Massive Multiplayer Online Game Idea

A lot of ideas here and there may be read across the web regarding online games and some of them thrived and luckily came true in one form or another on various online games nowadays. With online gaming experience probably drawing a lot of attention, perhaps even topping traditional games, there's still a lot of room for improvement.

Thus, I'd like to share to you an idea about taking massive multiplayer game into multiplatforms... and not just multiplatform, it's simultaneous across all platforms. Sure everyone is playing their favorite game via their own console's online feature like PlayStation Network, Wii Shopping Channel and Xbox Live. But how about playing as one where all players across all platforms meet online via PC, mobile, handheld console, home console, laptops, PDA? It's quite a task I should say to create a game like that but with the right implementation on every platform, it's sure to attract the gamers' attention.

Game Exclusivity

Playing on multiple platforms has both pros and cons with the obvious major advantage as accessibility. Want to play at home and play on long hours? Play on your PC or laptop or home console. Want to play on the fly on the way for a short span of time? Bring out that phone or favorite handheld console right out of your bag or pocket and play right there and then.

Of course, as a game designer, you must identify advantages of playing on a certain platform. One example is for the mouse-driven PC, motion-driven Wii and touch-driven DS and iPhone. Since playing the game is a lot easier because of the accuracy of the x and y-coordinates, spells and other techniques which require intricate movements may become a specialty for these devices. For the PS3 and Xbox, an obvious advantage would be the graphics. The game may offer a lot random enemies-generation while not having to sacrifice the game performance. Also, since they are controller-driven, complex combos are easier to implement in them. For other mobile gadgets, a simple easy to access text-based menu will do since the player is expected to play the game for a small amount of time.

Also, I recommend having maps or places in the game exclusively for a certain platform alone like having a battle arena or popularly known as PVP. In this way, if players want to duke it out amongst their co-platform gamers, they know what to expect in them since they have the same platform.

Game Random Map Generation

After months of playing an online game, players get to boredom status after they have finished accomplishing side-quests and earned the highest level of the game. I know this is quite a difficult thing to ask but the idea of random map generation every month would be great for the players and for the game as well. After gathering enough statistics about players, the logic of the game is to create an idea of how a new map should look like through careful analysis of the data coming from the players themselves. Imagine having to invest time in developing logic like this instead of coming up with an idea all by the game designer themselves.

Customization: More than Just Level Ups

When you hear about online games, it’s all about the levels, the HP, the MP, the items and the weapons. What we’d like to see is a lot more side quests. And not just that, we players like to have that uniqueness in our characters. Uniqueness not only on how our character looks like compared to others but also with our entire weaponry, spells, and the other things we do. Why not allow players to create their own spell animation? Furthermore, why not allow them to create their own spells along with its statistical content? I’m pretty sure it’ll be more than interesting to play the game.

I hope somebody from the game development industry would take a look at articles like this and give even the slightest attention to what the players want of these online games.

An Alternate to the Alternate

iPod Touch is cool. Creative Zen Vision W is what I'm craving for. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, I'm leaning towards the Creative Zen Vision M. But wait, let me think about it first. A friend of mine referred me to Microsoft Zune and it somehow made me rethink about the stuff I really wanted my portable mp3/ video player to have.

Drool or be disappointed? http://www.zune.net/en-us/products/zune80gb/specs.htm

Currently I have these must-haves for the player:
- FM radio
- Large HDD capacity
- DivX video player

Nice to haves:
- WiFi (Heck, the PSP Slim and DS Lite really kicks the competition, iPod Touch, out with this feature)
- SD Memory Card Slot (this feature is a very good combo to allow transferring of files thru my Canon S3 IS PowerShot)
- Bluetooth (Cellphone connectivity)
- Thickness (Which is a downside for the Zen Vision M)
- Touch Sensor (iPod's forte)

Mid-range Gadget Exploration Adventure

Ok, so here's the problem: Gadget upgrade itch

Solution: Resist the temptation and look for prices to go down beyond the high demand of the latest gadgets

As simple as it is, it will be really hard to accomplish. Even if the gadgets you're itching to buy get cheaper, another batch of gadgets are there to make you drool over them. Thus, giving you a hard time to settle down for that one gadget because technology is so fast that the gadgets you've just bought will get toasted in six months by another kick-ass gadget.

Anyway, here's a list of want-to-buy low to mid-range gadgets I have in mind buying:

Nintendo Wii - Even if the XBox 360-PS3 graphic battle continues to heat up, I'll be satisfied with some serious fun-loving gaming. But of course, if Playstation 3 gets cheaper then why not? Blu-ray and high end graphics? Well, that's not what I had in mind of console gaming right now. Anyways, Wii would be a perfect fit for my DS Lite since I'm more attached to my DS rather than my PSP Slim.

Creative Zen Vision M 60GB - Okay, so I'm a bit lagging in this category since there's this new kick-ass Creative Zen Vision W 60GB. But I can't wait for another gadget anymore since my old iPod Shuffle 1GB is starting to annoy me because of the lack of lcd display and advanced features which you'd really crave for an MP3 player. And now that I'm inching closer to wanting the DivX video and FM features, I won't opt to choose the iPod Video/ iPod Touch just for the brand and not the features that I really want.

Asus EEE - Is it about time to pick it up and join the bandwagon? Or is it too late to pick it up? With an 8GB, afaik, as the largest size (or maybe 16gb or 32gb, I don't really know right now) it may be the quickest way to own a laptop. Add the Vision M as the combination, then I think I won't be upgrading my gadgets for a long time.

Basically, that's it. Well, I hope I'll be able to resolve my gadget upgrade itch - which in official terms would be buying a new batch of gadgets and not really an upgrade.