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"Character Evolution"

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Fri 17/05/02 at 12:47
Regular
Posts: 787
Most of you here will no doubt have played Sonic The Hedgehog (Mega Drive)... And you'll have noticed that he doesn't change though the whole game, not at all. It's the same 11-Sprite Animation Sonic in Green Hill as it is in Starlight Zone. Why? Because it's an old game and it didn't occur to Sonic Team to change him, after all it probably took them long enough to make the game as it is!

But nowadays we're seeing more characters evolve and change throughout the course of the game. This is moreso the case with games that have storylines. Adventure games and action games, say. Look at all the Japanese Mech games, the mechs evolve and become bigger and better, like a 18-year-old girl.

But I think the future of gaming holds something big for Character Evolution. With the power of all the Next Gen consoles, PS2 included, we could see some quite impressive things.

Take and adventure game for Example. A Rareware one. JFG 2, will do. Juno is dead, and Vela has recruited a new lad, but he's young. Anyway, you play mainly as Vela and throught the course of the game you mature, your hair grows, you get taller, stronger, faster and smarter. Think about how diverse the gameplay could be. You could have to move a boulder but not be able to do it until your 16, or until you have so many Experience points. Okay, so going back and forth in a game isn't everyones cup of tea, but that WAS just an example.

RPG's, like Legend of Mir, PSO etc have the right idea, but I believe Character Evolution can go WAY beyond how strong, fast or hard you are. It could be to do with appearance (hair growing, getting taller) or even to do with how you deal with certain situations - like talking to to people. How about your voice breaks?!

If the detail and Character Evolution in RPGs were to be incorporated into Adventure games, we'd be playing some great titles. Companies nowadays are witnessing some great games coming out of other development houses, and they're taking some massive risks, many of which are paying off! Cel-Shaded FPS's, and Car Racing Games... Adventure games with absolutely MASSIVE worlds! Hopefully these things will pave the way for some developers to go right out on a limb and create some really cool characters that change all through the game.

I'm designing a games at the moment, and I reluctantly tell you that this Character Evolution is something i'd love to incorporate. Seeing my characters hair grow, and then direct them into a village to get it styled or cut. Having the girls breasts grow so she can distract enemies while the male sneaks behind them and takes them out (as in killing them!)

Games with characters with good Evolution abilities could take off from where MGS2 left of, puzzles would harder, games would be less linear, and common sense would be a massive factor in completing a game. The graphics churned out by the Next Gen games consoles are amazing, but graphics have always been second to gameplay. And the fact that we're going back on ourselves with some franchises having as many as 10 episodes is worry for the future of gameplay. Sure we'll still have decent games from Rare, Hideo Kojima, Nintendo, Shiggsy, Suzuki and Naka - but I think Character Evolution could open up a really big door for developers and revolutionise many of the genres, especially action and adventure games, FPS games and RPG's!!


Thanks....


Game
Tue 21/05/02 at 21:54
Regular
"---SOULJACKER---"
Posts: 5,448
Interesting RM picked up on B&W, as I was just about to talk about the similar ideas used in the training mode of VF4 in which you train the computer to fight, and then they compete for you.

I think what's important in character evolution is the way the character takes on some of your attributes. Not just to make things interesting, bu because it'll make you relate to your character more. No longer is it you getting used to them more and more- the reverse will apply.

Interesting idea, and a very good topic. The question is, does technology allow it?

Sonic
POWER TO THE HEDGEHOG
Tue 21/05/02 at 06:59
Regular
Posts: 5,630
I like the idea of character evolution, I hope it would be incorporated more and more in games. One feature I would like to see is, similar to PC God sim 'Black and White', you're character develops different attributes the way you play - he might become cowardly if you run a lot, brave if you try and fight every time. That way everyone's game would be different and would reflect the way you play.

As for JFG2, as much as we would lke to see it, I don't think it sold enough to warrant a sequel.

Shame really...
Tue 21/05/02 at 06:02
Regular
"Brrrrr."
Posts: 1,864
Who's your favorite gaming character? Mine is Max Payne!
Mon 20/05/02 at 22:36
Regular
Posts: 9,848
No rush.

It'll be good if they do make one.

The N64 game was fantastic but had slightly sluggish controls which didn't allow for fast comfortable platforming.

A bit of spit and polish and powerful new hardware to work with should make a sequel a treat.
Fri 17/05/02 at 15:51
Regular
"Fishing For Reddies"
Posts: 4,986
Nah, Rare aren't working on it... it's just an idea.

Unfortunately, I think JFG was a one-off. The idea was good, but the storyline, especially the ending, meant that a sequel would be too samey, and regardless of gameplay modes, I don't think it'd break enough ground for Rare to be happy with it.

StarFox is amazing.
Donkey Kong Racing is genuis.
But JFG 2 is a game for when they've mastered the programming of the 'Cube, not in the early stages, if at all.
Fri 17/05/02 at 13:16
Regular
Posts: 9,848
In Super Metroid, Samus learnt so many new moves, abilities and power ups, it felt incredibly weird to start the game from scratch again without them.

As for JFG 2, is that just an idea of yours or is Rare actually working on it?
Fri 17/05/02 at 13:00
Regular
"Long time no see!"
Posts: 8,351
I bet Link in Zelda: Ocarina of Time comes to everyone's mind after reading this! ;)

I like the way that Link grows up in the game, it does more than just double the size of the game, it also gives you more to do and explore with in a World that has turned horribly evil in just 7 years - and so has everyone else changed - except the Kokiri.

We need more games like this, and it'll probably only ever happen in RPG's.
Except in games like Tekken, where characters age and change with each new game in the series.
Fri 17/05/02 at 12:47
Regular
"Fishing For Reddies"
Posts: 4,986
Most of you here will no doubt have played Sonic The Hedgehog (Mega Drive)... And you'll have noticed that he doesn't change though the whole game, not at all. It's the same 11-Sprite Animation Sonic in Green Hill as it is in Starlight Zone. Why? Because it's an old game and it didn't occur to Sonic Team to change him, after all it probably took them long enough to make the game as it is!

But nowadays we're seeing more characters evolve and change throughout the course of the game. This is moreso the case with games that have storylines. Adventure games and action games, say. Look at all the Japanese Mech games, the mechs evolve and become bigger and better, like a 18-year-old girl.

But I think the future of gaming holds something big for Character Evolution. With the power of all the Next Gen consoles, PS2 included, we could see some quite impressive things.

Take and adventure game for Example. A Rareware one. JFG 2, will do. Juno is dead, and Vela has recruited a new lad, but he's young. Anyway, you play mainly as Vela and throught the course of the game you mature, your hair grows, you get taller, stronger, faster and smarter. Think about how diverse the gameplay could be. You could have to move a boulder but not be able to do it until your 16, or until you have so many Experience points. Okay, so going back and forth in a game isn't everyones cup of tea, but that WAS just an example.

RPG's, like Legend of Mir, PSO etc have the right idea, but I believe Character Evolution can go WAY beyond how strong, fast or hard you are. It could be to do with appearance (hair growing, getting taller) or even to do with how you deal with certain situations - like talking to to people. How about your voice breaks?!

If the detail and Character Evolution in RPGs were to be incorporated into Adventure games, we'd be playing some great titles. Companies nowadays are witnessing some great games coming out of other development houses, and they're taking some massive risks, many of which are paying off! Cel-Shaded FPS's, and Car Racing Games... Adventure games with absolutely MASSIVE worlds! Hopefully these things will pave the way for some developers to go right out on a limb and create some really cool characters that change all through the game.

I'm designing a games at the moment, and I reluctantly tell you that this Character Evolution is something i'd love to incorporate. Seeing my characters hair grow, and then direct them into a village to get it styled or cut. Having the girls breasts grow so she can distract enemies while the male sneaks behind them and takes them out (as in killing them!)

Games with characters with good Evolution abilities could take off from where MGS2 left of, puzzles would harder, games would be less linear, and common sense would be a massive factor in completing a game. The graphics churned out by the Next Gen games consoles are amazing, but graphics have always been second to gameplay. And the fact that we're going back on ourselves with some franchises having as many as 10 episodes is worry for the future of gameplay. Sure we'll still have decent games from Rare, Hideo Kojima, Nintendo, Shiggsy, Suzuki and Naka - but I think Character Evolution could open up a really big door for developers and revolutionise many of the genres, especially action and adventure games, FPS games and RPG's!!


Thanks....


Game

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