Producer: Provides the resources for game creation: Licensing of engines, Distribution methods, and coordinating with publishing rights.
Lead Writer/Designer/Director: Writes the main plot, designs the overall world and essential gameplay mechanics, and Directs the "realities" of that world.
Co-Designers: Assist in maintaining the overall vision and help with designing specific pieces of the world(AKA Maps), design bits and pieces of the gameplay, and keep the direction on-track
Programmers: Knowledge of graphics, gameplay, and script programming to keep the framerates efficient, the gameplay tight, and the cinematic feel on a competitive level.
Artists: Create the Concept Art, Models, Textures, Animation, and Maps of the world, characters, and props.
Composers: Compose music such as themes, Cinematic, and Background tracks that is efficient and epic.
First project: World War 3: Modern Conflict(Action Game)
Playtesters: Ensure the ability of maximum quality of the current project and product. Skillful abilities in Action games required.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Cyrain Studios
Okay, let's get cranking on what I want to do when I start up my own game studio.
Studio title: Cyrain Studios(of course)
Producer: Brian McCain(BrioCyrain)
Lead Writer/Designer/Director: Brian McCain(BrioCyrain)
Co-Designers: Yumi Ozaki(mistwalker)
Programmers: ???
Artists: ???
Composers: Depends how much people like Uematsu want.
First project: World War 3: Modern Conflict(Action Game)
Playtesters: Brian McCain(BrioCyrain)
Looks good for now..Hmm...
Studio title: Cyrain Studios(of course)
Producer: Brian McCain(BrioCyrain)
Lead Writer/Designer/Director: Brian McCain(BrioCyrain)
Co-Designers: Yumi Ozaki(mistwalker)
Programmers: ???
Artists: ???
Composers: Depends how much people like Uematsu want.
First project: World War 3: Modern Conflict(Action Game)
Playtesters: Brian McCain(BrioCyrain)
Looks good for now..Hmm...
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Sandbox Gaming Ignited: Sakaguchi VS Kojima
Now you're thinking, why a game where Kojima and Sakaguchi are against each other? Well it's the perfect sandbox set up in my opinion. The premise to create a sandbox where the "gods of gaming" can influence and affect the world not through cars or brawls, but with their pure genius game designing powers will give you a sense of unprecedented control.
The game as far as gameplay goes is meant to be a median between pure sandbox games like GTA or etc, and god games similar to Spore, SimCity, or otherwise. Being able to affect the world like a god while being still a vulnerable character is meant to give you a feeling of tactics and intuition. Now you're thinking "Where does the Versus aspect come in?", but it's quite simple actually. Both Sakaguchi and Kojima as competing game developers are out to take full control of the world, using their creative powers to use such powers as spawning game characters to control or scare off NPCs, manipulate the environmental aspects pertaining to marketing(texture control), and first and foremost make the world become "their's".
Now it's quite obvious to me that the environment visually and gameplay wise should be affecting by their actions...Sakaguchi's areas should morph into a more fantasy-esque art direction, while Kojima's areas should look like something out of MGS4 or otherwise...and neutral territory should look like a normal large city similar to Tokyo. The victor is the man who makes the city fully Fantasy or MGS-esque, and making the world "theirs". The suspence of having to maintain or usurp control of the town is where the action begins. Having to fight, persuade, and move your way across town will be the peaks of excitement. Two campaigns and a competitive multiplayer mode is practically essential.
Choose your sides wisely gamers, for there is nothing short of world domination on their minds!
The game as far as gameplay goes is meant to be a median between pure sandbox games like GTA or etc, and god games similar to Spore, SimCity, or otherwise. Being able to affect the world like a god while being still a vulnerable character is meant to give you a feeling of tactics and intuition. Now you're thinking "Where does the Versus aspect come in?", but it's quite simple actually. Both Sakaguchi and Kojima as competing game developers are out to take full control of the world, using their creative powers to use such powers as spawning game characters to control or scare off NPCs, manipulate the environmental aspects pertaining to marketing(texture control), and first and foremost make the world become "their's".
Now it's quite obvious to me that the environment visually and gameplay wise should be affecting by their actions...Sakaguchi's areas should morph into a more fantasy-esque art direction, while Kojima's areas should look like something out of MGS4 or otherwise...and neutral territory should look like a normal large city similar to Tokyo. The victor is the man who makes the city fully Fantasy or MGS-esque, and making the world "theirs". The suspence of having to maintain or usurp control of the town is where the action begins. Having to fight, persuade, and move your way across town will be the peaks of excitement. Two campaigns and a competitive multiplayer mode is practically essential.
Choose your sides wisely gamers, for there is nothing short of world domination on their minds!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
SimEarth: The Ultimate AI Experience
Now you might be thinking about the original SimEarth, that old game where you basically just watched little icons of lizards and that awful polution and then at the end of the nuclear winter your final race goes in a space ship and ends with having an orbital space station...at least the version I remember.
All in all there wasn't much "medling" to be had unlike Spore which seems to be a recent offspring of what SimEarth could have been in recent years, but while Spore had some ground-breaking ideas....the endgame was pretty horrible IMO.
So getting back to what I believe would be a true successor to SimEarth, it would require the greatest AI engine ever made. Yes you would be the god character but the god character shouldn't need to do everything just so the races stay in check(or dont kill themselves).
Basically my premise for the ultimate SimEarth is AI...AI that is not only about figuring out what to do, but AI that takes a virtual-bioligical form. I am talking about Artificial Life, a subject less studied even from AI. The game would serve a revolution in computational biology by using "virtual-dna" to create the basis for each living race, be it animal or humanoid. Characters would virtually be living creatures, having virtual organs, virtual intelligence, virtual social tendencies, and the like. Now in recent yes the Morpheme and Europhoria engines were all about simulating muscles, but only for physics purposes. SimEarth goes beyond that for more of intellectual purposes so the characters would feel "mortal". Being wounded realisticly, be able to evolve their abilities based on their "biology", and other realistic precedences to create the ultimate simulator.
Of course there are other mechanics that I have yet to see be touched personally. Though it's obvious that the race you're bound to get stuck with is the fittest race and one that gains sentience, but after that they usually don't get much smarter besides making stuff. Now with SimEarth they would have the ability to develop their own languages based on an amazing soundwave generator, their own religions or cults, and of course build their own empires....themselves. Of course now you're thinking, "What is in it for me?". Since you are playing "God" you will of course be able to influence the superior race with things such as effecting weather, giving boosts to the underdog or otherwise in a large war, and even creating or preventing natural disasters. Gaia will of course be the spirit of the Earth, and it's easy to say IMO that she'll be your CNN news and give you tips or suggestions on what is favorable on the basis you want to keep your Earth intact.
Now those are outta the way, what would your Earth look like? Well it would make plenty sense to me that you would be able to influence how many continents, islands, and oceans the planet has, by simply tweaking the Land to Ocean ratio during the beginning stages of when your planet is coming into form.Now that you have a greatly diverse looking planet, you pretty much want to see the mile-to-mile eye candy? Well, I agree! If anything SimEarth not only should generate the planet in full-view, but it should be nice that while you are causing havoc or spying on tribes that you have something similar to CryEngine 3 while you're at it!
Now what about endgame? Well, while I'm not sure what it would be like myself, wouldn't be nice that you had more options besides staring at space station and an ice covered planet? I THINK SO!
All in all there wasn't much "medling" to be had unlike Spore which seems to be a recent offspring of what SimEarth could have been in recent years, but while Spore had some ground-breaking ideas....the endgame was pretty horrible IMO.
So getting back to what I believe would be a true successor to SimEarth, it would require the greatest AI engine ever made. Yes you would be the god character but the god character shouldn't need to do everything just so the races stay in check(or dont kill themselves).
Basically my premise for the ultimate SimEarth is AI...AI that is not only about figuring out what to do, but AI that takes a virtual-bioligical form. I am talking about Artificial Life, a subject less studied even from AI. The game would serve a revolution in computational biology by using "virtual-dna" to create the basis for each living race, be it animal or humanoid. Characters would virtually be living creatures, having virtual organs, virtual intelligence, virtual social tendencies, and the like. Now in recent yes the Morpheme and Europhoria engines were all about simulating muscles, but only for physics purposes. SimEarth goes beyond that for more of intellectual purposes so the characters would feel "mortal". Being wounded realisticly, be able to evolve their abilities based on their "biology", and other realistic precedences to create the ultimate simulator.
Of course there are other mechanics that I have yet to see be touched personally. Though it's obvious that the race you're bound to get stuck with is the fittest race and one that gains sentience, but after that they usually don't get much smarter besides making stuff. Now with SimEarth they would have the ability to develop their own languages based on an amazing soundwave generator, their own religions or cults, and of course build their own empires....themselves. Of course now you're thinking, "What is in it for me?". Since you are playing "God" you will of course be able to influence the superior race with things such as effecting weather, giving boosts to the underdog or otherwise in a large war, and even creating or preventing natural disasters. Gaia will of course be the spirit of the Earth, and it's easy to say IMO that she'll be your CNN news and give you tips or suggestions on what is favorable on the basis you want to keep your Earth intact.
Now those are outta the way, what would your Earth look like? Well it would make plenty sense to me that you would be able to influence how many continents, islands, and oceans the planet has, by simply tweaking the Land to Ocean ratio during the beginning stages of when your planet is coming into form.Now that you have a greatly diverse looking planet, you pretty much want to see the mile-to-mile eye candy? Well, I agree! If anything SimEarth not only should generate the planet in full-view, but it should be nice that while you are causing havoc or spying on tribes that you have something similar to CryEngine 3 while you're at it!
Now what about endgame? Well, while I'm not sure what it would be like myself, wouldn't be nice that you had more options besides staring at space station and an ice covered planet? I THINK SO!
Brio Cyrain's FireScore; Stealth Action Streamlined
So this is one of my ideas...WAAAAY back when I was in germany. A stealth action game which was inspired by stealth action game trailers. Roughly-based on the original trailer for Dark Sector my game was meant to also have a sci-fi spin, but after experiencing games like Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell I decided to also take into account more modern mechanics.
The game would also be the third installment of a large line of titles I was meant to produce with my own theoritical studio, easily named Cyrain Studios.The game would use high-tech gadgets, CQC and stealth weapons, and of course a "spy-suit". At the time I was really into quirky title names and dubbed the game "FireScore" due to the premise of having plenty of action and a solid musical score, and the name just sounded cool IMO.
Unlike Splinter Cell where you are finding terrorists or the original plot for Dark Sector where you're confined to space stations filled with dismal-brained goons, FireScore would take place in high-tech enemy corporations who are out to take over the world through conspiracies, but given the futuristic setting the mercenaries and henchmen would also have a variety of nice toys. You advantage would be your gadgets, CQC, and Nanosuit that practically gives you a superhuman presence.
After that is where the idea practically died, seeing how the overwhelming cliche twists the game has...I believed it wouldn't go too far.
The game would also be the third installment of a large line of titles I was meant to produce with my own theoritical studio, easily named Cyrain Studios.The game would use high-tech gadgets, CQC and stealth weapons, and of course a "spy-suit". At the time I was really into quirky title names and dubbed the game "FireScore" due to the premise of having plenty of action and a solid musical score, and the name just sounded cool IMO.
Unlike Splinter Cell where you are finding terrorists or the original plot for Dark Sector where you're confined to space stations filled with dismal-brained goons, FireScore would take place in high-tech enemy corporations who are out to take over the world through conspiracies, but given the futuristic setting the mercenaries and henchmen would also have a variety of nice toys. You advantage would be your gadgets, CQC, and Nanosuit that practically gives you a superhuman presence.
After that is where the idea practically died, seeing how the overwhelming cliche twists the game has...I believed it wouldn't go too far.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Boredom Joke
Note to terrorists and enemy agents, "Don't tick off an elite agent like Sam Fisher"
Side effects include "Busted Skulls, Dead people, and human shields"
Call your doctor if you think you have ticked off such a person.
Don't wait, call now
Call toll free at 1-800-YOU-DEAD
That's 1-800-YOU-DEAD
don't wait, call now
(end commercial)
(phone starts ringing)
"Hello, this is the "Don't tick off an elite agent like Sam Fisher" clinic...how may I help you?"
(dude with russian accent): Um, I just killed this dude's daughter a few weeks ago and now I am getting text messages, emails, and letters from the dude who says he will be here in 5 minutes to kill me
"I see...that's alot of symptoms, have you made sure you have plenty of security systems, bodyguards, and shotguns in your cabinets?"
(dude): Yes, yes...I have all of that, but I saw your commercial and it sounded really promising due to my current situation. Is there any way of your company helping me? I have about 2 suitcases of 1 million dollars each
"Ah, well. We might take it as a down-payment loan, but what are you exactly asking for? We got explosives, rifles, elite bodyguards, etc"
"Well yes, but...hold on a second..(gunfire in the background. I will have to call you back..If I survive that is"
"bye bye"
(clinic): Have a nice day...bye.
(hanging up tone)
Side effects include "Busted Skulls, Dead people, and human shields"
Call your doctor if you think you have ticked off such a person.
Don't wait, call now
Call toll free at 1-800-YOU-DEAD
That's 1-800-YOU-DEAD
don't wait, call now
(end commercial)
(phone starts ringing)
"Hello, this is the "Don't tick off an elite agent like Sam Fisher" clinic...how may I help you?"
(dude with russian accent): Um, I just killed this dude's daughter a few weeks ago and now I am getting text messages, emails, and letters from the dude who says he will be here in 5 minutes to kill me
"I see...that's alot of symptoms, have you made sure you have plenty of security systems, bodyguards, and shotguns in your cabinets?"
(dude): Yes, yes...I have all of that, but I saw your commercial and it sounded really promising due to my current situation. Is there any way of your company helping me? I have about 2 suitcases of 1 million dollars each
"Ah, well. We might take it as a down-payment loan, but what are you exactly asking for? We got explosives, rifles, elite bodyguards, etc"
"Well yes, but...hold on a second..(gunfire in the background. I will have to call you back..If I survive that is"
"bye bye"
(clinic): Have a nice day...bye.
(hanging up tone)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
A night being Kojima
Kojima was a poor man, who wanted to be rich. He lived in a broken down house, staring into the night sky. He had a wife and two kids, one being a son and the other a daughter. After supper Kojima was still staring into the night sky, and that is when his luck had changed. A small comet was heading toward the Earth and it would be crashing not far from his house. Kojima then ran to his car and started driving toward the potential landing site of the comet. Desperate to be rich he thought, "If I get there in time, I could sell the pieces of the comet and become rich!" and so with this in mind he drove even faster. The comet was getting closer and closer and so he drove faster and faster. He managed to get there right when the comet smashed into the ground, and was able to sell the pieces immediately. His ego now risen above being a lowlife and poor individual, he found out that his daughter had somehow died during his travel.
His soul now shattered, he knew that he had to go back into the past and rescue his daughter. Using a radioactice piece of the comet, he managed to go back far enough to where it was after supper again. He found out that his daughter had stowed away in the back of his truck and must of gotten hit by a piece of the comet. He rushed to save his daughter from himself and was able to manage to stop the truck before it had reached where the comet landed. Though he wasn't rich anymore his daughter was safe, but he now thought if it was possible to be rich AND still have his daughter?
I had woken up after this crazy dream and thought, "that was pretty dissapointing dream". Then I went back to sleep after thinking, "Then again...IT'S KOJIMA".
The End
His soul now shattered, he knew that he had to go back into the past and rescue his daughter. Using a radioactice piece of the comet, he managed to go back far enough to where it was after supper again. He found out that his daughter had stowed away in the back of his truck and must of gotten hit by a piece of the comet. He rushed to save his daughter from himself and was able to manage to stop the truck before it had reached where the comet landed. Though he wasn't rich anymore his daughter was safe, but he now thought if it was possible to be rich AND still have his daughter?
I had woken up after this crazy dream and thought, "that was pretty dissapointing dream". Then I went back to sleep after thinking, "Then again...IT'S KOJIMA".
The End
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Jedis and Commandos: What if Sakaguchi and Kojima both worked together on a Star Wars game?
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away...
...Star Wars games have been hit and miss ever since the creation of LucasArts; the gaming division of LucasFilm and the George Lucas Empire, starting with the old-school SNES or likewise games based on the original three movies, and ending with games like Battlefront, KOTOR, and the horrid Force Unleashed series. It goes without saying that most of the "true movie-based" titles were nothing more than shovel-ware, the old 2D ones seeming to be practically impossible to beat, and likewise with the new renditions of the prequels.
Star Wars gaming shined brightest when the developers weren't limited to individual bits and pieces of the universe: Republic Commando being a side-story, Battlefront encompassing the franchise as a whole in shooter form, and the "KOTOR" series being an even further back prequel with its unique emphasis on player decisions. All three franchises became popular and were quite enjoyed by both star wars and non-star wars fans.
The problem began when the co-developers behind games like Battlefront and KOTOR ended up abandoning Star Wars and LucasArts. Pandemic left to create a Battlefront-esque Lord of the Rings game for EA, but ended up shutting down after the title horribly bombed, and also BioWare left the KOTOR franchises to create Mass Effect and Dragon Age for both EA and in some cases Microsoft.
After this predicament it seems LucasArts made things worse with the shovel-ware hit "The Force Unleashed", claimed to be the best-selling Star Wars game to date, though many of the true star wars fans have done nothing but ignore the series as a whole. The sequel being termed as a short "expansion pack" and the gameplay repetitive, it seems LucasArts have dug them into an almost inescapable pit. Thus it's about time someone or some group came in to save the day.
It will take someone like Sakaguchi and Kojima to save the day with their industry experience and superior genius. That said you might think me as madman for picking these two, but it will all make sense by the end of this article.
A perfect fit don’t you think?
THE PREMISE:
Now I haven't anything truly against the deviant madness that Pandemic and BioWare had bestowed on the Star Wars Universe, but their mechanics were used far before they created Battlefront and KOTOR. Star Wars: Battlefront was nothing more than BATTLEFIELD: STAR WARS, and BioWare's "pick a choice and change the game" was invented way back in games like Tactics Ogre. That being said both game franchises were popular, enjoyable, and finally gave Star Wars gaming something to brag about.
The issue being, there should be more to games than just a "tried-and-true" mechanic that makes the game fun, and games like Battlefront needed to evolve to become a more unique figure that should feature "Star Wars-only" mechanics. There was the chance for a proper "Battlefront 3" that had this sort of growth for the series, but the developer known as "Free Radical" ended up shutting down as well. The series is or was degraded to horrible PSP and/or DS ports, practically killing the franchise for good.
BioWare has done no better as they've returned to the KOTOR franchise, but with an over-budget MMORPG that's costing them over 100+ million dollars to produce. Fans have wanted no more than a proper KOTOR 3 game, but it seems BioWare has done nothing but overkill the situation.
Also the fact that the one-time Republic Commando game that was also extremely popular seems to have no hopes of a sequel. It is a dark day in the world of Star Wars gaming, and we need Sakaguchi and Kojima to create a new ground-breaking Star Wars IP.
REVIVAL:
Sakaguchi and Kojima know MORE than a thing or two about their respective fields; Immersive RPGs and Tactical Stealth Action games. Now that we have that out of the way, would you be surprised that Star Wars had these sorts of features...IN THE MOVIES? Just picture instead of a sword or tranquilizer gun, change it to a lightsaber and laser rifle. Boom, first problem solved!
Now what of the game's overall design and how exactly could Kojima and Sakaguchi benefit it? Well, we all know Sakaguchi is a master of story-telling, and creating great characters. One of Star Wars greatest strengths is its story and awesome characters, also on a note if the game will utilize characters with lightsabers (which it most definitely will): we need someone who knows a thing or two about swordplay and the whole "mystical" stuff. Kojima is a given seeing how the second half of Star Wars is basically espionage and combat. I mean the first movie starts off with spies and stolen battle plans, and guns blasting everything! I mean what else do you need to get for an action-element working in the game? Also the fact that Raiden is a slice and dice maniac, Kojima could have a hand in the lightsaber action also.
There's also the fact that there are things Kojima and Sakaguchi have in common that are essential for an amazing Star Wars IP; both love character development and dialogue. There's plenty of it in the Star Wars movies so having story-junkies such as Kojima and Sakaguchi are a natural fit. As long as they mostly stick to the star wars lingo it should be nothing short of perfect, the only issue now being the backdrop and timeline that the game would take place.
PROPOSAL #1:
Obviously there's always multiple ways of doing things, and the first option would be an alternate side-story. Knowing full well that Republic Commando was an amazing game, it would be the first line of defense for the new IP. A squad of Rebel Commandos fighting skirmishes and completing missions while people like Luke takes all the fame. The Rebel Commandos would sport mechanics like CQC, Snake-like tactics, and electronic-swords that worked similar to lightsabers. Of course with this in mind there should be opportunities for local and online co-op, albeit not "forced" to where a lone player is left frustrated at times. Also the possibility for competitive online matching should definitely to be taken advantage of.
PROPOSAL #2:
One thing’s for sure, and it is that there are enough if not too many prequels to the original movies. Let's go with something that has been only done really in book-form...Sequels! It would be nice to give the game a clean slate with the possible war-ridden scenarios of the future, a time after the destruction of the Empire. From what books I read the Jedi are now back in full abundance and there's deceit to be had in the newly-restored republic. If there is anything that Sakaguchi and Kojima CAN do, it is making suspenseful plot twists and making a game exciting. The premise to begin a Star Wars IP with an emotional potency is what games like Final Fantasy and Metal Gear are about, and something this duo of geniuses is best at accomplishing, the characters being fully capable of welding both Jedi powers and lightsabers with also characters who could use guns and other weapons. The possibilities are endless!
PROPOSAL #3:
Now there is always the safest best for this proposal, and go with the most logical approach. This would mean recreating the original trilogy in video-game form. As I said earlier the original script and scenario had the attributes of an immersive RPG that had "shared" mechanics of a tactical stealth action game. Instead of just a redundant movie-game that had cheap snippets of gameplay, it would be a fully-realized gameplay-universe which gives players an interactive alternate "look" of what was going on. Gamers would have a "main hub" in which they could "witness" immersive tidbits of the original universe. Of course this would require access to George Lucas' original scripts and what-not, but it's definitely something that has to be experimented with!
What Saka/Jima can learn from Pandemic/BioWare:
There were a few things that BioWare and Pandemic got right that Sakaguchi and Kojima can use; and that is making the game accessible to people outside of the Star Wars "fan club". BioWare made their games intriguing with KOTOR's immersive mechanics, Pandemic made Star Wars a fun shooter experience with Battlefront. If anything Sakaguchi and Kojima should look to their Star Wars predecessors while determining which of the three (or so) proposals the best choice is. Star Wars territory is not to be treaded lightly, if anything it is almost like entering the emperor's throne room before the last battle of the final movie.
Good luck to you Sakaguchi and Kojima!
CLOSING COMMENTS:
So I am still a madman and it still doesn't make sense, but hopefully I was able to influence at least some of you with my argument. In my opinion Sakaguchi and Kojima are the most capable in this dire situation...what are you top picks for the revival of Star Wars gaming?
Also...
Until Next Time!
...Star Wars games have been hit and miss ever since the creation of LucasArts; the gaming division of LucasFilm and the George Lucas Empire, starting with the old-school SNES or likewise games based on the original three movies, and ending with games like Battlefront, KOTOR, and the horrid Force Unleashed series. It goes without saying that most of the "true movie-based" titles were nothing more than shovel-ware, the old 2D ones seeming to be practically impossible to beat, and likewise with the new renditions of the prequels.
Star Wars gaming shined brightest when the developers weren't limited to individual bits and pieces of the universe: Republic Commando being a side-story, Battlefront encompassing the franchise as a whole in shooter form, and the "KOTOR" series being an even further back prequel with its unique emphasis on player decisions. All three franchises became popular and were quite enjoyed by both star wars and non-star wars fans.
The problem began when the co-developers behind games like Battlefront and KOTOR ended up abandoning Star Wars and LucasArts. Pandemic left to create a Battlefront-esque Lord of the Rings game for EA, but ended up shutting down after the title horribly bombed, and also BioWare left the KOTOR franchises to create Mass Effect and Dragon Age for both EA and in some cases Microsoft.
After this predicament it seems LucasArts made things worse with the shovel-ware hit "The Force Unleashed", claimed to be the best-selling Star Wars game to date, though many of the true star wars fans have done nothing but ignore the series as a whole. The sequel being termed as a short "expansion pack" and the gameplay repetitive, it seems LucasArts have dug them into an almost inescapable pit. Thus it's about time someone or some group came in to save the day.
It will take someone like Sakaguchi and Kojima to save the day with their industry experience and superior genius. That said you might think me as madman for picking these two, but it will all make sense by the end of this article.
A perfect fit don’t you think?
THE PREMISE:
Now I haven't anything truly against the deviant madness that Pandemic and BioWare had bestowed on the Star Wars Universe, but their mechanics were used far before they created Battlefront and KOTOR. Star Wars: Battlefront was nothing more than BATTLEFIELD: STAR WARS, and BioWare's "pick a choice and change the game" was invented way back in games like Tactics Ogre. That being said both game franchises were popular, enjoyable, and finally gave Star Wars gaming something to brag about.
The issue being, there should be more to games than just a "tried-and-true" mechanic that makes the game fun, and games like Battlefront needed to evolve to become a more unique figure that should feature "Star Wars-only" mechanics. There was the chance for a proper "Battlefront 3" that had this sort of growth for the series, but the developer known as "Free Radical" ended up shutting down as well. The series is or was degraded to horrible PSP and/or DS ports, practically killing the franchise for good.
BioWare has done no better as they've returned to the KOTOR franchise, but with an over-budget MMORPG that's costing them over 100+ million dollars to produce. Fans have wanted no more than a proper KOTOR 3 game, but it seems BioWare has done nothing but overkill the situation.
Also the fact that the one-time Republic Commando game that was also extremely popular seems to have no hopes of a sequel. It is a dark day in the world of Star Wars gaming, and we need Sakaguchi and Kojima to create a new ground-breaking Star Wars IP.
REVIVAL:
Sakaguchi and Kojima know MORE than a thing or two about their respective fields; Immersive RPGs and Tactical Stealth Action games. Now that we have that out of the way, would you be surprised that Star Wars had these sorts of features...IN THE MOVIES? Just picture instead of a sword or tranquilizer gun, change it to a lightsaber and laser rifle. Boom, first problem solved!
Now what of the game's overall design and how exactly could Kojima and Sakaguchi benefit it? Well, we all know Sakaguchi is a master of story-telling, and creating great characters. One of Star Wars greatest strengths is its story and awesome characters, also on a note if the game will utilize characters with lightsabers (which it most definitely will): we need someone who knows a thing or two about swordplay and the whole "mystical" stuff. Kojima is a given seeing how the second half of Star Wars is basically espionage and combat. I mean the first movie starts off with spies and stolen battle plans, and guns blasting everything! I mean what else do you need to get for an action-element working in the game? Also the fact that Raiden is a slice and dice maniac, Kojima could have a hand in the lightsaber action also.
There's also the fact that there are things Kojima and Sakaguchi have in common that are essential for an amazing Star Wars IP; both love character development and dialogue. There's plenty of it in the Star Wars movies so having story-junkies such as Kojima and Sakaguchi are a natural fit. As long as they mostly stick to the star wars lingo it should be nothing short of perfect, the only issue now being the backdrop and timeline that the game would take place.
PROPOSAL #1:
Obviously there's always multiple ways of doing things, and the first option would be an alternate side-story. Knowing full well that Republic Commando was an amazing game, it would be the first line of defense for the new IP. A squad of Rebel Commandos fighting skirmishes and completing missions while people like Luke takes all the fame. The Rebel Commandos would sport mechanics like CQC, Snake-like tactics, and electronic-swords that worked similar to lightsabers. Of course with this in mind there should be opportunities for local and online co-op, albeit not "forced" to where a lone player is left frustrated at times. Also the possibility for competitive online matching should definitely to be taken advantage of.
PROPOSAL #2:
One thing’s for sure, and it is that there are enough if not too many prequels to the original movies. Let's go with something that has been only done really in book-form...Sequels! It would be nice to give the game a clean slate with the possible war-ridden scenarios of the future, a time after the destruction of the Empire. From what books I read the Jedi are now back in full abundance and there's deceit to be had in the newly-restored republic. If there is anything that Sakaguchi and Kojima CAN do, it is making suspenseful plot twists and making a game exciting. The premise to begin a Star Wars IP with an emotional potency is what games like Final Fantasy and Metal Gear are about, and something this duo of geniuses is best at accomplishing, the characters being fully capable of welding both Jedi powers and lightsabers with also characters who could use guns and other weapons. The possibilities are endless!
PROPOSAL #3:
Now there is always the safest best for this proposal, and go with the most logical approach. This would mean recreating the original trilogy in video-game form. As I said earlier the original script and scenario had the attributes of an immersive RPG that had "shared" mechanics of a tactical stealth action game. Instead of just a redundant movie-game that had cheap snippets of gameplay, it would be a fully-realized gameplay-universe which gives players an interactive alternate "look" of what was going on. Gamers would have a "main hub" in which they could "witness" immersive tidbits of the original universe. Of course this would require access to George Lucas' original scripts and what-not, but it's definitely something that has to be experimented with!
What Saka/Jima can learn from Pandemic/BioWare:
There were a few things that BioWare and Pandemic got right that Sakaguchi and Kojima can use; and that is making the game accessible to people outside of the Star Wars "fan club". BioWare made their games intriguing with KOTOR's immersive mechanics, Pandemic made Star Wars a fun shooter experience with Battlefront. If anything Sakaguchi and Kojima should look to their Star Wars predecessors while determining which of the three (or so) proposals the best choice is. Star Wars territory is not to be treaded lightly, if anything it is almost like entering the emperor's throne room before the last battle of the final movie.
Good luck to you Sakaguchi and Kojima!
CLOSING COMMENTS:
So I am still a madman and it still doesn't make sense, but hopefully I was able to influence at least some of you with my argument. In my opinion Sakaguchi and Kojima are the most capable in this dire situation...what are you top picks for the revival of Star Wars gaming?
Also...
Until Next Time!
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