19 replies to this topic

[TheKrust23]

Ok, I just need to know if anyone has ever heard of an RPG based around these guidelines.

1. Takes place in a modern-day time period (but not technically on earth).

2. Takes place in a 3rd world country in which most all of the real technology is owned and controlled by the government (guns are extremely illegal but you can still occasionally get a hold of them). When I say third world country, I don't mean a desert either. Thickly wooded country is more like it.

3. The main goal of the game is to take down the corrupt government by any means necessary (there would be multiple ways)

4. Also, know that there IS NO MAGIC. Meaning everything is based around the idea of weapons and your fighting skill with them (mostly sharp melee ones)

I don't really want to say anymore (because I don't want to give away my idea), I just want to make sure this idea is pretty original.


I don't really want to say anymore (because I don't want to give away my idea), I just want to make sure this one is pretty origional.

[Blaxill]

To me your idea could turn out to be quite original in some respects, although living in a world controlled by the government is definitely not new (think half-life 2 where the world is controlled by aliens.)
However, I would suggest you fully explain your idea as to get feedback and constructive critisim. Idea's aren't worth very much and although it is quite normal to be very protective over them discussing them will help you to make them better.

[TheKrust23]

Yeah Blaxill, I definitley am a little concerned about the issue of plagerism (especially if someone is able to move out products faster than me, then I'm screwed), but I definitley see where you're coming from. I have a small group that I'm working with, and they all seem to like the detailed game idea, but then again, we all kind of think alike.

So I'm just getting feedback from others, but obviously still with the concern that whatever goes onto the internet instantly becomes pot-luck.

[dave_]

TheKrust23 said:

1. Takes place in a modern-day time period (but not technically on earth).

Not original

TheKrust23 said:

2. Takes place in a 3rd world country in which most all of the real technology is owned and controlled by the government (guns are extremely illegal but you can still occasionally get a hold of them). When I say third world country, I don't mean a desert either. Thickly wooded country is more like it.

I can't think of any thickly wooded 3rd world countries... maybe jungles but not thick woods. Do you mean 2nd world country? http://en.wikipedia....iki/Third_World

TheKrust23 said:

3. The main goal of the game is to take down the corrupt government by any means necessary (there would be multiple ways)

Sounds like you might be talking about 2nd world country...

TheKrust23 said:

4. Also, know that there IS NO MAGIC. Meaning everything is based around the idea of weapons and your fighting skill with them (mostly sharp melee ones)

No magic in real life so not a big leap...

TheKrust23 said:

I don't really want to say anymore (because I don't want to give away my idea), I just want to make sure this idea is pretty original.

There's not much of an idea here.

I would not worry about someone copying you at all. There are no original ideas. Someone might come up with a similar idea while you're developing your game as games take such a long time to develop.

http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html
http://www.obscure.c...e-design-ideas/

If you read those you'll get more of an insight into what ideas are worth; very little.

Why would someone copy you when they have dozens of their own ideas to try out?!

[TheKrust23]

ok, first off, you're talking to me like i'm an 8 year old. I KNOW the difference between a 2nd and 3rd world country, and yes, this WOULD be classified as a third world country. And did you hear me say the the country ISN'T real.

I had another post going into much more detail, but I guess somebody came through and deleted it. I should also tell you I've been a developer for a long ass time, and I ALWAYS make sure my ideas havent been done before. If there is any specific aspect that has, I change it.

[dave_]

TheKrust23 said:

ok, first off, you're talking to me like i'm an 8 year old. I KNOW the difference between a 2nd and 3rd world country, and yes, this WOULD be classified as a third world country. And did you hear me say the the country ISN'T real.

You didnt explain the significance of the third world country. There are no third world countries like this one, so what makes it third world?
A modern term for third world country is developing country.

TheKrust23 said:

I had another post going into much more detail, but I guess somebody came through and deleted it. I should also tell you I've been a developer for a long ass time, and I ALWAYS make sure my ideas havent been done before. If there is any specific aspect that has, I change it.

Your ass is long?
I don't understand why every aspect of your idea has to be original.
Many great stories have been based on other works. There are countless examples.
I don't know any other developers that would.

[inigo07]

Dave, why are you bashing this guy so much? Is there anything in particular he said that was offensive?

Krust, my opinion is best said like this: if you made a game as you describe your concept to be, I'd buy it.

[Sol_HSA]

inigo07 said:

Dave, why are you bashing this guy so much? Is there anything in particular he said that was offensive?

My guess would be that this is because he seems to be one of the countless people who claim that their idea is unique, and that the idea alone is enough to make the best game ever.

Consider Duke Nukem 3d - it was a good game, a very enjoyable game, but how much of that was due to "just an idea" ?

As to talking to a 8-year old, well, I think most developers learn pretty fast that ideas, by themselves, aren't worth much.

As for "always using purely unique ideas".. Actually making a game from a purely new idea which doesn't have any connection to anything familiar to the audience is rather risky, financially. You might end up with something like this.

[dave_]

inigo07 said:

Dave, why are you bashing this guy so much? Is there anything in particular he said that was offensive?

I'm not bashing the guy at all. He asked about the originality of his ideas and I critiqued them. I have not been personal. He was very defensive.
It just happens I don't think an idea on its own is worth very much and it seems I'm not the only person.

[monjardin]

Sol_HSA said:

As for "always using purely unique ideas".. Actually making a game from a purely new idea which doesn't have any connection to anything familiar to the audience is rather risky, financially. You might end up with something like this.

That's very unique and it held my attention for all of 10 seconds! ;)

[geon]

If someone is willing to spend a million dollars to develop a game, why would he steal the idea? Doesn't make sense.

[Sol_HSA]

geon said:

If someone is willing to spend a million dollars to develop a game, why would he steal the idea? Doesn't make sense.

And since thinking up ideas is one of the most fun parts of the game design process..

[fhein]

I think it sounds like quite an interesting game world you're outlining here.

Though I have to agree with Dave that the term third world country isn't quite suitable in this context. IMO it would be far better if you briefly described different aspects of this country instead. If you say "third world country" in your design document then most readers will probably get a quite clear mental picture of some blistering hot African country ridden with famine, overpopulation, disease and local warlords.

It sounds a bit like you want an very strong government (otherwise, how could they enforce the ban on firearms?) versus a poor and starving population (thirld world referece). How are you planning on keeping these two separated? I've thought of some potential problems.. Don't mean to bash your idea, just want you to think about what you want for your world and how you're going to implement it.

* Will the government and their police/military live in a secluded high-tech city or will there be installations and officials in every village and settlement? If you go for the former, how will they enforce the weapon restriction and other laws? If you go for the latter, the next point will become more of an issue.

* How does the government prevent corruption among it's officials? If they're well paid they probably use their fat wages to buy stuff from the poor villagers (booze and hookers surely exists on your planet too :)) and after a while the villagers wouldn't be so poor anymore.
Maybe the government uses it's high tech to spy on everybody. Might result in discontent especially among lower ranking government officials.

* Why are the people poor and starving? If they're living in a lush forest county what's stopping them from tearing down a few acres of trees and growing their own food, or simply go out hunting? It wouldn't be much of a third world country if there was plenty of food for everyone..

* Where does the government get their supplies from? Food could probably be stolen from the poor villagers, but they probably need metal, chemicals and energy for their vehicles and high tech stuff.

* Why hasn't there been a rebellion yet? Forests are ideal for all sorts of anti-government guerilla groups to hide in.


I think the idea of the protagonist's goal to bring down the evil government could be either quite unique or the oldest plot in the book, depending on how you narrate the story. For starters, why would the player want to overthrow the government? I surely hope you aren't going for "His family was killed by government soldiers while they were raiding his village" :)
How will the government respond to this new threat? I mean, sooner or later they'll have to recognize the player and start working actively against him. A massive propaganda campaign labeling him as a terrorist?
What's supposed to replace this bad government? Chaos, anarchy and civil war might be even worse than the oppressors. A single person might be able to assassinate the current leadership (atleast within the logic realm of a computer game) but I promise you won't be able to single handedly stage nation wide elections and create a democrazy.

If you're an indie game developer group I think you should definitely take the risk and go for non-conventional ideas (both in world desing and gameplay). IMO that's your only chance of getting any kind attention to your game. A huge mainstream game publisher might be able to pull off titles that are essentially doom copies with new beautiful graphics and a single new fancy effect, but you don't have that kind of resources. Even if your game is going to shine like Bioshock or something, it will look old and dull when it's eventually finished. But if you're a good designer, your game will have other qualities so that people will still think it's enjoyable :)

[slickmasterizzy]

makes me think of anarchy online. giant cities with messages refering to how great the city is over a loudspeaker everyso often

other then that though sounds unique and interesting for a single player rpg

[NightRage]

TheKrust23 said:

I don't really want to say anymore (because I don't want to give away my idea), I just want to make sure this one is pretty origional.

Pretty Original, Dude Have you been living under a rock?

Man against Government has been done since Governments existed. (HalfLife 2, Stargate, etc.)

You dont have to share your ideas, basically you asked for opinions and what our thoughts were about your idea. I have a Millions Ideas for Games, Movies, Inventions. I'm writing two Screenplays as I speak. Take for Instance, just an example, you make a game/movie about vampires, how many different ways can you make it from the other person? Vampires have been done thousand types of ways, and each movie is different. Who wants to steal your Idea? If I had Millions of Dollars to spend on a MMO/RPG and needed a game Idea, I would be legit and Pay Someone to Make it, Right?

Why would I risk My Millions for stealing and get Sued?

You have an Original Idea, more power to you, I'm an advocate for originality.
Flesh out your Ideas, you lost me on the 3rd world country part.

[OGI]

I think that this is good idea keep working on it.

For those who are thinking that game shouldn't be based on original idea: Where do you live? No good game was made widhoudt good idea, at this tima you can make great looking game but widhoudt good storry and idaea it will suck... Think about Doom3 or other games i don't like it its stupid no good idea added to it just stolen parts from other games, gamedesigners and scenarists are wery important persones for team, its same level like programmers ..
No guide like : Read this and you will be good gamedesigner will help you, no lists of ideas that you read and give together will make good game, it always will be just another game same as another. Only guys with good ideas are moving gameindustry forward and people whu just uses someone others ideas will always be out.

Hell i hope it will be understandabel :D

[Nautilus]

What I was going to say on the subject has been said already by fhein, and immensely better than I could have ever done.

What I want to put the accent on now, is the line in OGI's signature.
I always thought that games should have something to tell to who plays them.
A story to tell and entertain people, or something to teach, or -maybe better- something to make people think about.
And if you manage to mix all three things into the same game, then you have a winner at hand.

I'm going to beat a dead horse, but Final Fantasy VII is a shining example of this.
The story was fun and entertaining, focused on several characters, explained their background, and masterfully built up what has become the most charismatic Foe in the history of games.
Furthermore, it had strong ecologist messages in it, and made players think about what would happen if humanity doesn't housekeep the planet with the due care (a thing that we are not doing yet, btw, and we're beginning to pay the price worldwide).
Of course a good part of the success of FF7 was in its game mechanics, side plots, strange locations visited... you name it. But what consecrated FF7 in the Olimpo of games was the story told, along with all the messages in it for the player.

@ TheKrust23:
Build up your own game as you like. You think you have a good story to tell? Then tell it. But make sure it is not a mere exercise of narrative.
Do have something to tell. Something to teach. Etc.
In this regard your story has a lot of potential, nobody can deny it.
Ask yourself this question: why 3rd World Countries ARE 3rd World Countries?
Everybody with some brain knows it, but nobody wants to admit it, because it's a Truth we don't like to hear.
Do you have the courage to tell it in your game?
It's quite a strong message if you ask me, and one that may leave a mark and make the next generation (those who'll be adults tomorrow) *think* about the world they live in.
Make your game fun and cute. Make it entertaining and put heart in it. And tell your message. It'll be perceived and remembered, no doubt.

Regards,
Ciao ciao : )

[LmT]

As a general rule: If you can think it, then it has been done before. This may be wrong about .001-1% of the time, but you better get a patent/copyright ASAP. Just take generic ideas and expand on them and make them your own.

Anyways, nice idea. I can't wait to hear more and see some screenshots in the future =)

[TheBren]

Off the top of my head, the premise you described is similar to Republik, Jagged Alliance, Just Cause, Mercenaries, Urban Chaos, etc etc.

Still, you didn't describe a game. You described a premise, or a setting. A game is about gameplay, not about story or setting. Players care about and appreciate originality and innovation in gameplay more than in story.

I have a list of premises or settings I'd love to build games around, and "overthrow corrupt government" is pretty close to the top of the list. Given that, 3rd world/developing nation/banana replublic are all pretty obvious settings, right after say pseudo-Soviet totalitarian state (see Republik, or Half-Life 2 for that matter, as mentioned).

Of course, "defend earth against alien invaders" is also on my list, and that's far from original. Doesn't mean you couldn't make a great, original game based on that premise. Even today. That idea wasn't original when X-COM came out, or Half-Life, or Halo. By the same token, see also: WW2.

So, is it original? No, not really. Does it matter? No, not really.

[Sloan]

I agree with the statements that the description you have given is the premise of the game you are describing, I am sure everyone here has five or six ways to spin it bounding through their mind (religion for example, a animist revival crushed by the government) and yet more in yours.

When you say RPG that leaves a large room to play in, first person, third person, turn based, you could even go with card based combat and still pull it off.

So for your premise, there are things similar, but you haven't given enough detail to know if there is a clone out there. We don't know what kind of wooded area, it could be a southern hemisphere conifer forest full of midget animals (which would be a reason why guerrilla forces couldn't stay on the move all to well, not enough food for their body mass).

But in reading my mind, and other posts, you generated the interest you were going for when you posted, when is the release date?