Avian Gamers Network

What sort of worlds do you enjoy that have yet to be made into big online games (at least well-known ones)? Obviously Tolkien-based fantasy (and even Tolkien himself) is covered, as well as science-fiction stuff like SWG and AO. What other settings or specific worlds do you think would make good games?
The world that prompted me to make this post is Legend of the Five Rings, an Oriental fantasy world that has had card and miniature games, and pen-and paper RPG, and has been incorporated into a sourcebook for the latest D&D rules. It offers a wide variety of ghoulish creatures and a huge permanent 'dungeon' zone, the Shadowlands, where oni run wild all the time and occasionally assault the lands under Clan control. The various clans offer lots of different character options, and 'classes' include samurai, ninjas, and shugenja or wizards. Besides that, it could expand or tie in with the Burning Sands, an area based on Arabian fantasy that could make a great game in its own right.
A science fiction world I'd love to see is Babylon 5. Several interesting races and a very rich background world make it a great game world. The only problem is that the show was based on diplomacy, not killing mobs. I think any game based on B5 would have to turn out pretty interesting.
Shadowrun is a great old RPG world as well that deserves a good look. It's got some fantasy type races and magic but takes place in a sort of cyberpunk setting with cyborgs and guns as well. Again, it's not perfect for mobs and all, but it could be made to work quite interestingly.
I've also heard a little now and then about Pirates Online, which sounds awesome. I'd love to participate in a full pirate world, not just as a vaguely anonymous fleet captain but as a single scurvy dog or a wench or a Navy officer or the like. How cool is that?

Any others, or comments on my choices?

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65 min: Fastest Accepted Member in Avian History (as far as I'm aware)
ARCHITECH (Peace to GG)

Pirates would be excellent.

But I am so new to the MMORPG that the fantasy genre is untapped by me.

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Dalaran: Arindel - Frost Mage (Mining/Alchemy)
Dalaran: Roran - Paladin (Weaponsmith/Blacksmith)
Dalaran: Baine - Rogue

Shadowrun is so watered down and mixed up, I'd prefer or more full-on Cyberpunk world, like Neocron tried to be.

L5R would be an interesting thing indeed, as would be any Oriental MMOG (not specifially LBS).

What do you think about a MMOG set in the Humanx universe by Alan Dean Foster? Classic Space Opera with interesting races, psi abilities and factions.

Edward
would love to be a Thranx

Wheel of Time

Haven't read anything in the Humanx universe, so I couldn't say. But space opera type stuff sounds good (oh wait, duh...)
My ideal cyberpunk world would be William Gibson's stuff, but I'm not sure how you would make a game out of it, exactly. There is potential, I just can't be bothered to think about it right now.
Wheel of Time...I thought I said Tolkien-based stuff was covered? No, it would be a pretty cool game. I've played on Wheel of Time MUSHes for years. I think there was a 1st person mystery game or something set in that universe, but I don't think it did very well.
As long as I'm thinking about MUSHes I played, there's Anne McCaffrey's Pern, but I'd rather not go into that. Chotto hazukashii...

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65 min: Fastest Accepted Member in Avian History (as far as I'm aware)
ARCHITECH (Peace to GG)

Ever read the book, Adventures in Legoland?

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Romsuiag (Brad)
Former and Third President of Avian

LOL... isn't that what SWG is based on?

I'd like to see Terry Brooks stuff made into an MMO... either his Shannara world or the Landover world would be cool.

And also I agree with Arindel. Pirates would be sweet!

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

If Sid Meier dipped hiss little greasy fingers into Pirates Online, I might have to give that one a try.

Pirates! is still my favorite computer game. Ever.

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Retired Weaponsmith

What about an oldschool mafia type setting? That could be fun.

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Warnel Redd TC: Toad
..~Section I Director~..
Avian Nest Casino
Open again: TBA
>>CONVERT TO YOUR LOCAL TIME HERE<<

Good lord, ditto. I have a huge map of the carribean printed out on my wall at home.

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Bossman Intrepid
Director, Section 2
Future President, Corellia Tiki-Style Tavern Embellishments
Golga Bolg for mayor!

The cultural sensitivity police would be on your ass for that one, probably.

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Bossman Intrepid
Director, Section 2
Future President, Corellia Tiki-Style Tavern Embellishments
Golga Bolg for mayor!

The Chicago Italian in me loves that idea!

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Romsuiag (Brad)
Former and Third President of Avian

I know this is about "untapped" worlds, but I've been checking the site for Middle Earth Online, and being the Tolkien nut I am, if I leave SWG, its for this game.

It comes out supposedly in a year or so. Anyone with me?

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X'ero Ascaris
Swordsman/Weaponsmith
Section 4
Deputy Director

"Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth!" ~Olorin

We'll see how SWG and WoW are in a year. And maybe if I'm getting a higher income (stupid campus jobs ).

Like Marrok said, it all depends what things look like at that point. I do plan on graduating college in a year, and since I'll be going into restaurants I don't know if I'll even be playing anything considering how many hours I'll be working.

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Romsuiag (Brad)
Former and Third President of Avian

/hops on the bandwagon with X'ero

Right now MEO has the greatest potential to me! If they can actually implement the method through which your character develops in the way they claim they're going to, that part will turn out to be what I was hoping the quest for Jedi-hood was going to be...but clearly isn't .

/me indicates he's through with this threadjacking, doesn't want anyone else hurt and is surrendering to authorities.

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Liro
"The english language is not a wedding gown, it doesn't get better the more lace you add. It is instead a thong. Less is more." From /.
I need to remind myself of this regularly.

What is this proposed path?

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Bossman Intrepid
Director, Section 2
Future President, Corellia Tiki-Style Tavern Embellishments
Golga Bolg for mayor!

It's the last quote that really has my interest piqued.

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Liro
"The english language is not a wedding gown, it doesn't get better the more lace you add. It is instead a thong. Less is more." From /.
I need to remind myself of this regularly.

http://me.warcry.com

Best MEO news site around.

/done promoting.

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Well, they were saying SWG was going to be for casual players, too, but then the uber doodz kept complaining and it's turning more and more into a lot of busywork.

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Retired Weaponsmith

Oh stop being so childish.

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

I loved ShadowRun all through high school. It could work, though I think Matrix Online will be pretty similar.

Vampire the Gathering was also good, though somewhat dark and twisted, and better for an older audience.

The Nine Princes in Amber books were excellent, and I would love to see a quality movie and/or MMORPG based on those.

Ender's Game and the Bugger War could definately work as a great MMORPG.

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--The Hermit

Just to add a plug to what Talon said, you very own ex-Chairman, and favorite off-white sock puppet, Orbital, has just been made the Site Manager of Middle-Earth Warcry, so it will be more than the best MEO news site around... soon (but we all know what I mean when I use that word).

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:: Orbital :: Section Three ::

Official Avian Mascot - Sock Puppet
Board of Directors - Ex-Chairman

Amber, yeah, although I only read one book a long time ago, it's always intrigued me.
And Ender's War would be awesome, though a little strange. What would the players be, superkids at the war school? It would be weird to play a simulation of simulations, but rather apropos to the times.

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65 min: Fastest Accepted Member in Avian History (as far as I'm aware)
ARCHITECH (Peace to GG)

Yes, you mean never

Anyway, seeing that MEO has Daniel Greenberg on the staff makes me hope a little more for the game.

But having Raph Koster in SWG didn't make that game perfect either.

Edward/Rak Hagga
still looking at MEO from time to time

hmmm.. untapped MMO settings... what about The Smurfs?

/ducks

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

What are people hearing about Matrix Online? First time I'd heard about it was in reading Yak's post... sounds kinda cool. I'm a Matrix fiend what can I say.

Kinda interesting but did you guys notice that the two huge movie franchises right now are Matrix and LOTR, and both are getting MMORPGs? Wait, where did this Star Wars thing come from? I sense a theme... maybe I will just make an MMORPG out of the next big trilogy that comes out... sure to be a hit

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TheMole
Section 5
Section 5
Section 5
Now Playing: WoW
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Luckily that rule wasn't in effect when the Highlander trilogy used to be about.

Can you imagine a MMOG based on that?

Edward/Rak Hagga
what about a Star Trek MMOG?
Where Red Uniform shirts give you additional damage and a reduced dodge

Well, there certainly wouldn't be as many annoying uber-l33ts running around...since there can be only one.

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Liro
"The english language is not a wedding gown, it doesn't get better the more lace you add. It is instead a thong. Less is more." From /.
I need to remind myself of this regularly.

I heard the Matrix Online was bad. Don't remember where I heard it. Something about the content being lame.

Highlander would be pretty sweet I think.

What about Harry Potter? That might be kinda cool. (speaking of big movie franchises)

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

It's not a trilogy yet.

But I can imagine it making a nice MMOG. What if every player had to go to Hogwarts for the first ten levels?

Edward/Rak Hagga
wants to be in Ravenclaw

I never said it was a trilogy.

They could be able to go to Hogwarts or one of the other wizarding schools from the books. That would be cool.

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

The Matrix Online looks awsome, and it's being directed by the creators of that world, which is always a plus (though someone might need to mention Enter the Matrix) - an MMO that will have bullet-time and dynamic kung-fu moves can not be so bad - the features MxO has are pretty damn unique, and that will make it money, even if it's as good as SWG (/sarcasm).

Ed, the thing is that MEO has a ton of developers in Greenburg's league. People from Ultima Online...no one from EQ, unlike SWG. No one from Sony. Thank god.

There are going to be two more Pirates of the Carribean films... thus making it a "trilogy"... I would love to see a MMO with that setting. Kinships might get a ship instead of a hall. Oh yea. I would love to see a 1930s mob MMO too.

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:: Orbital :: Section Three ::

Official Avian Mascot - Sock Puppet
Board of Directors - Ex-Chairman

Typical.

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SW:TOR - Mantison Gunslinger, Ironmant Trooper, Manni Jedi Knight
WoW - Dalaran - Manni 85 Mage, Ironmant 83 Warrior, Mantison 80 Hunter
SWG - Chilastra Retired Mantison, Commando / TKA Master aka Trogdor !!!!

Eh?

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:: Orbital :: Section Three ::

Official Avian Mascot - Sock Puppet
Board of Directors - Ex-Chairman

I have to say it would certainly be interesting to win your skills by defeating opponents.

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X2-PB

Pathfinder Kingmaker Campaign:
Gednan Malithanar - Wizard (1)
Dukin Thunderstrike - Ranger (1)

Star Citizen: - https://www.robertsspaceindustries.com/
AntanKarmola on their forums

Star Wars: The Old Republic: - Not really playing
Antare Karmola - Jedi Guardian (32)
Antan Karmola - Jedi Shadow (21)
Arianae Karmola - Gunslinger (20)

Myself and my wife want to see an old west setting.

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Alda Arden
Devils Advocate since 1984

So, so, so much potential in that genre!!!

If any game designers read this, contact me to discuss salary and compensation! I'm the key to making this work and work well! I just know it!




If someone could come up with a good simulation of the fast-draw using keyboard or mouse, the old west would be another excellent setting for an MMO!

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Liro
"The english language is not a wedding gown, it doesn't get better the more lace you add. It is instead a thong. Less is more." From /.
I need to remind myself of this regularly.

Ask and ye shall recieve.

http://frontier1859.com/

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SW:TOR - Mantison Gunslinger, Ironmant Trooper, Manni Jedi Knight
WoW - Dalaran - Manni 85 Mage, Ironmant 83 Warrior, Mantison 80 Hunter
SWG - Chilastra Retired Mantison, Commando / TKA Master aka Trogdor !!!!

Ask and ye shall recieve. Arrrr! Pirates.

http://www.burningsea.com/

Since you guys are crafters.. and well, SWG blows, look at this:

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:: Orbital :: Section Three ::

Official Avian Mascot - Sock Puppet
Board of Directors - Ex-Chairman