My "RPG Quality" Proposal

TheBuzzSaw · 2010-06-20T01:49:19

I recently created a thread discussing what is missing in RPGs today. It is a great thread so far, and I encourage you to provide your feedback there!I am creating this thread to discuss my ideas specifically. I read every post in the other thread (and will continue to monitor it), mixed in my own observations, and have created an outline of ideas I have for building a great RPG. I am keeping things simple. I am not presenting some new earth-shattering innovation that will redefine the landscape of RPGs; rather, I am simply gathering "quality" into one spot. If you want to comment on my ideas here, do so below. If you want to comment on RPGs in general, please comment in the other thread!#1 -- remove the predominant hand-holding mechanics -- Transparent overlay mini-maps, go-here-now markers in the HUD, etc. all need to go. Map overlays can, for instance, be replaced by paper map items (in the case of a fantasy RPG) that the player must find/buy and periodically refer to while traveling. Quest-givers can offer reminders and guidance on where an objective is or how to deal with it, but the player should ultimately be responsible for locating the objective.The downside here is that such mechanics are what welcomed in the casual gaming crowd. I would be interested in ideas that help ease this transition or help such players welcome the increased realism of having to do the work themselves. In a worst case scenario, the player can still look up the solution on GameFAQs.#2 -- exploration must be an option regardless of whether it is story-relevant -- It seems that many games are moving toward cramming players down a funnel where there is only one real path with occasional pockets of side quests/caves. The world needs to be freed up to where there is more than one way to reach particular locations. Those paths need to have varying difficulty and/or alternate solutions. There needs to be tons to do and find in the open world. Impatient players can focus on the main storyline; curious players can wander aimlessly and find loot or side quests until their happy. There really is no downside here aside from the increased cost of developing a larger world. Do casual players have complaints regarding getting lost in worlds that are too big?#3 -- the game's technical details and numbers need to be hidden away -- While it is fun to analyze weapons using various numerical measurements (damage, speed, fire damage, chance to cause X, etc.), more of the world should be abstracted away. When observing enemies, seeing "200/200 HP" gives away too much regarding its vitality. If anything, the ability to see exact numbers should be a special ability or tool. It is much more interesting when opponents display "healthy, barely wounded, wounded, near-death, etc.". This forces the player to make an attempt to see how fast the target takes damage and retreat if necessary. It takes away the numerical calculation that is so commonly exploited (or flat out allowed by the fact that the developers show so many numbers; I guess it's not really an "exploit" at that point).#4 -- the story needs to be flexible -- This does not necessarily imply multiple endings or huge plot forks. Rather, the player needs to at least feel he/she has an influence on how the story plays out. There needs to be alternate ways to move the story along.#5 -- the world needs to feel more alive -- This is easier said than done. It is not a simple task to create a game like Majora's Mask where the town shifts so drastically as each day passes. However, small simple measures can be taken to help the player feel more part of this world. For instance, a simple start is having the world change between night and day. At night, shops close, people go to bed, and strange people emerge from the darkness. If the game features any kind of calendar system, have a huge wagon pull through town once every X days carrying particularly special loot! Have a wormhole open up that leads to a hidden galaxy! Have quests or story events change/fail based on time. Give the player's actions more consequence (not necessarily bad ones).

Game Design and Theory Game Design

Started by TheBuzzSaw June 02, 2010 03:10 PM

43 comments, last by ozak 14 years, 8 months ago

Kekko

504

June 19, 2010 03:11 PM

TheBuzzSaw,
As you seem to know, you praise features that are very time-consuming to make and balance. Your comment regarding Final Fantasy vs Diablo 2 seems to imply you don't like procedural content either.

So I'd like to ask, when you "gather quality into one spot", what would you leave out? Simplify combat? Fewer kinds of monsters? Less realistic graphics?

mrchrismnh

June 19, 2010 03:45 PM

You are talking about the anti-FFXIII, I'm one hundred percent behind this.

"It's like naming him Asskicker Monstertrucktits O'Ninja" -Khaiy

TheBuzzSaw

Author

144

June 19, 2010 09:33 PM

Quote:
Original post by Kekko
TheBuzzSaw,
As you seem to know, you praise features that are very time-consuming to make and balance. Your comment regarding Final Fantasy vs Diablo 2 seems to imply you don't like procedural content either.

So I'd like to ask, when you "gather quality into one spot", what would you leave out? Simplify combat? Fewer kinds of monsters? Less realistic graphics?

I love Diablo 2. It is one of my favorite games, but it obviously excels in specific areas and suffers in others. I love dynamically generated content, but I'd like it to have more meaning, y'know?

And I agree. It is difficult to cram so many key elements into one game with limited resources. Graphics would definitely be the first to go. I certainly do not oppose better/realistic graphics, but I believe strongly in gameplay quality before graphics.

Amateurs practice until they do it right.Professionals practice until they never do it wrong.

SimonForsman

7,644

June 20, 2010 12:33 AM

Quote:
Original post by LachlanL
#1: The vast majority of RPG players these days are what you call "casual" players. They don't want to read much text. They don't want to have to scratch their head to think of the solution to something. They just want to get to bashing on stuff and gaining loot/levels. I personally think this is a shame and wouldn't want to focus on that sort of mindset, myself, but that's the way things are. By all means go down this path (and there are plenty of people who will applaud you for it), but be aware that you will be missing the majority of the market here.

As an indie developer that can actually be a good idea, while the mainstream market is the largest its very hard to make your game stand out in the crowd if you got a small budget, the same is true for all industries, not just games.

[size="1"]I don't suffer from insanity, I'm enjoying every minute of it.
The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!

ozak

155

June 20, 2010 01:49 AM

With regards to hiding numbers. Make unique weapons truly unique. The bookkeeping in Diablo/Torchlight etc is just too annoying. You are constantly finding new special weapons and need to determine if you should switch weapons all the time. And you are constantly selling all kinds of crap. At least in torchlight you can send your pet back to sell the crap. But it has nothing to do with an RPG.
Finding a magical weapon should be something special IMHO.

My "RPG Quality" Proposal

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My "RPG Quality" Proposal

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