Well first of I want to say, that I am the Lead Designer in a rather small company (Fusion Entertainment (working title)). At the moment I''m gathering infomation for an upcoming design doc, but the idea need some approval. The idea is of course copyrighted so don''t mind stealing it! The Game is basically based on the licensed cartoon/toy series Dino Riders (copyrighted). You might think "Oh, that''s so childish", but it''s actually not. Though it''s based on that serie, the concept can be turned in to something even more interesting. The Genre is actually kindda new. It''s a mix of RTS/FPS/RPG and a bit of Commandoes gameplay. But before I can tell about this game, it''s allmost needed to know about the Dino Riders. So take a look at this site: http://www.toyarchive.com/DinoRiders/DinoRiders.html Ok, now I hope you understand the basic things. So after the intro level (which i wont tell you about), the game begins as the two races crash lands on earth 65 mio. bc. I haven''t really decided if you''re going to play as both species, but lets take a look at the game from the Valorians perspective. After the crash you don''t have enough power to return to your time. The only opputunity is to co-operate with the evil Rulons, which they of course wont. You are Questar, the leader of the Valorians. The RPG part enters. As Questar the people morale depends on your skills. Throughout the game he''ll develop several skills. This will both come in handy in base building and combat/encounters. If you train yourself you can become the ultimate weapon. But it takes time and this is something you often wont have too much of... If your character dies you have to pick out a new leader! It can be a difficult choice, because it really effect the game, if you choose an entirely different leader! In MP you''ll be able to use your character. And the you think "hey, then almost everybody will look a like". But no, in SP and MP you''ll at any point be able to change the looks of your character in many ways! The FPS part enters here. You can (much like Battlezone) enter any person (though not heroes). The best choice would perhaps be your character, but as said above, if he dies, you could risk a lot! So perhaps just enter a normal citizen! The FPS will mostly be used i combat, but it''s simply just a cool feature in the SP part. In MP though it can be used just like the best Online FPS games like Tribes 2. The cool thing here, is that the dinosaurs will have the same function as vehicles, which I think is rather cool. And there''ll be many game modes. In SP I guess the player will use the RTS overview the most. After the crash you have to build up a base around the crashed spaceship. With time you expand and expand with more bases. It''ll everything take place on ONE GIANT island, which is split into 19 areas. In the 19 areas there''ll be many small regions. A region can be "owned" when you are the only one to have a base (or more)! When you control every region in an area, you control that area (every area launches a new chapter in the story). Another notice: when looking at the entire island the game is on pause. But when zoomed ind on any area, the game is running - in every area. Therefor it''s not easy to know where the enemy is! He can come from everywhere! So you need to figure out which regions the enemy could be interested in and which bases of yours he might want to destroy. The island will always remain unchanged in that meaning, that if you return to a region, where the enemy destroyed your base, the ruins will still be there. The island is big, really big and will include many different climates like snow, mountains, volcanoes, jungles, forests, deserts, svamps and so on. It''ll all be in 3D (of course, or else the FPS part would be impossible). In RTS you can zoom out to see an entire area in real-time. And you can zoom in to see all the details of an FPS. In the game the will be several quests outside the main goal to accomplish land. A quest could be to infiltrate a Rulon complex with your Commando squad (therefor the Commandoes gameplay). Perhaps the Rulon have stolen MANY dinosaur eggs, so for you own and the dinosaurs help, you send out the Commandoes to bring back the eggs. This would be a stealth mission. Another could be to win an region, because it contains some dinosaurs, which you''re in need of! You''ll get the missions from the heroes in the game, because they''ll also act as your advisors of certain divisions. The Story I wont tell you about, because I''ll want it to remain a secret until the game i released! If you have any questions or want to know a bit more, please ask! But tell me, honest, what do you think about this idea??? You can''''t see but the difference

Given the lack of information it''s a bit difficult but:

How do you toggle between the different interfaces - FPS/RTS etc... I assume you are on a strategy interface then you go to FPS? Or is this wrong?

Also I suggest that the player''s character is not the leader. It would be more fun to develop a basic drudge character to become the leader.

Well, let me start by saying that numerous people have tried this and failed.

This does not mean that I do not believe that you can accomplish this; As a matter of fact, you sound a lot like I do: When you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything.

Anyway, your idea is great. There is no such thing as a bad idea IMO, but there is such thing as an impact factor.

My only ''criticism'' (really advice) is to have a high impact factor. What''s that? Well, be sure that your game kicks some major ass (pardon my language). It has to. Gamers nowadays would love that idea (especially me), but you''re going to have to hit them with a large hammer rather than a lot of tiny ones.

Do you know what I am talking about? Make sure that the game is addicting and fun even if you play JUST as FPS... Then make sure it''s fun JUST as an RPG. Then make sure it''s just as fun ONLY as an RTS... If you can accomplish this, I will make a cardboard shrine to you. =)

Good luck my friend, and I hope that you do it! I really want to see it hit the shelves and knock out these generic games!

May Moradin bless your steel,
~Dwarf

Well yes, there are different interfaces depending on the view!
If you want anymore info, just tell me what to explain!

And about that starting as leader, it''s pretty much a need because of the story!

Oh yes, in the game one of the "resources" is popularity. The name explains itself, but it depends on how you act. Ad the Valorians you need to act good, heroic and helpful. If you do that, the pople will love you. That means they''ll fight better and build faster! But sometimes you can''t satisfy their needs, so it''s about keeping a balance!

You can''''t see but the difference

Well, Dwarf thx for the good words!

I really intend it to be fun anyway to play it. Really because you can choose how to play it. If you ONLY want to play it as a RPG, you simply just do that! So if everything goes well, every part of the game will be fun! And I promise and intense, exciting and original story!

You can''''t see but the difference

I really want some more criticism!
Please post your comments!

You can''''t see but the difference