Avatar MMORPG?

[Swok Txon]

Does anybody here reckon it would be flippin' sweet to have an Avatar MMORPG

I reckon the learning of the language would be awesome to apply in an MMO, the beautiful landscapes and all that would be fun as well.

It could be a Human race and a Na'vi race...or you could choose from various tribes of Na'vi

Anybody reckon that would be a sweet idea? 

[Tsway'eion]

Give it time... the movie hasn't even come out of theaters yet.

[Swok Txon]

yeah i know that but after that don't you reckon it would be awesome?

They made an MMORPG out of LOTR i wonder if they will ever do it with Avatar....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

maybe not J-Cam's style lol

[Nahawne]

we're much more likely to see a d&d style pen and paper than an MMO at this point. in fact, that would be really easy to set up with either a GURPS system or maybe a very limited BESM.

However, after many years of doing just that with various settings I have learned that not every setting makes for a good roleplaying game or MMO. I think the verdict should wait until at least the second movie because right now I don't think there is quite enough material for a decent MMO. But I think we could pull off a pen and paper.

[Tirealì'u]

we're much more likely to see a d&d style pen and paper than an MMO at this point. in fact, that would be really easy to set up with either a GURPS system or maybe a very limited BESM.

However, after many years of doing just that with various settings I have learned that not every setting makes for a good roleplaying game or MMO. I think the verdict should wait until at least the second movie because right now I don't think there is quite enough material for a decent MMO. But I think we could pull off a pen and paper.

Fuuuudge!

Or D6.

But mostly Fudge.

... I find GURPS to be way too rules heavy still. :-P

[Nahawne]

we're much more likely to see a d&d style pen and paper than an MMO at this point. in fact, that would be really easy to set up with either a GURPS system or maybe a very limited BESM.

However, after many years of doing just that with various settings I have learned that not every setting makes for a good roleplaying game or MMO. I think the verdict should wait until at least the second movie because right now I don't think there is quite enough material for a decent MMO. But I think we could pull off a pen and paper.

Fuuuudge!

Or D6.

But mostly Fudge.

... I find GURPS to be way too rules heavy still. :-P

I agree completely about GURPS but it is decent for "make your owns" never tried fudge, should look into it!!

[Tirealì'u]

It's a toolset, more than a full system... But it is very functional and VERY open... and very light. Different take, and I absolutely love it.

But! To not totally hijack this thread... I dunno. Avatar MMO? I know MMOs... I've played them for years. Run fansites for them. Been paid as a reviewer for them, too. I can basically see how an Avatar MMO could be set up, but at the same time, I'd assume it would just degenerate into a theme-parked style, generic game that would really lose the point of the movie.

I don't really see the setting lending itself to an MMO quite so well. Star Trek I vaguely understand, somewhat - mostly because of Deep Space 9. Star Wars I understand... Avatar, I don't see fitting quite well.

Which is ironic, given it is about some dude controlling an Avatar body and getting sucked into a dream world. (Only to find out it is more real than the world he had lived in. Ha!)

[Nahawne]

I can basically see how an Avatar MMO could be set up, but at the same time, I'd assume it would just degenerate into a theme-parked style, generic game that would really lose the point of the movie.

I don't really see the setting lending itself to an MMO quite so well. Star Trek I vaguely understand, somewhat - mostly because of Deep Space 9. Star Wars I understand... Avatar, I don't see fitting quite well.

Right, it's a neat idea i just don't think there is enough material to work with at the moment to keep it true. it would almost have to be the endless forest but with light (probably more survival based) combat and everyone isn't a deer...

[Kretän]

I have also thought about this. Overall I have to agree with the general verdict of "not enough material at the moment". But I think the vital thing Avatar is missing is the magic element. Its hard to make character interesting when they can only increase on base skills (hunting, bow, swords, stealth). There needs to be a more "abra-ke-dabra! I have teh fire p0wz0rx!" to an MMORPG imo.

But, what about a whole new style of MMO game alltogether?
Maybe have the same set up, in a free open world, but have it much more like a single player game (i.e. smart a.i/animals, talking characters, missions/challenged) in which the A.I's are smart and challenging in themselves, but also introduce the multiplayer element?
Then, instead of a a heavily focuses lvling system where the higher lvl/better geared player allways wins, try to create more of a skill-based combat system (but one where character stats still have a minor influence, and gear gives extra advantages but requires skill to use effectively.)

Basically, a game that, like a single player game, is fun and challenging without the need of other players, but then can have other players introduced anyway, using a skill system rather than a heavy lvl/stats system.


Not entirely sure if it would work, but I would certainly like to see a new take on MMORPG games, and I would certainly check something like that out. Provided it was done properly, and in an emersive enough world, i think it could at least make a fun game. Even its not a world-renowned title.

But no monthly subscriptions, since without the lvl/addiction element people would likely not want to pay monthly. Subscription fee wouldn't work IMO.

Just my ideas being put onto paper

[Aperture]

/.../ I think the vital thing Avatar is missing is the magic element. Its hard to make character interesting when they can only increase on base skills (hunting, bow, swords, stealth). There needs to be a more "abra-ke-dabra! I have teh fire p0wz0rx!" to an MMORPG imo. /.../

Yeah that's right. But I would even play an MMORPG-ish Avatar if you could just discover the planet on foot or by ikran, collect fruits or "data" about flora and fauna.

[Kretän]

Well, one of WoW's major elements is the world discovery.

But I would love to see an avatar world. The problem is that it won't work as a traditional MMORPG, but I think make something new and as long as there isn't subscription fees the game could work.

The game just wouldn't be addictive enough for people to pay subscription fees for if there was no major lvl'ing system, which, IMO there can't be without having magic abilities.

[Nahawne]

But, what about a whole new style of MMO game alltogether?
Maybe have the same set up, in a free open world, but have it much more like a single player game (i.e. smart a.i/animals, talking characters, missions/challenged) in which the A.I's are smart and challenging in themselves, but also introduce the multiplayer element?
Then, instead of a a heavily focuses lvling system where the higher lvl/better geared player allways wins, try to create more of a skill-based combat system (but one where character stats still have a minor influence, and gear gives extra advantages but requires skill to use effectively.)

But no monthly subscriptions, since without the lvl/addiction element people would likely not want to pay monthly. Subscription fee wouldn't work IMO.

Just my ideas being put onto paper

So kinda like mabinogi or nine dragons? Where skils are leveled and gain experiance independently of the character every time they are used? I can see how that would work.

[Ptxèrra]

but you dont need magic to make the game populair.
but you need a ranking system.
but how dealing with animals in the game, killing them for fun is not na´vi like

[Aperture]

but how dealing with animals in the game, killing them for fun is not na´vi like

I was going to say that

The enemies could be sky-people?

[Nahawne]

but you dont need magic to make the game populair.
but you need a ranking system.
but how dealing with animals in the game, killing them for fun is not na´vi like

I agree with the first two. but ranks don't need to be levels, just some kind of score for bragging rights.

As for animals, so long as the story makes clear the intention. Like the starter quests for both tauren and night elves in WoW. Go kill x amount of this as a neccessity because they are a threat/we need food/pelts/ we need to cull the herd/ they have a sickness/ etc.

[Kretän]

Thats true Ptxerra, but then I fear we get back into the repetative syle of a typical MMORPG game.

I think as a starter, this would be a good way to learn how to play, since, in my idea of the game anyway, a skill based system means NPCs arent so easy to kill like they are in traditional games. They are quite capable of killing you. So I suppose weaker mobs would make a good way to introduce the controls etc.

Gear would be like, a bow that stays accurate for better range, or a lighter knife which can be swung faster.

I think having enemy sky people would be a good idea. But they should be both NPCs and players. Same for the Na'vi.

As for the animal problem, maybe something like, the Na'vi get some kind of discipline for killing unthreatening animals other than for food. But then there needs to be a navi/RDA balance. Maybe, the more animals alive in an area, the faster the Na'vi can replenish health at the tree of voices/souls or something?

I don't think that would work, but something along those lines maybe? We want some kind of balance so its fair for both the Na'vi and the RDA but which encourages players to act their role (i.e. you don't want Na'vi players to kill animals for no reason)

Maybe a disadvantage to killing a large number for the RDA could be that, through the tree of voices, Eywa can tell a player an area in which a large amount of wildlife was killed, which would effectively draw attention to an RDA player.

I'm just specualting about various possibilities. A game like this would obviously need alot of work to feel both immersive and fun while being balanced and capable of acting like a single-player game (so thats its fun without the need of too many other players).

This is just my ideas for what I would like to see the game look like. Obviously, talking about an MMORPG, theres so many different ways it could be done.

[Nahawne]

Kretän, you're a genius. That's a great way to keep people on track.

[Kretän]

Thanks, Nahawne

When I actually watched the film for the first time, one of my first thoughts (aside from being in a stat of complete awe) was "I wish there was a mmorpg game like this!"

But the thought was mainly because I just wanted to be able to run around in the world of Pandora!

Either way, it could make a great game to experiment with slightly different ideas than traditional MMORPG games, since, as stated by others, theres just not enough material to make an MMORPG as it is traditionally known.

[Étienne]

I reckon it would be cool. Or you could just play WoW and everyone roll trolls/hunters.

[Kretän]

Nah, its not the same.

You are talking about the world of Warcraft
I am talking about the world of Avatar

Its.... just not the same...

Ans besides, WoW is too expensive :/