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Most of have played RPG's at some point and we all have our favourites. Games like Zelda have been around for ages, as have Squaresoft's offerings. When you think of these old titles and what they gradually offered as time went on right upto now with us looking forward to titles such as Project Ego, it really shows how much imagination is being stretched out in this genre.
I remember when I bought Secret of Mana ages ago. I loved the fact you could 3 players at once ! It was like a dream come true at the time whereas now its pretty common. Then not long ago, Phantasy Star Online came out and offered us the chance to play a console RPG online thanks to Sega's ambitions.
Now we have the likes of Project Ego on the way that uses the X-Box's capabilities to come up with character development. A few years ago, we could have only dreamed of the things this game will be doing. Your character ages, injuries can become scars, your character can become tanned or pale depending on what times you play and how much your character is exposed to the sun. Its really amazing stuff and its ideas like this that are a pleasure to play and have us drooling throughout the whole wait, desperately scrambling for more info and screenshots.
Improved graphics are to be expected now as consoles are so powerful, but its details like this that can set a game like Project Ego apart from the competition. So where can things go from here ? I have a few ideas of what I would like to see....
How about illness ? With the chance of being able to play a character through his/her whole life, how about putting in the possibilities of becoming ill. Wether its something small or something more life threatening, it could be an interesting concept to have. Maybe certain illnesses, if not treated, can cause a change in your character in the long run. Of course cures can be around for you to get somehow, wether bought in a shop or found in the form of special plants in places like forest areas. If your character takes a turn for the worst and its an online RPG, maybe even friends you have met can give you a helping hand in finding the cure. This shouldn't be a thing that happens to you everyday of course or it would become annoying, but it could exist as a possibility, maybe never affecting you at all. Maybe for the more adventurous games, you could even have more magical illnesses which if not treated, can result in your character becoming deformed in some way or even turning into something of a beast.
Another thing, we have scars coming, so what about taking this further ? If your wounded in the eye, you could have a patch over it, or maybe some other indication that its happened. Depending on the time the game is set, maybe even limbs could be hacked off in battle and there could be the possibility of replacements such as a mechanical arm or something similar.
Maybe hospitals can be placed in the games so that if your injured, you can pay the place a visit and have bandages, etc put on your wounds. It would be interesting to see a character with his arm in a sling after being injured in a fight or something.
And the last idea I'll come up with right now - different communities and large scale battles. Maybe you could be from a particular town or join a community in your travels. Along with being able to build your own little place with the others in your community, you could work together to build outer walls and protect it. Maybe communities will be allies while others are hostile. This could make for some incredible battles as different groups raid eachother. Some may decide they prefer being a loner and will return to wondering around again instead while others might enjoy the community option and stay where they are.
It could result in huge worlds and possibilities. Loners could even put themselves up for hire to help communities or as assassins, etc. The RPG is definatly a genre with a lot of potential still to be played around with. Lets hope some of the games companies carry on looking into this potential, so far its looking damn good. :-)
I remember when I bought Secret of Mana ages ago. I loved the fact you could 3 players at once ! It was like a dream come true at the time whereas now its pretty common. Then not long ago, Phantasy Star Online came out and offered us the chance to play a console RPG online thanks to Sega's ambitions.
Now we have the likes of Project Ego on the way that uses the X-Box's capabilities to come up with character development. A few years ago, we could have only dreamed of the things this game will be doing. Your character ages, injuries can become scars, your character can become tanned or pale depending on what times you play and how much your character is exposed to the sun. Its really amazing stuff and its ideas like this that are a pleasure to play and have us drooling throughout the whole wait, desperately scrambling for more info and screenshots.
Improved graphics are to be expected now as consoles are so powerful, but its details like this that can set a game like Project Ego apart from the competition. So where can things go from here ? I have a few ideas of what I would like to see....
How about illness ? With the chance of being able to play a character through his/her whole life, how about putting in the possibilities of becoming ill. Wether its something small or something more life threatening, it could be an interesting concept to have. Maybe certain illnesses, if not treated, can cause a change in your character in the long run. Of course cures can be around for you to get somehow, wether bought in a shop or found in the form of special plants in places like forest areas. If your character takes a turn for the worst and its an online RPG, maybe even friends you have met can give you a helping hand in finding the cure. This shouldn't be a thing that happens to you everyday of course or it would become annoying, but it could exist as a possibility, maybe never affecting you at all. Maybe for the more adventurous games, you could even have more magical illnesses which if not treated, can result in your character becoming deformed in some way or even turning into something of a beast.
Another thing, we have scars coming, so what about taking this further ? If your wounded in the eye, you could have a patch over it, or maybe some other indication that its happened. Depending on the time the game is set, maybe even limbs could be hacked off in battle and there could be the possibility of replacements such as a mechanical arm or something similar.
Maybe hospitals can be placed in the games so that if your injured, you can pay the place a visit and have bandages, etc put on your wounds. It would be interesting to see a character with his arm in a sling after being injured in a fight or something.
And the last idea I'll come up with right now - different communities and large scale battles. Maybe you could be from a particular town or join a community in your travels. Along with being able to build your own little place with the others in your community, you could work together to build outer walls and protect it. Maybe communities will be allies while others are hostile. This could make for some incredible battles as different groups raid eachother. Some may decide they prefer being a loner and will return to wondering around again instead while others might enjoy the community option and stay where they are.
It could result in huge worlds and possibilities. Loners could even put themselves up for hire to help communities or as assassins, etc. The RPG is definatly a genre with a lot of potential still to be played around with. Lets hope some of the games companies carry on looking into this potential, so far its looking damn good. :-)
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Even if it isn't online, it'll be an excellent game. But I'd love to see it be online playable - especially with the ideas added in because it'll be hard if not nearly impossible to find a character exactly the same as yours because it will all come down to how the player treats their character as well as how they pick the initial look.
Maybe hair could grow over time as well. :-) Along with being able to buy new clothes as well as things like armour from shops. Of course they wouldn't provide you with any wonderful protection the normal clothes, but it'd add that realism to it you know ?
Maybe you could buy things that can be stored in your house if you have one such as training aids, etc.
Ah ! Gotta stop this brain storming. ;-))
Maybe hair could grow over time as well. :-) Along with being able to buy new clothes as well as things like armour from shops. Of course they wouldn't provide you with any wonderful protection the normal clothes, but it'd add that realism to it you know ?
Maybe you could buy things that can be stored in your house if you have one such as training aids, etc.
Ah ! Gotta stop this brain storming. ;-))
Cool ideas.
If Project Ego can really provide us with this kind of subtle evolutionary gameplay progression, then I think we'll all be in videogame heaven.
If Project Ego can really provide us with this kind of subtle evolutionary gameplay progression, then I think we'll all be in videogame heaven.
Instead of random battles, they should have beasts, etc actually walking around so you can pick your fights or avoid them as you want. Plus I prefer using skill in battles rather than the turn based system. Doing things this way could make for some interesting hunting sessions for players playing together online. If your character gains experience and levels up then hunting would be great for this.
Personally, I would like to see the leveling up idea thrown out the window. A game where all players are equal and things only change depending on how players go about developing their characters. Basically one player might try to build their character up by getting him to lift heavy things and train with a heavy weapon while another player might try to get their character trained in martial arts. So stamina, speed and skills can change from character to character depending on how the player wants to develop them.
This would solve problems of high level players picking on low level players too. You should get your character as a young man/woman (maybe have a create a character area where you pick how they look). From here on your in basic clothes and off you go basically to begin your characters life.
If certain things are in the game, such as specialist fighting, fireball style magic, etc, maybe you could pass your skills down to new people you meet. So basically, say your character has been around awhile and you meet a new player who is finding their way around, you could take them on under your wing and teach them things you have learned. Like an apprentice or a student of some kind I guess.
If your existing character is old and you don't wanna lose all the stuff you've learned, maybe you can start a new character that inherits your old characters abilities. Of course training them and getting them upto scratch on their physical fitness would be upto you.
Maybe eating too much or too little could also make you fat or thin over time too. :-)
Personally, I would like to see the leveling up idea thrown out the window. A game where all players are equal and things only change depending on how players go about developing their characters. Basically one player might try to build their character up by getting him to lift heavy things and train with a heavy weapon while another player might try to get their character trained in martial arts. So stamina, speed and skills can change from character to character depending on how the player wants to develop them.
This would solve problems of high level players picking on low level players too. You should get your character as a young man/woman (maybe have a create a character area where you pick how they look). From here on your in basic clothes and off you go basically to begin your characters life.
If certain things are in the game, such as specialist fighting, fireball style magic, etc, maybe you could pass your skills down to new people you meet. So basically, say your character has been around awhile and you meet a new player who is finding their way around, you could take them on under your wing and teach them things you have learned. Like an apprentice or a student of some kind I guess.
If your existing character is old and you don't wanna lose all the stuff you've learned, maybe you can start a new character that inherits your old characters abilities. Of course training them and getting them upto scratch on their physical fitness would be upto you.
Maybe eating too much or too little could also make you fat or thin over time too. :-)
Many a promising RPG has been ruined, nay! cast upon a cold spike by those damn contrived random battles!
My speech is becoming more and more medieval.....
Also, less of the saving-the-world cliched storylines. I prefer more personal and emotional plots. Less epic, more enchanting.
By the way, looking at Project Ego's screenshots: the depiction of the natural landscapes look amazing. Reminds me of the wonders of Kowloon in Shenmue II.... ah, Shenmue - coming to XBOX also.... can't wait for the 3rd installment.
Is Shnemue an RPG? - Who cares!
My speech is becoming more and more medieval.....
Also, less of the saving-the-world cliched storylines. I prefer more personal and emotional plots. Less epic, more enchanting.
By the way, looking at Project Ego's screenshots: the depiction of the natural landscapes look amazing. Reminds me of the wonders of Kowloon in Shenmue II.... ah, Shenmue - coming to XBOX also.... can't wait for the 3rd installment.
Is Shnemue an RPG? - Who cares!
Some interesting ideas there.
I've been a little frustrated with recent RPGs - with their over-reliance on random battles and the contrived manner in which the characters are "built up".
I think what we need is RPGs which progress in a more spontaneous and natural way. Hopefully games like Project Ego will provide this.
I've been a little frustrated with recent RPGs - with their over-reliance on random battles and the contrived manner in which the characters are "built up".
I think what we need is RPGs which progress in a more spontaneous and natural way. Hopefully games like Project Ego will provide this.
Star Wars is just looking gorgeous mate. Not since seeing my gf's boobs for the first time have I drooled so much. ;-)) Well, maybe Halo. LOL
I just think some of the X-Box RPG's are really bringing the genre forward. :-) Some amazing stuff being done, the wait is almost painful when you want to play these games so badly ! :-)
I just think some of the X-Box RPG's are really bringing the genre forward. :-) Some amazing stuff being done, the wait is almost painful when you want to play these games so badly ! :-)
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