I'd love to see a game based on the Wild West, but I'd like to suggest that you might want to develope two different directions for the game, one based on historical precident, and the other based on fantasy.  In the historical version, you would get the hard core realism of  living in Deadwood or Tombstone or one of the other historical locations, going up against gunslingers, wild indians, and the usual run of the mill bad guys.

The other version would feature all the fantastical things that are so beloved of people, the zombies, magic slinging indian shaman, lost worlds of dinosaurs, and what have you.  This version would feature all the historical accuracy (sorta) of the first version, but on steroids, you might say. 

Were the famous gunslingers of old driven to their excesses of violence by the lawlessness of the land or was it something else, some terrible wendigo type curse or a demonic possession?  Was witchcraft the true reason behind the relationship between Big Nose Kate and Doc Holiday?  Did the Ghost Dance have a chance of success? 

There is a rich fantastic history behind the true history of the old west.  Not using it would be a terrible waste of potential gaming dramatics.

Read the post of a possible Wild West Game. Certainly agree that it would be a new and interesting product. However, the first thing that hit me was the open statement it had to be an FPS and free for all PvP.  EVE has that, its own niche audience and does ok I'm sure. But it will never attract a mass audience. Especially noteworthy in the gentleman's description of loners being prey means a game that will lose new players very fast. (Check EVE stats for new player problems and losses).

There was a Wild West game PnP callrd "Deadlands" out  for several years, owned now by the producers of "Savage Worlds" rpg games I believe. The premise was an alternate world western placed after a natural/supernatural disaster. It is great fun and includes everything you might want in an MMORPG. Be a wonderful base for an on-line game.

However here is the rub. If it is a FPS (First Person Shooter) and PvP oriented game I wouldn.t bother with it. Not to rub salt in the angry PvP wounds but why do you think WOW owns the on-line game industry? It is because they (mostly) allow an individual to become great and powerful and have fun (grinding/raids/arenas/Pvp options/groups etc. are integrated and about 15 million people like it, myself included). Pattern the western MMO after the business and demographics of WOW and you could have a pretty significant game.

Mr. Massey has a good idea and the overwhelming quantity of fantasy games and still not well done sci-fi games leaves wildwest gaming an attractive option. For many years westerns have held the imagination and interest of a large section of the world's entertainment, not simply the USA. A successful MMO needs a large and generally stable population of players that will financially support the long term existance of the company. Those players are like myself, not particularly interested in PvP or FPS, just relaxing and having fun. We stay and play and pay and, like in WOW, support the wilder and usually younger gameboy and x-box killmeisters. There is no reason not to make us both happy.

I am old, Mr. Massey, and my hand-eye reflexes are not what they used to be. Please consider that the millions who are more physically and mentally attuned to WOW type play can be a great financial asset to a game that includes, not excludes, our type of fun. Together we could support a great western themed game with a wide player base.

In conclusion I happily support Mr. Massey's suggestion in general if not in a particular form. I am a former PNP game designer for TSR and Pacesetter Games. I am now an enthusiatic on-line gamer. I thank you folks for reading. I always carry a High Flame Resistance.      Garry Spiegle

I think of the HBO series 'Deadwood' and movies such as 'Young Guns'  and 'Tombstone' and could see some potential in a Wild West MMO. 

I also think of historically great shows from my childhood like Gunsmoke, the Rifleman, Have Gun-Will Travel/Palidan, the Lone Ranger, etc.,...

I look at somewhat recent media/movie successes like 'Wild Wild West'... the shows were better than the movies, tbh.

On top of such things, you can always look at history to base the game from, loosely.  I know that doing this may be fairly harmful, however, to the Native Americans.  I would think a game of this genre and from this timeframe may need to be mindful of references to 'Indians' and such.

One thing is for sure, you could do some things with 'expansions' and bring in Eastern culture... Japan, China, etc.,..

I would love to see another option in the mix.  Something other than Ogres, Orcs, Trolls, Gnomes, Elf, etc.,...

The idea is very appealing, especially if the game could be played in different time periods. There is quite a bit of interesting; history, wars, and american civilization developmet that took place in the 1800s to craft a soild storyline.

I think the game would have to be purely based on historical events, weapons, and places or purely fiction with exciting new stories, places, similer culture, and of course low tech weapons. Otherwise historical buffs might criticize its historical accuracy and realism.

Oregon trail, now thats a classic i grew up on.

`Rider

Originally posted by garry

Read the post of a possible Wild West Game. Certainly agree that it would be a new and interesting product. However, the first thing that hit me was the open statement it had to be an FPS and free for all PvP.  EVE has that, its own niche audience and does ok I'm sure. But it will never attract a mass audience. Especially noteworthy in the gentleman's description of loners being prey means a game that will lose new players very fast. (Check EVE stats for new player problems and losses).

There was a Wild West game PnP callrd "Deadlands" out  for several years, owned now by the producers of "Savage Worlds" rpg games I believe. The premise was an alternate world western placed after a natural/supernatural disaster. It is great fun and includes everything you might want in an MMORPG. Be a wonderful base for an on-line game.

However here is the rub. If it is a FPS (First Person Shooter) and PvP oriented game I wouldn.t bother with it. Not to rub salt in the angry PvP wounds but why do you think WOW owns the on-line game industry? It is because they (mostly) allow an individual to become great and powerful and have fun (grinding/raids/arenas/Pvp options/groups etc. are integrated and about 15 million people like it, myself included). Pattern the western MMO after the business and demographics of WOW and you could have a pretty significant game.

Mr. Massey has a good idea and the overwhelming quantity of fantasy games and still not well done sci-fi games leaves wildwest gaming an attractive option. For many years westerns have held the imagination and interest of a large section of the world's entertainment, not simply the USA. A successful MMO needs a large and generally stable population of players that will financially support the long term existance of the company. Those players are like myself, not particularly interested in PvP or FPS, just relaxing and having fun. We stay and play and pay and, like in WOW, support the wilder and usually younger gameboy and x-box killmeisters. There is no reason not to make us both happy.

I am old, Mr. Massey, and my hand-eye reflexes are not what they used to be. Please consider that the millions who are more physically and mentally attuned to WOW type play can be a great financial asset to a game that includes, not excludes, our type of fun. Together we could support a great western themed game with a wide player base.

In conclusion I happily support Mr. Massey's suggestion in general if not in a particular form.

This.

I think it is very popular, particularly on these forums, to talk of love of PvP and FFA and so forth, but I don't think this type of server would draw the masses in, or at the least, it would not keep most in.    Have a server dedicated to that if you like, to cater to those that prefer that style, but I think the majority of players are as Garry described, wanting to just relax and play.  

What I would like to see is some sort of game based loosely on the TV show (and one movie) Firefly which was a western sci-fi show (and a really good one at that).  Devs could have a lot of fun with this concept....

Originally posted by avalon1000

 

 

What I would like to see is some sort of game based loosely on the TV show (and one movie) Firefly which was a western sci-fi show (and a really good one at that).  Devs could have a lot of fun with this concept....

I agree....this would be an excellent mmo project. Some of the planets were very high tech sci-fi..and some were very lo-tech with heavy wild-west elements. I can't see any company spending money on this game though. The series got screwed hard and canceled early ...despite its excellence...and "Serenity" completely rocked....but because the network had no faith initially...it will be hard pressed to find financing. Imo.

I have been working with a team to develop just this type of MMO game.   I will set it up for you.

The game would take place in or around the 1860's.  The south western territories would be separated into 3 nations.  Each nation would be controlled by a military force.  The North, South and Mexican forces.  Each territory would have multiple regions.  Each region would have a capital city.  There would be multiple towns, camps, forts and garrisons through out each region.  

The military aspect would be used to control regions in PVP type battles.

The careers would be broken out as follows.

Military

Professions

Calvary: horse skills, saber skills, pistol skills

Infantry: Rifle skills, military formations, tactics

Artillery: grenadiers, cannons, and skills for attacking forts

Cowboy's

Professions

Bounty hunter: pistol, rifle, tracking

Gunslinger: Dual pistols, Cover, dodge type skills

Tracker/trapper:Stealth, knife, pistol, traps, medical

Indians

We are working on these professions.  Keep in mind that Indians will be part of each nation just like Cowboys.  They would have skills that include Stealth, archery, tomahawks, knives, tracking and hunting bonuses.  Indians will also be used for NPC missions.

Merchant

Professions

Miner

General Merchant

Weapon smith

Black smith

Stables Master

We have also been discussing the ability to have bonus for which race you would play.  Indian, Mexican, American. 

Each town  would have regional vendors (auctioneer) for each merchant skills.  These would be store fronts just like you would find in a western town of the day.

Missions: The missions would be similar to most MMO games.  NPC missions within the region.

PVP: would be set up to allow any profession to aid in capturing other nations regions by taking over outpost, garrisons and finally the capital fort.   Each of these will be defended or attacked with the use of artillery seize equipment and other fun things.

Player housing: Players would have access to there own rooms.  These rooms would be located in any towns saloon or hotel.  You would simply just open the door and an instance would bring you to your room where personal equipment may be stored.

Saloons would have real card tables which would allow betting to be done with other players.  Just like a online card table game. Don't forget the trashy working professional women. hehe

You will be able to duel other players and partake in bar brawls with your bare fist.

Bounty's could be placed on players.

Crafting will be well developed with skill trees that would allow upgrades to weapons and gear. 

Experimental weapons could also be crafted (think of the TV show wild wild west)

Travel between regions would be done with stage coach or trains.  buy a ticket and see the stage coach driver or train conductor.

You would have to mine minerals , hunt animals ect. for crafting

These are just some of the things our team is working on to develop this game.  We would love to work with a developer to take this to the next level.   Please contact me.

MADMANusa

I would like to see this happen Mad.

Sounds nice, MAD. A Civil WAR expansion for it is almost a must :)

Don't forget muskets, they were still quite common unlless you have it very late (The difference between a rifle and a musket is that a muskets barrel are smooth bore, while rifels have "rifling" inside the barrel), rifles was used in the independence war already but sparsly since they are a lot more expensive and was used for a long time only by sharpshoters.

Not until the Winchester 1873 did rifles really start to take over...

A Wild West MMO is certainly a grand idea, esp if it breaks the level/class system and goes for something skill based and open/sandbox. The historical and mythical Wild West is such a rich source of ideas that is surprising that game and mmo makers have not been tapping into it more.

To get round the 'Indian problem' I would echo the calls to use Deadlands as inspiration. In this setting the Natives, Chinese, Blacks etc all have attained a level of parity with Whites simply due to the back-story of the game and the events that set up the setting.

Why Deadlands? Here some of the highlights:

1) Set in 1876 but the civil war grinds on due to something called the Reckoning which brought magic back to the world and gave the world the wonder fuel Ghostrock. It also dumped most of California into the ocean and created the Great Maze of canyons, mesas, ghost towns, all rich in Ghost Rock of course!

2) The Natives have their own countries, and tribes have Shamans with working magic- both good and evil. The Triads own San Fran; the Mormons control their own state of Desert. Due to shortage of manpower the South has outlawed Slavery.

3) Mad Science! The Reckoning has sparked a 2nd Industrial Revolution as Scientists race to create new Ghost Rock powered toys; there are ghost rock powered trains, cars, planes(ish), ships, replacement limbs, and all sorts of weird like Ray Guns....

4) Monsters! The Reckoning also awakened old Monsters like dragons from their slumber, while the Shamans and Scientists have created their own abominations. Also there are the Undead- die and there is a chance you are coming back as Harrowed- just ask Olde Abe...

5) Where there are Monsters there are those that fight them so there is the Agency and the Rangers who seek to keep the monsters at bay and keep the normal folk ignorant of the Reckoning. Wild West X-Files!

6) The Natives are not the only ones with magic - like poker? Then the Hucksters can cast spells using poker decks. If you are good with religion then you can be Blessed. Plus there are magic powered Martial Artists!

7) Killing Zombies with sixguns is fun!

8) The Great Rail Wars; the race to build the transcontinental railroad is split between 6 competitors who sabotage, destroy, and hamper each others efforts. Of course said lines then need protecting from the other Rail Barons forces, as well the monsters, bandits, annoyed spirits, undead etc...

9) There is a town called Gomorra where all the various factions hang out (for v. good motherlode related reasons). Its the perfect base town!

10) The original pnp game used poker mechanics. Skill checks involved drawing x cards and making the best poker hand possible with them to pass the check. It would be great to see something like that translated into an mmo.

Deadlands is the streampunk weird west... it would lift a Wild West game out of some of the historical problems while adding so many quest and plot options that hardly anyone would not find something to do!

Give me the Weird West!