Another Collaborative Game Survey!
Hello, everyone. I am currently in the process of creating a single-player RPG. I figured it was time to start a collaborative thread, just to see what would happen :P
If you want to participate, use the below format:
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
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2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
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3. What you would not like to see in a game
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4. Romantic opportunities
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5. Graphical style
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Thank you for your time, and this is just a survey, so I would ask that you write in bullets and follow the format above.
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
Skill-based rather than dice-based gameplay. Collecting weapons, items and other resources is good, too, up to a certain point. Maybe a fighting system with combo's and tricks, something that takes some practice to get good at. Also, I like new aspects and abilities more than only getting stronger and better things.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
Medieval fantasy settings are over-used imho. I prefer something different - perhaps post-apocalyptic or something, though as long as it's implemented well and lends itself for some impressive environments and interesting area's, I don't have too specific demands.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
Grinding - continually redoing the same actions just to get hold of some resources. If I need resources to continue, provide some challenging ways to get it, don't have me kill 90% of the local bunny-population because they have a 40% gold drop chance. I dislike random drop chances for that reason: it invites this sort of behaviour.
4. Romantic opportunities
Saving a princess or loved one is fine with me, as a motivation to play the game and as part of the storyline, but I'm not really into romance stories.
5. Graphical style
Depends. I like fun cartoony styles for certain games and dark realistic styles for others. As long as the style suits the game I'm fine with it, though I tend to favor brighter and happier styles these days.
Skill-based rather than dice-based gameplay. Collecting weapons, items and other resources is good, too, up to a certain point. Maybe a fighting system with combo's and tricks, something that takes some practice to get good at. Also, I like new aspects and abilities more than only getting stronger and better things.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
Medieval fantasy settings are over-used imho. I prefer something different - perhaps post-apocalyptic or something, though as long as it's implemented well and lends itself for some impressive environments and interesting area's, I don't have too specific demands.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
Grinding - continually redoing the same actions just to get hold of some resources. If I need resources to continue, provide some challenging ways to get it, don't have me kill 90% of the local bunny-population because they have a 40% gold drop chance. I dislike random drop chances for that reason: it invites this sort of behaviour.
4. Romantic opportunities
Saving a princess or loved one is fine with me, as a motivation to play the game and as part of the storyline, but I'm not really into romance stories.
5. Graphical style
Depends. I like fun cartoony styles for certain games and dark realistic styles for others. As long as the style suits the game I'm fine with it, though I tend to favor brighter and happier styles these days.
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
Gameplay that is more involved than find mob, use sequence of attacks to kill mob, rinse and repeat until you level. I would like to see RPGs that use small games to develop the roleplaying aspect, for example, for dialogue use a small game as a manner to extract information rather than just fighting your way through a tree dialogue until you get the right sequence. For example, you could make it a small scale TBS, where the different units could represent different approaches in speech, so you would have highly aggressive units that could be considered verbal attacks, or units that are capable of evading attacks, that could represent changing subject, or other evasive techniques.
I would also like to see some movement away from the slaughter of every nearby creature just in order to see a tiny number move from 1 to 50+, while your power increases exponentially as you watch this little number rise.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
for setting I'd like to see something different from high fantasy . I would also like to see something potentially darker or more morally ambiguous than things like Final Fantasy, since my greatest grievance with high fantasy is the typical dichotomous structure of races, with the annoyingly simplistic good vs. evil.
A great setting that I think is underused is steampunk in this regard, since it has great potential to be a magnificent yet dark world with cities full of fantastic half magical half technological contraptions reign supreme under heavy clouds of smog.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
Dragons.
Elves.
Orcs.
Magical swords of uber awesome world-saving.
4. Romantic opportunities
Please, either make them somewhat realistic, with potentially changing romantic interests throughout the game, or none at all. I really can't stand the typical "we've been friends since before we could walk, and on this heroic journey we've fallen in love, and will love each other forever, and we are the first and only love either of us has ever had and will either need." It's very cute, but also rather nauseating.
5. Graphical style
Unique, and highly stylised, I don't mind whether its dark or light and bubbly, as long as its at least slightly different to what we normally see. So essentially please no more cutesy anime wannabe characters. I'd also like to see some more original character designs than 'dashing young slender guy who is a stout defender of all that is good, and has a huge attitude problem whenever talking to anyone the slightest bit flawed (aka. evil)', or submissive female characters who are inevitably 'the healer', who feels protected by the protagonist. While on that topic, no chauvinist male fighters, no half-wild female fighters, and no feeble scholarly mages.
right...I imagine you may have caught on to the fact that I'm not very keen on stereotypical RPGs, this is of course just a personal opinion, so take what I say with a grain of salt. and apologies about the ranting, its a bad habit of mine. I hope the huge amount of text contains at least a bit of useful information.
Gameplay that is more involved than find mob, use sequence of attacks to kill mob, rinse and repeat until you level. I would like to see RPGs that use small games to develop the roleplaying aspect, for example, for dialogue use a small game as a manner to extract information rather than just fighting your way through a tree dialogue until you get the right sequence. For example, you could make it a small scale TBS, where the different units could represent different approaches in speech, so you would have highly aggressive units that could be considered verbal attacks, or units that are capable of evading attacks, that could represent changing subject, or other evasive techniques.
I would also like to see some movement away from the slaughter of every nearby creature just in order to see a tiny number move from 1 to 50+, while your power increases exponentially as you watch this little number rise.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
for setting I'd like to see something different from high fantasy . I would also like to see something potentially darker or more morally ambiguous than things like Final Fantasy, since my greatest grievance with high fantasy is the typical dichotomous structure of races, with the annoyingly simplistic good vs. evil.
A great setting that I think is underused is steampunk in this regard, since it has great potential to be a magnificent yet dark world with cities full of fantastic half magical half technological contraptions reign supreme under heavy clouds of smog.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
Dragons.
Elves.
Orcs.
Magical swords of uber awesome world-saving.
4. Romantic opportunities
Please, either make them somewhat realistic, with potentially changing romantic interests throughout the game, or none at all. I really can't stand the typical "we've been friends since before we could walk, and on this heroic journey we've fallen in love, and will love each other forever, and we are the first and only love either of us has ever had and will either need." It's very cute, but also rather nauseating.
5. Graphical style
Unique, and highly stylised, I don't mind whether its dark or light and bubbly, as long as its at least slightly different to what we normally see. So essentially please no more cutesy anime wannabe characters. I'd also like to see some more original character designs than 'dashing young slender guy who is a stout defender of all that is good, and has a huge attitude problem whenever talking to anyone the slightest bit flawed (aka. evil)', or submissive female characters who are inevitably 'the healer', who feels protected by the protagonist. While on that topic, no chauvinist male fighters, no half-wild female fighters, and no feeble scholarly mages.
right...I imagine you may have caught on to the fact that I'm not very keen on stereotypical RPGs, this is of course just a personal opinion, so take what I say with a grain of salt. and apologies about the ranting, its a bad habit of mine. I hope the huge amount of text contains at least a bit of useful information.
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
Fun, quality, engaging, immersive.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
Fun, quality, engaging, immersive.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
Boring, repetitiveness, bugs, cliches.
4. Romantic opportunities
Fun, quality, engaging, immersive.
5. Graphical style
Quality, engaging, immersive.
Yes, I'm making a point, but a very valid one.
Fun, quality, engaging, immersive.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
Fun, quality, engaging, immersive.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
Boring, repetitiveness, bugs, cliches.
4. Romantic opportunities
Fun, quality, engaging, immersive.
5. Graphical style
Quality, engaging, immersive.
Yes, I'm making a point, but a very valid one.
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
-I think it would be interesting to be able to use various vehicles in an RPG. And I mean more then just a car or something plain like that. I am a sci-fi enthusiast and so I think it would be nice to have a space ship you could use. Another thing that not many games have in them that are some of my favorite things are airships such as those in the game Final Fantasy XII or the anime Last Exile if you have played that game or seen that show that is.
-I am in support of skill based rather then dice based gameplay.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
-As for the setting, Sci-fi or Steampunk. Steampunk is the only other genre that I like as much as Sci-Fi.
-Something that I think would go along great if you made the game steampunk are floating cities, flying fortresses, and aerial carriers. If you do include floating cities make sure you include adventures on the ground and on the cities. Also I think it would be cool to not let the player realize right away that they are on a floating city I think it will be nice shock when they find out.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
-If you do the steampunk idea with airships then I would like to see battles between fleets. Similiar to the one at the end of Final Fantasy XII if you have ever played that game before.
-Also just like Captian P said no having to grind. This is just annoying. Also nothing that encourages the player to grind ie the bunnies Captian P mentioned.
4. Romantic opportunities
-A great motivator for the player is to have at the beginning of the game a strong romantic interest between the main character and somebody else. Do things that will make the player really really like the romantic interest. Once you knoe the player really likes the romantic interest and think they are a really cool character have her killed either in a brutal painful way or symbolic way. However I would suggest brutal and painful. Once this is done it will radically encourage the player to seek out the killer who killed one of his or her favorite characters. Also you can use the killing of the romantic interest lead into something bigger ie conspiracy, connect to the main character's past ie connect the main character and killer or something else, or something else you can think of. The killing of the romantic interest should be the beginning of the main body of the game since its a big turning point. Also I can't emphasize how important it is that you make the romantic interest one of the players favorite characters. Also make sure that there are other "cool" characters other then the romantic interest if you focus to much on the romantic interest and not make any other "cool" characters then the player may stop playing becuase its no longer fun. Oh yes and don't ignore the main character. The basic goal is to make the player want to avenge the death of the romantic interest and feel sorry for the main character.
-Saving princess or things like that are overdone. And since the player has no knowledge of this princess it won't encourage them to play the game all that much, at least not for most people I don't think I know it wouldn't for me
5. Graphical style
-If you do anything like my idea for the romantic interest then it needs to be realistic. Cartoonish and serious simply don't mix.
-As long as you are not doing anything serious or having any kind of romantic involvment then cartoonish is fine. However either way my personal prefernce is realistic inless you are very good at making people laugh and doing a cartoonish style would make it funnier.
Well I know its a lot but I hope it helps and I really hope you use steampunk or sci-fi.
-I think it would be interesting to be able to use various vehicles in an RPG. And I mean more then just a car or something plain like that. I am a sci-fi enthusiast and so I think it would be nice to have a space ship you could use. Another thing that not many games have in them that are some of my favorite things are airships such as those in the game Final Fantasy XII or the anime Last Exile if you have played that game or seen that show that is.
-I am in support of skill based rather then dice based gameplay.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
-As for the setting, Sci-fi or Steampunk. Steampunk is the only other genre that I like as much as Sci-Fi.
-Something that I think would go along great if you made the game steampunk are floating cities, flying fortresses, and aerial carriers. If you do include floating cities make sure you include adventures on the ground and on the cities. Also I think it would be cool to not let the player realize right away that they are on a floating city I think it will be nice shock when they find out.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
-If you do the steampunk idea with airships then I would like to see battles between fleets. Similiar to the one at the end of Final Fantasy XII if you have ever played that game before.
-Also just like Captian P said no having to grind. This is just annoying. Also nothing that encourages the player to grind ie the bunnies Captian P mentioned.
4. Romantic opportunities
-A great motivator for the player is to have at the beginning of the game a strong romantic interest between the main character and somebody else. Do things that will make the player really really like the romantic interest. Once you knoe the player really likes the romantic interest and think they are a really cool character have her killed either in a brutal painful way or symbolic way. However I would suggest brutal and painful. Once this is done it will radically encourage the player to seek out the killer who killed one of his or her favorite characters. Also you can use the killing of the romantic interest lead into something bigger ie conspiracy, connect to the main character's past ie connect the main character and killer or something else, or something else you can think of. The killing of the romantic interest should be the beginning of the main body of the game since its a big turning point. Also I can't emphasize how important it is that you make the romantic interest one of the players favorite characters. Also make sure that there are other "cool" characters other then the romantic interest if you focus to much on the romantic interest and not make any other "cool" characters then the player may stop playing becuase its no longer fun. Oh yes and don't ignore the main character. The basic goal is to make the player want to avenge the death of the romantic interest and feel sorry for the main character.
-Saving princess or things like that are overdone. And since the player has no knowledge of this princess it won't encourage them to play the game all that much, at least not for most people I don't think I know it wouldn't for me
5. Graphical style
-If you do anything like my idea for the romantic interest then it needs to be realistic. Cartoonish and serious simply don't mix.
-As long as you are not doing anything serious or having any kind of romantic involvment then cartoonish is fine. However either way my personal prefernce is realistic inless you are very good at making people laugh and doing a cartoonish style would make it funnier.
Well I know its a lot but I hope it helps and I really hope you use steampunk or sci-fi.
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
Having the world change, like getting a fortress and being able to build it up
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
I still like fantasy ones ^.^
3. What you would not like to see in a game
emo lead bad guy
4. Romantic opportunities
choice between different romantic opp, with affecting end game
5. Graphical style
Secret of mana style
Having the world change, like getting a fortress and being able to build it up
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
I still like fantasy ones ^.^
3. What you would not like to see in a game
emo lead bad guy
4. Romantic opportunities
choice between different romantic opp, with affecting end game
5. Graphical style
Secret of mana style
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
- I'm a big fan of combo attacks and button sequences. Making the player more engaged in the game combat is the best way to get good re-play value. It also helps the battles not become boring or monotonous.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
- I agree that far-out fantasy settings in games have been used to death recently, so perhaps something closer to reality. I really like the mix of technology with nature and it gives an original feel to any world setting if done properly. Like you see a mountain and suddenly notice gears wedged into its side turning, and then you notice it's a sort of homemade well. Stuff like that:)
3. What you would not like to see in a game
- Ugh grinding. The point of an RPG is to develop the character and his/her story, not spending time mindlessly killing in order to advance. Have a way to direct the player to their next task! I've stopped playing many a game because I was lost or didn't know what to do next.
4. Romantic opportunities
- I think it's cool to have a love triangle. It's more interesting if the player could choose which character to pursue. Drama sucks in real life, but we love to watch it on TV for some reason, so I think creating a little drama between the two or more love interests of the player would be kinda cool.
5. Graphical style
- Mixing the proportions of a character design is interesting. Start with a realistic human antamoy, and manipulate parts of the body to suit the personality of the character more. So...a cartoony-realistic person? And no bunny girls....FF12 was okay, but...
- I'm a big fan of combo attacks and button sequences. Making the player more engaged in the game combat is the best way to get good re-play value. It also helps the battles not become boring or monotonous.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
- I agree that far-out fantasy settings in games have been used to death recently, so perhaps something closer to reality. I really like the mix of technology with nature and it gives an original feel to any world setting if done properly. Like you see a mountain and suddenly notice gears wedged into its side turning, and then you notice it's a sort of homemade well. Stuff like that:)
3. What you would not like to see in a game
- Ugh grinding. The point of an RPG is to develop the character and his/her story, not spending time mindlessly killing in order to advance. Have a way to direct the player to their next task! I've stopped playing many a game because I was lost or didn't know what to do next.
4. Romantic opportunities
- I think it's cool to have a love triangle. It's more interesting if the player could choose which character to pursue. Drama sucks in real life, but we love to watch it on TV for some reason, so I think creating a little drama between the two or more love interests of the player would be kinda cool.
5. Graphical style
- Mixing the proportions of a character design is interesting. Start with a realistic human antamoy, and manipulate parts of the body to suit the personality of the character more. So...a cartoony-realistic person? And no bunny girls....FF12 was okay, but...
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
-I'd like to see a Shining Force-style tactical RPG with strong character progression and customizability.
-Vehicle contruction/breeding would be sweet. I don't know how many hours were spent dealing with the Chocobo mini-games in FF7...
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
-There aren't enough modern RPGs. It's tough to pull off, and they usually turn out to be more action-adventure (Shenmue, GTA) than RPG. Still, it'd be nice to see a solid effort put out.
-Otherwise, a time travel game (Earthbound) where your modern character gets sent back in time and/or to the future and makes a drastic impact on the present by changing the outcome of actual historical events.
-I'm also partial to steampunk as well as the good ol' high fantasy settings.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
Contrary to what others have posted, grinds can add replay value to a game...but the grinds should definitely be by user choice, and not forced by gameplay mechanics. e.g. One of my favorite things to do in Suikoden was to go through and get all of the 108 characters leveled up. The user needs to feel like he's accomplishing something with whatever he's doing. Sense of accomplishment should not be felt only upon the completion of the game.
4. Romantic opportunities
I don't really care, just don't make it too corny or uncomfortable.
5. Graphical style
It has to fit the game, so it's tough to say without knowing what the game is. I really like the look of cel-shaded graphics though.
-I'd like to see a Shining Force-style tactical RPG with strong character progression and customizability.
-Vehicle contruction/breeding would be sweet. I don't know how many hours were spent dealing with the Chocobo mini-games in FF7...
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
-There aren't enough modern RPGs. It's tough to pull off, and they usually turn out to be more action-adventure (Shenmue, GTA) than RPG. Still, it'd be nice to see a solid effort put out.
-Otherwise, a time travel game (Earthbound) where your modern character gets sent back in time and/or to the future and makes a drastic impact on the present by changing the outcome of actual historical events.
-I'm also partial to steampunk as well as the good ol' high fantasy settings.
3. What you would not like to see in a game
Contrary to what others have posted, grinds can add replay value to a game...but the grinds should definitely be by user choice, and not forced by gameplay mechanics. e.g. One of my favorite things to do in Suikoden was to go through and get all of the 108 characters leveled up. The user needs to feel like he's accomplishing something with whatever he's doing. Sense of accomplishment should not be felt only upon the completion of the game.
4. Romantic opportunities
I don't really care, just don't make it too corny or uncomfortable.
5. Graphical style
It has to fit the game, so it's tough to say without knowing what the game is. I really like the look of cel-shaded graphics though.
Quote:Original post by Omniblade
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
More arcade-ish action. Like an action RPG where individual dungeons felt like levels from Streets of Rage or Chaos Engine, but with an interconnected persistent world. Also, I'd like to see more "single-player" RPGs with multiplayer cooperative support; not in a full blown MMO way, but more like Secret of Mana did with optional 2 and 3 player control. For instance I enjoyed Neverwinter Nights much more playing cooperatively with me and my brother, but there were severe bugs playing like this. I'd like to see an RPG where the small group multiplayer has been thought of right from the start rather than being attached on at the end; preferably just requiring two controllers on one machine rather than LAN.
Quote:Original post by Omniblade
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
I don't care too much about the setting, though a few more sci-fi RPGs would restore the balance a little, which can't be a bad thing. Fantasy RPGs have become a bit clichéd. Character customization is always a big plus for me.
Quote:Original post by Omniblade
3. What you would not like to see in a game
Too much reliance on epic stories rather than fun gameplay. I'm not saying that the big epic RPGs don't work, just that they've been done to death. It's rare to find a simple fun RPG these days.
Quote:Original post by Omniblade
4. Romantic opportunities
As above, I'd rather they weren't there; it's been done to death. If they're essential then keep them to a minimum. I'll only be skipping past the text to get to the next dungeon quicker anyway.
Quote:Original post by Omniblade
5. Graphical style
I'm a big fan of 2d sprites; they age better. The golden rule for graphics is thus: the quality of a single frame is less important than the overall fluidity of the animations.
1. Gameplay you would love to see in a single-player RPG
- Less grinding is probably at the top of everyones list. But one thing that would make grinding a whole lot more enjoyable is if the battles were quick. No intro screens like "BATTLE MODE!", or "YOU WIN! COLLECT YOUR PRIZE!".
For major battles it can be like this, but if you run into a spider in the forest, it shouldn't be a big event. As for a guideline of how quick, I'd say a goal of about 4-7 seconds per battle would be a reasonable goal. The lower the better of course.
One way to acheive this with smaller enemies (very weak) is just to choose an autoatic response when you run into them. That way, the player may take some damage, but instantly do the attack and be on his way in like 3 seconds.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
I'd be nice to see an RPG without a mention of elves and trolls once in my life ~_~
3. What you would not like to see in a game
"Would you go down to the old mill and get my basket of flowers?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"no"
4. Romantic opportunities
I actually don't completley agree with the above. While romance is very easy to get relly corney really fast, or really uncomfortable, I have noticed another way to take this: flirting.
If one girl (or a few) have a crush on your character, it can actually add some humor if the conversations with them get very akward. Have them say things that cause a "What?" "Oh,nothing!" moment.
5. Graphical style
I agree with the 2D sprite thing. For some reason, the 'pokemon' style graphics never really get old. RPG Maker actually produces a very good style that allows for deep gameplay, but a casual appearance.
- Less grinding is probably at the top of everyones list. But one thing that would make grinding a whole lot more enjoyable is if the battles were quick. No intro screens like "BATTLE MODE!", or "YOU WIN! COLLECT YOUR PRIZE!".
For major battles it can be like this, but if you run into a spider in the forest, it shouldn't be a big event. As for a guideline of how quick, I'd say a goal of about 4-7 seconds per battle would be a reasonable goal. The lower the better of course.
One way to acheive this with smaller enemies (very weak) is just to choose an autoatic response when you run into them. That way, the player may take some damage, but instantly do the attack and be on his way in like 3 seconds.
2. General Details (Settings and etc.)
I'd be nice to see an RPG without a mention of elves and trolls once in my life ~_~
3. What you would not like to see in a game
"Would you go down to the old mill and get my basket of flowers?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"no"
4. Romantic opportunities
I actually don't completley agree with the above. While romance is very easy to get relly corney really fast, or really uncomfortable, I have noticed another way to take this: flirting.
If one girl (or a few) have a crush on your character, it can actually add some humor if the conversations with them get very akward. Have them say things that cause a "What?" "Oh,nothing!" moment.
5. Graphical style
I agree with the 2D sprite thing. For some reason, the 'pokemon' style graphics never really get old. RPG Maker actually produces a very good style that allows for deep gameplay, but a casual appearance.
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