MY ultimate dream game idea...tell me what you think!

[Cmosfm]

Ok, now this idea has been floating around in my head forever basically. Ive never shared my idea before. It wont appeal to most people, actually almost no one, but for me this is what I want more than anything!

Ok, basically the "game" is your in a huge city, recreated perfectly! You can do anything you wan't, go in any store, building, etc. go anywhere. that sort of thing. It's not a crime game, like GTA, but you just live your life. You can get a job, buy a car, etc. Its like a legal mans GTA but on a larger more lifelike scale...not to mention less vulgar and violent. Plus it's not like Harvest Moon cause its more realistic with days running in real time like Animal Crossing. Anyways, this game lets you do whatever you want., whenever you want.

Also, expansion packs will be released about twice a year. The packs will include a new city, new cars, etc. This could take advantage of the HDD (or xbox hard drive) and save the new cities on there for switching between them.

There will also be an online mode, which lets everyone just live there lives in the same city. Theres so many possiblities that could be put into this game of "life", that I believe people will be addicted for years! I have GTA:VC, and I never do the missions, I just walk around the city, take a car for a drive (not speeding, just a leisurely drive), and just have fun enjoying the city.

This is the type of game I dream of, this is what I want more than anything! Just a leisurely game of life in the big city (or country, whatever expansion packs are made)

Anyways, what doo you think about my dream game?

[MarioAllStar2600]

I think it would be awsome, and it would sell. It doesn't seem to possible though unless to bthere is multiple discs. There would have to be teh option of crime though. Mafia, robber, with po po though. You know?

[Querjek]

I always thought that a full life sim would be neat. We're not far enough in technology to do this though. The draw distance would be horrible, and slowdown would plague us. Wait for the PS4- or PS5-generation. We'll see what happens then.

[Cmosfm]

Yeah, technology just can't do it yet. Disks wouldnt be able to hold all that info. Unless they came out with HUGE hard drives and you could load and save multiple disks on it....thus making the full game.

And yeah, there will have to be crime, but it wont be "OMG, lets sell this game by exploiting the crime and violence of it" But there will have to be.

[sisko]

Something like this would be interesting but I don't know how quickly I would get bored with it.

Perhaps if it were more free range (meaning you could be a mobster, preacher, engineer etc etc) and a MMORPG is could be a huge seller.

[TheRedEye]

Propose to me the appeal of this game, as I'm just not seeing it.

I'll give you an example. In my spare time, I'm working on a concept for a somewhat similar game, except that instead of a real world, you're revisiting a reoccurring, lucid dream, in which the environment and the objects you interact with are all organic, set on their own "biorhythms," and might interact with each other based not on a preprogrammed "reaction," but on their "instincts." There would be no real goal in this game, other than self-exploration and watching your world grow based on your interaction with it. The world is regenerated every time you turn on the console. It works with the internal clock, so that the longer you go between sessions, the more your world has changed. If you, for example, turn it off and back on, there might be a couple items shifted around. If you wait for a month, there might only be a similar theme to the world.

The appeal, as I see it, is in seeing all the crazy situations that you end up facing, based on every object in the game being "alive" and randomly placed with each other. You wander, explore, and hopefully get introspective. Perhaps you learn to get within the "flow" of the game, which rewards you with a limited amount of creative freedom (as in a real lucid dream). Maybe, eventually, you learn to fly.

Like your proposal, this is so far off the norm that it would be a huge gamble, but I see appeal in it. The way I'm picturing your game, it's a hyper-detailed Grand Theft Auto without missions. Is there interactivity? Can you build upon your life? Is it Animal Crossing in a real city? What do the other characters around you do? Is there any characterization at all, or are they all just walking in patterns? Are you forced to abide by rules? Can you shoot old ladies in the face if you want to, or can you just watch them walking on your way to a restaurant?

What can you DO in your game? If you've been thinking about this for "years," let us hear a typical scenario.

[Brian Deuel]

As a game, I don't think it would have much appeal. But ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to know what was on the "other side" of games that scrolled. You know, the areas you can't get to in games like Rally X (what's on the other side of the trees?), Crazy Climber (I always wanted to crawl inside a window , a few of the newer racing games that have areas blocked off, and others.

One thing I really like about games like Shenmue, Doom, Medievil, Jet Grind Radio, etc. is the exploration factor. Moving around in an environment that is open to many possibilities is just awesome. Once I'm finished with Astro Panic, I'm thinking of writing a 3rd person game that combines these two ideas. It'll probably be an action/adventure type of game with an emphasis on exploring areas that seem inaccessible, but actually ARE accessible. I've already got an engine to work with; I just need to put the idea together.

One thing I really like about Shenmue is the ability to interact with the characters. This would make for some extremely complicated AI code, but at least I could put the exploring part of the game together

[Cmosfm]

well, what can I DO in my game.

Basically it's a real life animal crossing. Cept, you can do whatever you want really! If you want to be a doctor, you can go to college, learn, all the steps it takes. If you want to be a mobster...talk to the guy that hangs out down at Vinnies Pizzaria, give him a gift, then join him. Not satisfied with your title, kill him and try to become head mobster.

ANYTHING you can do in real life, you can do here, want to just go to the local high school? Better try and fit in with a disguise, or you'll be escorted out by security. You really really want to find out what the local millionaire is up to in him mansion? But the gate is just too darn high, study to be a helicopter operator, and FLY OVER THE FENCE! Then once inside better do something to shut him up or the cops will be on you faster than you'd ever think.

Always dreamed of becoming a dentist? Do it! Then when your worst enemy comes into the office, be sure to ruin his teeth! hahaha, but better have good lawyers...he'll sue you for malpractice.

You can be anything from a bum, begging for quarters...or a high paid lawyer, dressed as a bum begging for quarters! Its a life simulator! You just, live your life, and unlike real life you're not held down by limitations. Its a fun simulator that allows you to do anything, but in a super detailed, high AI, impressive 3D game. And tack on the MMORPG element and it would be even more fun (but no keyboard chatting, headset only)

and THATS my game!

[crashdummycow01]

i think its cool and dumb all at once..

y buy this game.. when i am playing it right now?

food for thought

[crashdummycow01]

also would like to mention that i do know what ur sayin about doing stuff that u normally wouldnt.. and stuff.. but if were to study up on helicopter flying to get over the rich guy's fence.. would it take me the same amount of time to learn as it would in real life? lol.. anywayz..

my fantasy is like like yours.. except all .. GTA-like..

like normally everybody walkin the streets in GTA is AI.. but it would be coo if everybody on the streets was controlled by somebody..

[never played GTA for pc so i dunno if u can do this already]

[Cmosfm]

also would like to mention that i do know what ur sayin about doing stuff that u normally wouldnt.. and stuff.. but if were to study up on helicopter flying to get over the rich guy's fence.. would it take me the same amount of time to learn as it would in real life? lol.. anywayz..
]

Oh no WOW, that would be crazy, it would vary job by job from anywheres from 1 hour to 10 hours of practice, studying, etc. But it would be broken off into realistic mini games allowing you to "study".

[SoulBlazer]

I would love to have a dating sim. Really, a full fledged one that would apeal to Americans. Something like where you just moved to a new town and start a new high school, and you can make choices as to how you plan your day and what you do, and meet people of the opposite sex, and see what happens, with multipule endings. Sounds like ordinary life, you ask? Well, no problem -- just throw in some things you would'nt have happen to a 'average joe' during the course of a few months and put in some random events as well and it could end up being a lot more interesting then most of our lives, I promise.

They could use that premise for a good RPG as well, I think.....modern day RPG's are few and far between.

[crashdummycow01]

Coming in the year 2005...

Bootycall Sim 5000

[KirbyStar27]

that game would be awesome.

[TheRedEye]

my fantasy is like like yours.. except all .. GTA-like..

like normally everybody walkin the streets in GTA is AI.. but it would be coo if everybody on the streets was controlled by somebody..

Go fire up Multi Theft Auto on a public server. You'll see why this could never work.

Cmo: This idea is far too unrealistic. You'd have to have a set number of employment opportunities and options, and even then, the "gotta catch 'em all" gamer mentality would get bored "training."

Far too ambitious. Technology for this alone is at least ten years away, then tack on another ten years to develop this.