1. A consist open world set in the old west. With

A sandbox game set in the old west would be awesome.

You could probably get away with a retarded full loot pvp system since there really isn't any good quality old west mmos out. Just like EvE hit a corner market

I'd certainly play this.

Depending on the timeline, you could even go deeper with multiple factions, e.g., player native tribes, confederate soldiers, union soldiers, etc.

However, the west was ruthless. I would want this game to be realistic - a brothel prostitute social class is a must. Such a class should easily earn money, yet lose respect points when dealing with other NPCs.

Originally posted by precious328

I'd certainly play this.

 

Depending on the timeline, you could even go deeper with multiple factions, e.g., player native tribes, confederate soldiers, union soldiers, etc.

However, the west was ruthless. I would want this game to be realistic - a brothel prostitute social class is a must. Such a class should easily earn money, yet lose respect points when dealing with other NPCs.

STDs could be a negative buff that would hurt income. Good ideas here!

It could be done. Rather than have Health have a luck bar. The problem with guns and bullets is they have a notorious habit of killing you if you get head or even poorly placed body shot by them but remebering Kevin Costner in Tombstone, he was a lucky SOB.

For non combat stuff or fist fights etc, don't even have bars. Have stats that are directly impacted by actions. If you stumble through a desert for 2 days you lose strength, Constitution etc. Get drunk you lose precision and those in turn effect other abilities. Work in a field all day don't expect to be as robust as you were in the morning.

It would mean ignoring "everything you know" about MMOs and game mechanics. I'd look to Asia for this because they are the only ones who could develop it without going in to the hundreds of millions to do so.

Yeah, this would be awesome. PVE mobs could be indians and animals. Player towns would be epic. Gambling in saloons.

A myriad of tradeskills/activites: miners, trappers, leatherworkers, cowboys, messengers, shop owners, brothels, train robberies, blacksmiths, leatherworking, making moonshine, sherriffs, outlaws.

I'm quite amazed that no big (or indie) developer hasn't done this yet.

Perfect setting for a sandbox mmorpg, possibilities are endless...

Wild west with cowboy - indians - stagecoach robbers wagon trains wells fargo saloonfights cattle- wild horse to chase- high noon duels jailbreakes robbing banks outlaws.

Al in open free roaming world ala Darkfall.

Gone with fantasy and dragons, orks, dwarfs and elfs im kind of fed up with tolkien worlds.

But offcorse must be a sandbox.

A world like Skyrim rough terrain mountains also with bears wolfs coyotes also maybe?

Realistic with combat mix between mount and blade and Elder Scrolls.

Ill be Clint eastwood:)

Always loved as kid cowboys and indians.

You can start off as a kid with a Red Rider BB gun, Pa is the bad guy until you grow up. If he catches you shooting the house cat, he takes you behind the shed and you get an ass whooping.

Later you grow up and whoop Pa's ass. If you win you get a  Winchester 30-30.

Seriously,

This may never happen because Westerns would only appeal to North America !

All the better with an Oregon Trail approach. New players could start out east of the Mississippi to learn some of their skills and crafts before venturing west, similar to a newbie island approach.  Just start out with the west unsettled (aside from a few scattered NPC forts) and let the players create towns as they migrate west. PvE things like hunting wild game and run-ins with hostile tribes of NPC natives. Other tribes of natives might be friendly and offer quests that help you discover resources or help you learn the area better. Non-combat trades could be things like being a brewer (allowing you to own a saloon), a merchant running a general store or auction house, building wagons, mining, farming (run a market),  tailoring, blacksmith, doctor, breeder/rancher/butcher/leatherworker, map-maker/explorer/scout/guide, pharmacist or carpenter. 

An idea for non-crafting PvE & PvP content would be that players run courier quests/missions of varying scale to make money (transporting money, mail & materials for payment & rewards).  Some quests could be done on foot delivering the contents of a satchel, others might require being transported on horseback, or by wagon or stagecoach - but neither mode would be an indicator of the parcel's value.

Originally posted by page

You can start off as a kid with a Red Rider BB gun, Pa is the bad guy until you grow up. If he catches you shooting the house cat, he takes you behind the shed and you get an ass whooping.

Later you grow up and whoop Pa's ass. If you win you get a  Winchester 30-30.

 

Seriously,

This may never happen because Westerns would only appeal to North America !

First off, I lolled pretty hard. That would have been great as the first moments in Vault 13.

Secondly, yes. Nobody cares about the "actual" wild west but us Amurricans. Does anyone give a crap about the Tudors, beyond the UK? No. There are 'themes' and then there is 'historical fact'. I would go ahead and assume that the most boring setting for an MMO would be Pilgrim's America, buckles and all. Even the RTS' based on it tended to be the worst iterations of thier franchise, IMO. Just a boring setting (good luck Salem). Otherwise, the very aesthetic of pioneer villages, with simple clothes and structures made from whole logs, could work in any game - so long as it's not actually about the authentic times.

Uncharted Waters Online comes to mind, and it succeeds because it takes liberties with the 'facts' and allows nearly a whole millenia of culture in a single game, not just the fairy Renaissance going on in Europe. For a Wild West game to appeal to the masses, it needs to take liberties as well, and NOT a "vs aliens" spin.

There was also a western-themed Chinese movie, forget the english translation, but it took the whole dusty-railroad town and gunslinging mystique, while remaining entirely relevant to what they know (locations, events, etc). I'm not saying there needs to be a western-themed game based in China, but not necessarily America either. Get weird with it, maybe fantasy elements, steampunk or sci-fi. Western has already ported over to those genres a million times - and they tend to do much better than 'real' westerns.

~Oh, and if I were to pitch a western-themed MMO, it would have an urban vein, similar to Jet Set Radio. Dusty railroad towns, but also busted up (and hyperactive) vehicles, tagging on anything, modern take on western clothes, TF2-style action. Lots of hip-hop music and ridiculous... ness.

to say that a old west theme mmo set in america would only be enjoyable to those in america and perhaps the UK is very short sighted.      if it was done right it would be enjoyable to all.

and yes im really sick of theme parks and orcs and elves. just as much as the next guy or gal. but one reason i feel no development company, Big Or Small has touched something like this is that they are scared to invest or pitch the idea

because, one sandbox is not popular for the masses. and two orcs and  elves seems to be the safe zone.

i for one would love to see a sandbox mmo in a western setting and that could bring some fresh air to the mmo market.

but one thing cant be a fps mmo.

For the record, I can hardly think of a less appealing setting than western.

I barely manage to tolerate it if Jackie Chan is visiting the setting, or if Firefly mixes it with Sci-Fi. At least I get Jackie Chan humor or Joss Whedon dialogues, characters and storylines out of that.

So count me out. I rather want my beloved darkelves back, thank you very much.

no that wouldnt be fun lol

Been working on a Wild West game since 2009. Website will be on-line soon.

Thanks

Michael

Wild West

Starting Cities:

Dodge City:
Tombstone
Virginia City

Profession:

Some samples of some of CC ability.
Sheriff:
CC= Jail. Places a small jail around the target.

Cowboy:
CC= Roping: Ropes the target:

Doctor:
CC= None at this time

Gunslinger:
CC = Gunfire Dance (Makes the target dance)

Bounty Hunter:
CC = Pistol Whip

Medicine Man:
Rifleman:

Crafting:

Salon Owner
Banker
Mayor
Black Smith
Gun Smith
Miner
Farmer
Lumber
woodsman
Gen Store

Township

After you have reach a basic level in the game. You will need to join a township (guild). To join a township the Mayor of the town (Guild Leader) would have need to buy a land grant to start. Each land grant would be a area on the map for you to build the town. The closer to the main city, faster you will arrive. If you have level correct you will have a mule for your trip. Once you have arrive at your township, you may look around to place a small house or farm around your township.

Travel:

Mule / Horse / Wagon

Mule: Will slow and use very little water and rest for the mule to travel. Will also be able to carry small amount of items: Mule can not upgrade tact. Once you have enough skills in riding a mule. You can upgrade to a horse.

Horse: Horse will come with basic sadler. You may upgrade your sadlerbags and salder from a leather worker and black smith. Horse shoes will need to be replace over time. Once you break a horse shoe, your horse speed will slow down. More breaks the slower you will go. You will need to see a blacksmith for new horse shoes. You can upgrade your sadler and horse for faster speeds. The big sadlerbags the slow your horse will travel and more rest your horse will need. At some point, if you need to move that many items like logs and things. Then you can buy a wagon with a team of horse's.

Wagon: You may need a wagon for the job. You may add up to 4 horses to your wagon. Each time you add a horse. You can carry more things in the wagon. More horses the big the wagon, but bigger the cost to keep them going.

Stage Coach:

As you town begins to grow, your mayor can place a stage coach route to a city or other players town, only if that player also has a stage coach. If you buy a cheap ticket, you sit on top of the stage coach. You may be attack by npcs. You pay more, then you get to be inside of the coach.

Railroad:

Travel too and from the 3 cities listed above or as more cities open to the player.


Town:

Each town will have the following, only if someone has pick that profession:

City Hall (Guild Hall)

Sheriff Office:
Used for posting of player bounty, and placing people into jail. If you drink to much at the salon, you may find they local sheriff can arrest you. You will pay a small fine according to the town. A sheriff (player) Can have npc's around the town for protection of the bank and town.

Bank:
You can only carry so much gold dust and nuggets on you. Place you can drop things off for storage. Once
a week, a player bank can be rob by other players (Gunslinger) The better bank vault and sheriff npc protection the harder a player will have to rob it. They can only take 1% of the gold in the bank vault. The bank owner (player) will know when the bank can be rob (4 hour window). Once the bank been rob, each person in that bank robbery group will be flag for a set amount of time. You township can chase after with a group of 8 and get the gold back to the bank. Once the gold is place bank into the bank, its safe again. If they get away with the gold and the set time is up. They keep it, but then a bounty is place on them at the sheriff office bounty board for that town. A bounty hunter and come to your town and pick up the player bounty or travel to a Marshal's office at a major city (Tombstone)


Salon (hotel)
Used for rest area and social area. A player can rest in your salon or just have fun. If they like to log out at your salon. They can pay you for a room for the night. They will gain rest xp if they do. Salon owner will be ab le to have poker tables and dance girls for you buffs. You may sit down ata poker table, where a mini game will open. You will be able to play poker and other games with players on that server. You could earn you gold or loose everything you have.

Barber:
When you start see flys around your cowboy hat, it may be time to take a bath and shave. Where players can go and change what your char looks like in the game.

Telegraph Office:

Once town is has reach lvl 2 township. A telegraph office can be added to the town by the mayor. Here a player can send mail to each other.


Post Office:

A town that reach lvl 4 status, can upgrade the telegraph office to a post Office. A Post Office will allow you to access mail and catalog (Auction House). You will be able to order things from the catalog and have it ship by stage coach to your towns (Post Office Box).

Auction House:

Once a crafter (Artisan) have reach master. They may post items for sale in catalog (Auction House). To avoid going to a major city post office. There town would need to have a post office. Small fee to print things to the catalog (Auction House). Lets say i'm player, my town does not have a good gun smith for my level. I may travel to a major city or to my towns post office or to the next town over and look at the gun smith at that town. If I order from my mail order post office. the cost of shipping the item to my post office , depends on how far the town is from my post office box. If a gun smith A and B makes the same gun with the same stats. They both cost 500 gold dust, then what ever town is cheaper for shipping that item, I could buy it. Maybe I like one gun smith better then the other. Then I may pay more for shipping anyway. I have to wait for the item to come on the stagecoach to the post office. If the town stagecoach only has 2 horse team, then it can take up to a hour for it. If the major has the money. They could have up to 6 horses, making it only take 15 minutes to arrive to the post office.

Town Crafting Stations:

Each town would have the following for people to craft. You wont be able to carry 200 tree logs on a horse. You better have a wagon to carry things to the town.

Lumber Mill
Black Smith
Gun Smith
Ice House (food Crafting)


Character build:

On the left of the screen, you will see a 18year old kid. On the right you will see a 35 year old. You will see what they will or could look like as they grow up in the game. You will be able to change some looks at the barber shop in town like hair, hair color etc.. but not things like eye color and the size you like to be in height and weight.


How to lvl.
You wont so much lvl up from 1-50 or what ever. But as you use items in the game, you will go up in skill. Things like dual pistol or rifleman and things you can open up faster gun. I still working on the skill trees. I'm looking more at a SWG pre-cu model for skill trees.

Story Line:
Since the old west was before 1923, ever things is now Public Domain. You may fight someone like Billy the Kid in gun fight. yes there will be pvp in the game and township (Guild Wars)

Little about the pvp.

there will be a area on the map for pvp zone. Why would a township people (Crafters) like to pvp. The area of the map would offer better area to gather crafting resource for that week. Once a town won a area on the map, they would have a week to place items down to gather resource. After a week, your town would have to fight to hold the area once again or something like that, still a working it at this time.

Factions 3:

1) Americans
2) Mexican
3) Indians ( Think of the Indian faction as pirates)

You may need to cross a area that will flag you. You may cross a Indian, Mexican or American zone for better resource or just as a short cut to a town.
 

I wish. I really do. I would lean a lot more towards Wild, Wild West instead of traditional Old West, but either one would be cool.

Originally posted by page

This may never happen because Westerns would only appeal to North America !

Oh you have no idea, do you?  Asians in paricular are incredibly intrigued by the "wild west."  That's like saying a game that features Knights, Kings and Castles would only appeal to Europeans, or something. Everybody loves that shit.

Probably the most intriguing thing about the western movement in America is that it had never really happened before and hasn't happened since.  It's a very unique setting.

That said, the OP had me right up until factions.  Factions need to die, die, die.  If I never see another faction-based MMO it'll be too soon.

Frontier1859.com

This dude has some good idea's, just needs funding i believe.

Originally posted by GTwander

Originally posted by page

You can start off as a kid with a Red Rider BB gun, Pa is the bad guy until you grow up. If he catches you shooting the house cat, he takes you behind the shed and you get an ass whooping.

Later you grow up and whoop Pa's ass. If you win you get a  Winchester 30-30.

 

Seriously,

This may never happen because Westerns would only appeal to North America !

First off, I lolled pretty hard. That would have been great as the first moments in Vault 13.

Secondly, yes. Nobody cares about the "actual" wild west but us Amurricans. Does anyone give a crap about the Tudors, beyond the UK? No. There are 'themes' and then there is 'historical fact'. I would go ahead and assume that the most boring setting for an MMO would be Pilgrim's America, buckles and all. Even the RTS' based on it tended to be the worst iterations of thier franchise, IMO. Just a boring setting (good luck Salem). Otherwise, the very aesthetic of pioneer villages, with simple clothes and structures made from whole logs, could work in any game - so long as it's not actually about the authentic times.

Uncharted Waters Online comes to mind, and it succeeds because it takes liberties with the 'facts' and allows nearly a whole millenia of culture in a single game, not just the fairy Renaissance going on in Europe. For a Wild West game to appeal to the masses, it needs to take liberties as well, and NOT a "vs aliens" spin.

There was also a western-themed Chinese movie, forget the english translation, but it took the whole dusty-railroad town and gunslinging mystique, while remaining entirely relevant to what they know (locations, events, etc). I'm not saying there needs to be a western-themed game based in China, but not necessarily America either. Get weird with it, maybe fantasy elements, steampunk or sci-fi. Western has already ported over to those genres a million times - and they tend to do much better than 'real' westerns.

 

~Oh, and if I were to pitch a western-themed MMO, it would have an urban vein, similar to Jet Set Radio. Dusty railroad towns, but also busted up (and hyperactive) vehicles, tagging on anything, modern take on western clothes, TF2-style action. Lots of hip-hop music and ridiculous... ness.