If you were one of the many who watched Microsoft's long development of Xbox Live anywhere from rumor to reality, you can appreciate the frustration of technologies we use on a daily basis not being fully taking advantage of. Cell phones, mp3 players, and PDAs have been able to connect with personal computers for years now, and we're just now seeing the beginnings of like devices interacting with videogame consoles.
As we move into a future of cell phones being mobile gaming platforms that interact with our dedicated consoles, there are a few features I'd like to see developed and/or improved:
1. Accessing content from anywhere
While there certainly are devices that take advantage of an internet connecting to deliver video game content on multiple platform, this is less of an "experience" and more of "feature". As cell phones become more connected with consoles, I want to see content stores that deliver a full on experience tailored to each platform, but with access to all of the content. After going to a friends house and playing a particularly fun piece of DLC, I want to be able to purchase and download that content onto my own console by using my cell phone and have the DLC waiting for me when I get home.
2. Synchronization
All kinds of data could be synced between consoles and phones. Address books, calenders, RSS and Twitter feeds, pictures, videos, etc. can and should be synced between cell phones and consoles. If I download my favorite episode of House, I want it on my cell phone and on my console without having to do anything else but plug the two into each other. Better yet, I want to be able to show off my awesome head shot kills in Battlefield 1943 to my friends on my cell phone.
3. Social experiences
Videogames are more fun with friends. It would be fantastic if I could organize tournaments while I'm out and about with a mobile app. It would be even better if I could send my friends updates of the tournament results on their cell phones on my console immediately after it's over. Forget facebook and myspace. If console makers can deliver unique social experiences without being just another social networking pretender, then I won't be visiting those sites at all.
These are the core experiences I expect from a cell phone/console interaction and if Sony or Microsoft (maybe Nintendo?) can put them together then I might drop a couple hundred dollars a year on a smart phone and a data plan. Until then I'll be fine with playing Tetris on my basic cell phone.
2.14.2010
Slow As Sunday: The Individual in MMOs
One of the fundamental flaws of massive multiplayer role playing games is the lack of a sense of individuality. When I take on a role I want to feel that I am a hero, not just one of many cookie cutter characters populating the world. The good news is that tools are already available to increase the variety of characters and there by encourage the perception that an individual character are unique. Let's explore how the early levels of an MMORPG can increase the variety of characters and create unique experiences.
The first step in many a video game is creating a character. We can take advantage of this process to foster variety. Let's say that there are two factions, each with five different races. Now let's assume that each race has at least four different classes and one unique class based on race. Already there are 50 individual options for character creation. If each faction has five different regions, then we increase the number of options from 50 total to 125 unique character choices for each faction. That's a good start.
The second step is almost always a tutorial. Mixing player choices into the introductory levels can develop the individuality of a character even further. If each character has a tutorial based on class and each class has three or four different guilds within variety jumps from 125 per faction to at least 375. The choice of which guild doesn't even have to be in the player's control. If we disguise the guild choice as a class-wide "recruiting" mission, then the game can assign which guild the player character joins based on alignment. Alignment will be determined through the choices of the player in the tutorial. This will create a more organic process when assigning a guild and get the player in the mindset of "playing" their character's role.
The third and strongest tool we can employ to make a character feel more unique are the quest themselves. Offering quests based on race, class, region, guild status, or a mix of the four will give players different experiences as they play. By the time a player has maxed out their character they should have had hundreds of unique quests. We haven't even touched on personality or multi-classing and we already have a set up that ensures a varying mix of characters. As for creating the experience of being the hero, we've created many more options for a character to achieve greatness. They can be a bastion of their race, a leader of their guild, the paragon of their class, or a mighty warrior for their faction.
What can make or break the unique quests is the significance they have to the rest of the story. If what my dwarven war cleric of the deep vale is doing in the hidden enemy camp near his hometown doesn't feel like it has an impact on the overall story, then it was just a waste of time. Making each quest and decision have an impact on the game, however small, will go further n creating a sense of worthiness and heroism in the player than any other tool .
With just a few small differences suddenly MMOs contain millions of individuals, not just millions of subscribers. Instead of a player just taking on a singular role in their community they are now a multifaceted and colorful character. After all, it is a much greater feat of strength and unity when challenges are overcome despite our differences, and a much more rewarding.
The first step in many a video game is creating a character. We can take advantage of this process to foster variety. Let's say that there are two factions, each with five different races. Now let's assume that each race has at least four different classes and one unique class based on race. Already there are 50 individual options for character creation. If each faction has five different regions, then we increase the number of options from 50 total to 125 unique character choices for each faction. That's a good start.
The second step is almost always a tutorial. Mixing player choices into the introductory levels can develop the individuality of a character even further. If each character has a tutorial based on class and each class has three or four different guilds within variety jumps from 125 per faction to at least 375. The choice of which guild doesn't even have to be in the player's control. If we disguise the guild choice as a class-wide "recruiting" mission, then the game can assign which guild the player character joins based on alignment. Alignment will be determined through the choices of the player in the tutorial. This will create a more organic process when assigning a guild and get the player in the mindset of "playing" their character's role.
The third and strongest tool we can employ to make a character feel more unique are the quest themselves. Offering quests based on race, class, region, guild status, or a mix of the four will give players different experiences as they play. By the time a player has maxed out their character they should have had hundreds of unique quests. We haven't even touched on personality or multi-classing and we already have a set up that ensures a varying mix of characters. As for creating the experience of being the hero, we've created many more options for a character to achieve greatness. They can be a bastion of their race, a leader of their guild, the paragon of their class, or a mighty warrior for their faction.
What can make or break the unique quests is the significance they have to the rest of the story. If what my dwarven war cleric of the deep vale is doing in the hidden enemy camp near his hometown doesn't feel like it has an impact on the overall story, then it was just a waste of time. Making each quest and decision have an impact on the game, however small, will go further n creating a sense of worthiness and heroism in the player than any other tool .
With just a few small differences suddenly MMOs contain millions of individuals, not just millions of subscribers. Instead of a player just taking on a singular role in their community they are now a multifaceted and colorful character. After all, it is a much greater feat of strength and unity when challenges are overcome despite our differences, and a much more rewarding.
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