Bionicle Text-Based MMORPG (?)

[Nik the Three]

So I got this idea one day, when I was like - why were all (most of them) fangames abandoned? It's hard-to-answer question, but I thing it was mostly because of their overwhelming complexity. There was always problem with things like graphics, too many people not able to properly communicate...

 

If you think about it there were actually many successful games. Games like Mafia, Steal the mask... They were all simple, yet awesome. They didn't need any graphics, sounds. They were powered by people's imagination.

 

What about combining these two genres? Idea is to create a story, design places, make a goal. Let people cooperate on goals or let them fight for mighty Ignika. Let the game have more chapters, pick between being Matoran, Toa, Turaga, each having different goal.

 

Edit: I forgot to mention important thing (stupid me). It would be automatized, powered by beautiful PHP, allowing anyone to join anytime without losing major points in plot. It would be like playing a singleplayer RPG game with occasional interaction between players. So game would not break when somebody goes off. It would be more like experiment.

 

What do you think? Does this idea have a chance? Or do you want to support it by further ideas?

Edited July 21, 2015 by Nik333

[Naota Takizawa]

We already have the BZPRPG for a text based RPG. 

[Nik the Three]

I forgot to mention important thing (stupid me). It would be automatized, powered by beautiful PHP, allowing anyone to join anytime without losing major points in plot. It would be like playing a singleplayer RPG game with occasional interaction between players. So game would not break when somebody goes off. It would be more like experiment.

[evil_jaga_genius]

We already have the BZPRPG for a text based RPG. 

This is indeed truth but...

 

I poke around on abandonware websites that have huge libraries of games for DOS.  A lot of these are text-based programs, like these:

http://www.myabandonware.com/browse/theme/interactive-fiction-10/

 

So are you thinking that you have a game like this, based off of text with zero graphics, but hosted on the internet?

 

I will say that, being a writer, I'm really interested, and being a game dev, it's a great idea but I don't know squat about networks and internet gameplay.  You'd have to find one of the other programmers to figure that out (Maybe bionicleFanatic or the guy behind MeNOLG).

 

Does it have a chance?  Heck yes!  How can I help?

[Nik the Three]

You exactly got the point! A multiplayer text-based game exactly like those old ones were.

 

I have experience in making PHP based things and this thing seems simple enough. Well it won't be simple, but I have done harder things (with graphics and things like that).

 

How can you help? I need a story! A goal, characters and overall game design!

 

I can't be however that active in next 5 days and will get time only occasionally. But after that we can start talking about project freely and (kind of) unlimitedly.

[evil_jaga_genius]

Okay, let me try a brain-dump here...

 

Will there be a map of any sorts to keep track of the players (like a Roguelike?) or will their locations all be based on text and story?

 

For a story I really, REALLY would like to do something with my band of Matoran on hoverbikes, the Falling Stars.  But that's just me =P  Of all the eras of Bionicle, I've never heard anyone complain about Mata Nui, Metru Nui, and only minimal stuff about Bara Magna.  Okoto gets more flak than it deserves just for being new... Mata Nui and Okoto give off a more magic, fantasy feel whereas Metru Nui seems definitively cyberpunk to me.  Bara Magna could be compared to a lot of post-apocalypse storylines.  It all depends on what feel you're going for.

 

You said you'd want to let players be Toa, Matoran and Turaga... my natural bent is to start with all players being Matoran first and go from there.  It's easier to keep track of plus it's a challenge, beating the quests without any elemental superpowers to bail you out.

 

Just stuff to think of.  Once again, it all depends on the feeling you're trying to create.

 

I agree it probably won't be "simple" simple.  It seems to me that with games hardly anything is simple, but few things are impossible.  What do you think?

[-Windrider-]

Going off of the Fan-Created Media rules...
 

5) Members are permitted to create individual topics if they need help using a program, or assistance in making their game, video, or music. This involves creating a topic to ask for help with a program, or to look for actors, people to help with development, suggestions, etc.

 
This should fit in that forum. General Discussion's more for topics about BZPower events, its members, all that. So, moving to FCM.

[Nik the Three]

Imagine MNOLG without graphics and more oriented on development of your character. You are for example in Ta-Koro. You have a description of part of village you are in and list of visible exits, such as road which leads to north part of village, Jala's house etc. Then you have list of Matorans you can interact with. When you interact with Matorans you have a dialog and classic list of answers you can choose from. You can even meet other players. And of course more, you probably get the point.

 

About character progression, idea of starting as Matoran and becoming Toa seems more than acceptable. Idea is that when you complete story on Mata-Nui, you can take a ferry to Metru-Nui or something.

 

What I am sure about is creating alternate timeline. Something with an idea, not too complicated and good for both I-came-for-story people and I-came-for-game people.

 

About how simple development will be, I can tell you designing will be more complicated than programming itself.

 

Note: Thanks for moving topic, I thought it wasn't in good forum...

[Nik the Three]

Basic summary of current state of project

 

Project is currently in state of designing. We (I and evil_jaga_genius) are trying to recreate Bionicle story and make it something you (probably) haven't ever seen before. With new plot, new Matoran Universe. I can't tell you more to not be spoiled. Main plot is kinda complete, now we are designing more detailed parts of story.

 

Game will be text-based, playable as singleplayer with occasional interaction between players. Game will be story driven, but still open world, as you have seen in MNOG. You will be able to explore, collect resources, trade with NPCs (and other players) and explore unpredictable story.

 

I am sad I can't tell you more, because it would spoil a lot, but game will start on Mata-Nui and will include other slightly altered, well-known places from the original timeline. Just don't expect them to be what you remember.

 

If you would like to participate in project, feel free to PM me. There is a whole lot of what have to be done!

Edited July 29, 2015 by Nik333

[Petewa]

I really like the sound of this, of course, I regretfully have little helpful experience, but I'd love to see this done.

[Nik the Three]

I really like the sound of this, of course, I regretfully have little helpful experience, but I'd love to see this done.

Actually, there is not an actual need for any programming skills or something like that. We are just slowly getting close to the point where development actually starts. If you are able to write gramatically right and make it nice-looking (thing I am basically unable to do), you can join us! Your work will be visible for everybody playing. Just as graphics in other fangames, here goes nice-looking description of what your character is facing.

[Petewa]

 

I really like the sound of this, of course, I regretfully have little helpful experience, but I'd love to see this done.

 

Actually, there is not an actual need for any programming skills or something like that. We are just slowly getting close to the point where development actually starts. If you are able to write gramatically right and make it nice-looking (thing I am basically unable to do), you can join us! Your work will be visible for everybody playing. Just as graphics in other fangames, here goes nice-looking description of what your character is facing.

So just writing up decent descriptions? Because that's something I'm actually capable of doing.

That's honestly one of the few skills I have.

[bionicleFanatic]

We already have the BZPRPG for a text based RPG.

 

That's a Play By Post Ruleless Tabletop RPG. I think the OP is talking about games like the original MUD (Multi-User Dungeon), MUD2, and Avatar (the free online game, not the film).

 

It would be interesting to make an MUD based on bionic, but don't think it would be simple: add multiplayer, and even a game of pong can turn into a coder's nightmare.

[Nik the Three]

If MUD is what I think it is, this won't be exactly that, because this game will be too much story driven to make so strong interaction possible.

 

It may change quickly, but current idea is that you may meet other players in locations, trade with them and get hints from them. Story we are currently working on is so complicated it will take a while to sort everything out and start with first location. Similar to MNOG with some of NPCs replaced by actual players maybe.