producing an active community... however my personal opinion is that it''s communication features are only barely adequate, and more of an afterthought(though they are improving somewhat). Now flip that around and add a simplistic game with a well thought through system of communication. You now pretty much have a MUD (from my understanding of the term). What I''m aiming at is something between the two, capitalising on the most popular aspects of both. So, what draws people to the two types of game? Communication, customisation, continuation. Heh, that just came out of coincidence but could make for a good slogan The three C''s Anyhoo, people like to be able to communicate online, instant messenger client popularity alone shows that. People love to customise an avatar, RPG popularity these days again demonstrates this. Continuation again is shown to be popular by RPG''s and perhaps even some RTS games that feature campaigns. Growing attached to a character through progression and customisation expands the longevity of a game. I know this as I myself, though at the moment I''m not playing Everquest, am loath to delete my character because of the time spent developing it. So my thoughts are to aim to make a game with a high level of character customisation, simplicity at it''s heart, but with a good focus on continuation and character building. Basically a decent chat client but with some semblance of a decent game behind it that can be customised to suit the person playing. Something that the less hardcore gamers could use minimally as a chat client with bells and whistles, but that could also with a little customisation turn into a simple but absorbing game. Finally drawing a little from something I read about Neverwinter Nights and their portal system. I think it''d be great to think up something similar to add to continuation by featuring some method of connecting to other servers allowing for a greater degree of continuation. Anyways thats the basis behind my ideas at the moment. All I need to do now is work on a way of tying this all together, and above all, making sure that the idea is simple enough to actually work... AND remain fun. I don''t wish to start any flames by proposing an idea that is completely unfeasible, this is only something I''m toying around with and could quite possibly abandon if I find it involves more than I can handle.... but initially I think it does sound feasible, bearing in mind I do have some previous projects under my belt (though unfortunately due to a recent lapse back into EQ and a drastic shortage of HD space, the projects aren''t available in any form to show off). Anyways I''m hoping it''s feasibility wont be in question. I''m really just looking for some ideas from a design point of view.... Any input would be appreciated, cheers, Steve AKA Mephs

I think it''s interesting how you want to focus on communication...

I prefer text-based MUDs over MMORPGs like Everquest because there is more communication and interaction between players. I think this mainly due to the difference in control schemes: In Gemstone3 for instance, my hands are already typing, so it is very easy to type "Hello." and say something to someone. In Everquest you usual have one hand on the mouse and the other on the asdw keys, so you have to reposition your hands to talk.

This might sound minor, but I think is has a huge impact, especially in the amount of interaction while "hunting." It''s a little more daunting to talk while your battling in EQ...

Just some thoughts, though don''t take this post as EQ bashing, as I only played it a little when it first came out. I stopped playing for the reason stated above.

So...
Maybe a graphical MUD where you still used typed commands to move around and interact would be interesting... Probably better to have the option.

- Jason

Sometime in the next 3-5 years, I expect microphones transmitting speech over the internet to become pretty much standard in commercial online games. Already it''s possible to do in games like Counter Strike, and I''ve heard reports that at least one X-Box title is planning to ship with a headset microphone for online play...

Once this happens, real time communication becomes feasible for multiplayer games without having to have several players clustered in the same room...

quote: Original post by rmsgrey
... and I''ve heard reports that at least one X-Box title is planning to ship with a headset microphone for online play...

XBox Live (the service you sign up for to play the games online) comes with the headset, which is used in many of the online games (all of em? i dunno, i''ve only played a few but they all used it).

I''m sure you are right about the speech aspect. I have often wondered, though, what proportion of users would be against such a system.

Personally, I would hate it. For one, I like to hide behind my RPG persona, and this would be exposing myself somewhat. Secondly, I may not want a Dwarf coming up to me and speaking with, say, an American accent, or an Orc speaking well in any language. Thirdly, I can just imagine the annoyance of voices constantly coming in and out. Fourthly, the one MMORPG I played extensively was UO, and my main character was female. I suppose I would have had to go by the name of Hoffs the Mute on that occassion.

All this is really with regard to MMORPG. Another thing that arises with those is what happens with NPCs? Firstly, how do they talk, and secondly how do you talk back to them? I know we are talking a few years down the line here, but text-to-speech has got to improve a hell of a lot in that time.

And then there is the question of bandwith. With twenty players gathered together and chatting amongst themselves, that''s a hell of a lot of info that has to be sent out to everyone, although once again, presumably bandwith will increase over time.

So, for all its drawbacks, I would prefer sticking to text really.

Hoffs

quote: Original post by rmsgrey
Sometime in the next 3-5 years, I expect microphones transmitting speech over the internet to become pretty much standard in commercial online games.

I really don''t see this happening in many genres. In a multiplayer FPS, every second counts..one wrong move, and you or your teammate is dead. Typing is too slow if you need to warn a teammate of a sniper; speaking is quicker and more efficient.

However, I would never want to be playing an MMORPG and have to deal with hordes of little adolescent kiddies going on rampages with their microphones. I don''t want to be bombarded by voices. Text suits this game genre perfectly.



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X-Box Live apparently has voice filters, even though this can make things even more annoying (check out the penny-arcade strip about the robot voice.) If this can be done well in a fantasy game, and a 13 yearold kid can be made to sound like a battle hardened orc warrior, or a 40 yearold man can be made to sound like a young elf princess without many problems then the whole system works for MMORPGs, otherwise it''s probably not that good of an idea because it breaks your perception of the world. In action or strategy games it''s not as big of a deal because voice communication is for tactical reasons, not roleplaying.