Just a thought - could one create an MMO where the combat/gameplay revolved around bits of music and an interface involving DDR/Stepmania-esque controls? I am not sure on the details as of yet, but I think it could allow for a music-game niche that seems to be lacking in the MMO-scape.

For those not in the know of DDR/Stepmania, the games revolve around dancing and pressing the UP, LEFT, RIGHT and DOWN keys, respectively, in time with music and on-screen arrows moving into place with arrow frames.

What I'm imagining is, were it to be another simple fantasy based game, players could choose their class - in the class screen, players will hear samples of music that they will be listening to in combat, etc.

Most things would have to be procedurally generated - the music could be synthesized in real-time, for example, or created at the start of the fights/actions allowing for key sets to be created at the same time. Additionally, character animations could be done for each skill/ability the player uses - if the player misses a key, the character animation could change from a swinging and hit animation to a swinging and miss animation, etc.

Entire fights would likely have to be generated just before music/DDR style gameplay starts, due to the arrow keys being the primary buttons players would be using to fight - making movement and other things less possible.

If a player comes into combat with a Giant Rat or some such nonsense, the game will look at their stats/class/enemy, and create some sort of song on the fly with a 10-120 second piece of button pressing and musical material.

I'm unsure if this would be good or not, and how anything else in the game might be, but now, imagine the following.

Forty or so players, all simply mashing the left, right, up and down keys to music, each listening to their own thing (which, if they were to be in the same room, may actually go together, perhaps?) that is making their characters move in a cool, partially procedural way against some huge boss - ninja/rogue type characters flipping in the air, magi casting bolts of energy into the monster, archers rhythmically pulling arrows from their quivers, setting the tips on fire and sending them at the boss...

I mean, if these encounters were produced well enough, with a decent cinematic-quality team on hand, you could have the huge battle that you never see from Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos' opening cinematic there.

Another, alternative story/setting for this is a different future where musical instruments were found to empower people, and people discovered the use of "magic", which could be scientifically explained as various vibrations to create movement etc. etc. and you actually play the game as some sort of musician... same sort of gameplay, with an instrument, against, like, bands, or something... problem here is that there are games like Guitar hero out there for people who want to pretend to play guitar. The idea I had was mixing the fantasy/sci-fi worlds that we love with the same, terribly, but still widely enjoyed gameplay of a rhythm game.

Ideas? Suggestions? Hatemail?

I havnt played it, but the people who made outspark/fiesta have something like this. IDK if it is out yet, heard of it a few months ago, had a few basic videos

There are a few games, yes.

http://dance.acclaim.com/

http://audition.redbana.com/

http://www.kaneva.com/

But they all focus on the idea of... dancing... which I feel is a bit sad, personally, but I suppose I can understand it, given that people can pose as someone completely different on the internet, buy new clothing, and dance to songs, etc.

They all also focus on playing to actual songs, rather than to rythmic music.

Therefore, I declare the "someone's already done it" argument defunct.

OH yes not trying to take awya from the idea of making it into a more traditional mmo mechanic. Just sayin ;)

WHile my brain is currently too numb and overexcited to think of much, I do think I would enjoy some kind of system where my natural (lack of) rythm was a core compenent of my character.

My brain is numb also, from it being midnight.

But yes, I think the idea of a rhythm MMO could be good, were it done properly, and the niche idea of freshly procedurally generated music and animation in a reasonably lush environment could be a nice change to running 10 man Naxx over and over (WoW reference)

qsuidfjgbevjhfghajhdkjhasdkl going to bed.

A full rhythm MMO would be tough. As if an MMO wasn't tough enough to make, one of the major problems with any MMO is handling untimely data packets, slow connection and basic propogation delay. With a game where the basic gameplay requires these problems to be consistantly handled. This is pretty true of all MMOs- but with a rhythm game it's true with a much tighter margin.

You also have the character and development and skills/interaction to consider.

Lots of music to write.

And some way of keeping it fresh.

Rhythm games are very linear. MMOs pretend that they're free roaming.

I dunno- it would make for an interesting dynamic.

Just my 2 cents.

There was an old KISS web show, where all the members of the band went to this world that worshipped their weapons (instruments.) Was a pretty awesome story line and had numbers from their music, of course.

...maybe I'll try finding that again.

Believe it was in the late 90s, early 2000s.

Originally posted by Blazz

My brain is numb also, from it being midnight.

But yes, I think the idea of a rhythm MMO could be good, were it done properly, and the niche idea of freshly procedurally generated music and animation in a reasonably lush environment could be a nice change to running 10 man Naxx over and over (WoW reference)

 

 

 

qsuidfjgbevjhfghajhdkjhasdkl going to bed.

Speaking of double posting. My MMO concept has a lot to do with music and song. I'm trying to set up a flash game now that will show how the combat system works.

Originally posted by Repulsion

Speaking of double posting. My MMO concept has a lot to do with music and song. I'm trying to set up a flash game now that will show how the combat system works.

Sounds good. Looking forward to it!

Shhhh. That was my secret plan.

I got a "music and dance" MMO that would blow your MIND, but because of that, I can't divulge anything... but it sounds waaay close to yours already. If only setting/controls being different. I actually expect a special peripheral or two to come with my version as the standard keyboard has proven hard to use for music ala LotrO, and that's an issue.

Music/Dance combat lol, I'm actually stoked someone else is on the same page - and it kinda forces me into taking the concept back to the chalkboard. Hopefully though, this doesn't get everyone here to hop on the wagon and somehow flood the market with these kinds of games soon, simply from the idea getting thrown around, because I thought I hit gold and that I was the only one on it.

Originally posted by GTwander

Shhhh. That was my secret plan.

I got a "music and dance" MMO that would blow your MIND, but because of that, I can't divulge anything... but it sounds waaay close to yours already. If only setting/controls being different. I actually expect a special peripheral or two to come with my version as the standard keyboard has proven hard to use for music ala LotrO, and that's an issue.

Music/Dance combat lol, I'm actually stoked someone else is on the same page - and it kinda forces me into taking the concept back to the chalkboard. Hopefully though, this doesn't get everyone here to hop on the wagon and somehow flood the market with these kinds of games soon, simply from the idea getting thrown around, because I thought I hit gold and that I was the only one on it.

Haha, don't worry about little ol' me, I'm just an 18 year old kid doing a Game Design course - just about to finish 1st year.

I'll keep this idea on the down-low, though - keep working on yours, I'd like to play it sometime and see if it worked out! =P

Originally posted by Blazz

Originally posted by GTwander

Shhhh. That was my secret plan.

I got a "music and dance" MMO that would blow your MIND, but because of that, I can't divulge anything... but it sounds waaay close to yours already. If only setting/controls being different. I actually expect a special peripheral or two to come with my version as the standard keyboard has proven hard to use for music ala LotrO, and that's an issue.

Music/Dance combat lol, I'm actually stoked someone else is on the same page - and it kinda forces me into taking the concept back to the chalkboard. Hopefully though, this doesn't get everyone here to hop on the wagon and somehow flood the market with these kinds of games soon, simply from the idea getting thrown around, because I thought I hit gold and that I was the only one on it.

Haha, don't worry about little ol' me, I'm just an 18 year old kid doing a Game Design course - just about to finish 1st year.

I'll keep this idea on the down-low, though - keep working on yours, I'd like to play it sometime and see if it worked out! =P

Well I just have personal theories on phenomenon such as the exchange of ideas and the propogation of what you may have figured to be a unique thought. I can't remember how many inventions i have come up with in the past decade that hit the market long before I even considered getting a patent. I think as soon as I tell somebody there is some magic going on that inspires someone halfway across the world lol.

I am sure we are on different pages with the idea, but now that we know others are on the same page as well, I would not be surprised to see a game in this manner appear in a year or two. I still think mine would be better than theirs though lol, it's hard to capture "taste" in a game thats comparable to others.