We've been assigned to discuss MMO

[DaviddesJ]

Does anyone realize WoW had BIG doubts about how they would convert the game to a mmo.

And do you like the result? Maybe the "naysayers" think WOW is a good example of the limitations of the MMO, rather than a success story.

If the question is, "Can Firaxis make a Civ MMO that makes lots of money?" I would say, "Sure, it's possible." I'm more skeptical about whether they can make an MMO that I want to play.

 

[napoleonbee]

Does anyone realize WoW had BIG doubts about how they would convert the game to a mmo.

Civilization is turned based, Warcraft isn't. I can't see any way you could make a turn based MMO, and a Civ without turns just wouldn't be Civ. I don't think a Civ MMO is a good idea. The market has already been cornered by WOW, and unless Civ comes up with something radically different, no one will be interested in playing it.

 

[Isse]

I have lots and lots of more ideas. I think the AI of the NPC character (AI-civs) would be a challenge to develop maby. One thing could be to incorporate a Mega Hal like chatting ability to make the interactions more dynamic. ( http://www.avaye.com/showdetails.php/alife/samples/mega_hal ) So you could chat with them and talk to make actions with them. This might be to far out, but i throw it in anyways.

I think the customization of armies is a really great idea! If the spear is inventet for say one could have it made in woodshops if one owns wood or mony and so on and then equip soliders with them. And maby also there would be a garrison already with standard units in it you could hire. That was one of the great things with the MOO-games. If one is really prone on attacking the enemy and kill them by surprise one could make an army with no armor or shilds only attackweapons and so on. Maby then they would have to have e very charismatic leader to not start wondering about that they dont have much protection and could easaly die.

I also think that the animals in the world should have a greater significans on the civilisation. Example elephants you could train from the savannah to be in the army. Or maby lions to fight prisoners in a colosseum. This might be a challange to make. I dont think you have to make all the animals as single characters only like a summerization of an are or something. And also plants for medications and Te, coffey to boost working efficiancy aso.

The world could be divided in a map as the good old Civilization of squares. That the world is so humungos enourmos gigantical wouldnt really be a problem becaus you wouldnt visit more than one square at a time.

The total size of the project would be gigantical thought maby. I thinkt it would have to be an untaking like the LOTR-movies.

Btw my background is in programming, chemical engineering and now i study pedagogy or maby its called social philosophy or something in english.

 

[CookieCutter]

Actually I think a CIV MMO could be many very different things.

I doubt that a Wow-like Gameplay would lend itself very well to a Game which has Civilization in its name. I mean players banding together in order defeat computer controlled monsters in order to aquire new and shiny equipment. That doesnt sound too civilizationish

I think that a Civ MMO should be based on the Idea of many (hundreds/thousands) people forming a nation. Upon the creation of his game-avatar a Player might choose a Profession. Im thinking of soldier, merchant, craftsmen, politician.. here. Each Class/Profession can basically roam the world, kill animals and stuff. The difference lies in the specialisation. Soldiers are best at warefare, Merchants and Craftsmen might be best at gathering ressources or building things (weapons, buildings, tradegoods)

In WoW you have two different Fractions (Horde/Alliance), in Civ we could have many different Fractions. One for each Nation. these Nations would then struggle for control over the various city sides. That means Players engange in PvP-Combat of some sorts. The Equipment (aka Weapons) and therefore the combat strength of each player would be provided be craftsmen of each nations. The further developed your cities are, the better your weapons. In order to help balance things out the game could restart every other month(or year), starting in the stone-age.

The major aspect of the game should be to encourage the buildup of communities. The Players should be able to shape the world according to their actions..

 

[TyranusBonehead]

I'm not wild about the idea.