How about start a wikia?

Aren't those things free?

MMOikia! lol

maybe talk to mmorpg.com and they might pay you to do it =3

This is a good idea since it will be easier for devs to see what players like and don't like. Since MMORPG.com gets lots of traffic, we will certainly be able to get a lot of info from different players.

Ideas are just that, ideas. Anyone can have them.

If you want to attract attention you need to offer something more than a collection of fantasies. Since this database would largely involve ideas for game mechanics, how about you start it as a database of the game mechanics in current MMO's? From there, you can figure out the best way to facilitate discussion, rating, ranking, etc for these game mechanics which would then become the framework for your end goal of allowing users to submit their ideas which would be discussed, rated, etc in turn.

The former part could potentially be valuable in terms of market research on the success/failure of previous ventures and if it gains a decent following, the user submitted ideas may then be taken more seriously.

Originally posted by Arawnite

Originally posted by Invintion

Originally posted by Cuathon

Originally posted by Invintion

I believe that everything the people want for the next epic MMO has been done in some game but just not all at the same time.  I think you'll find that you can build a great game with a collaboration of ideas and the freshest or best choice engine/systems in the genre of your choosing.  Then a great IP would defintely help your cause.. but back to your task at hand.. beyond a typical vent for frustration of the latest and greatest failure in the genre there are many ideas that could be compiled using this forum and I don't think anyone is charging for them ;P .

You may find a great number of ideas that are good but some would conflict with others so since it doesn't sound like we're just creating a single game, you'll want to keep those ideas... need some sort of category system to organize, so looks like maybe.... setting up a sort of ala carte MMO game conceptualizer?  ~V~

 

Well he is making a database of concepts that have been fleshed out and considered critically.

He has not agreed to doing this ;P  Tho I'm with you in supporting proposed cause. If it is to be of any value these concepts should be fleshed in forum, considered critically by both participators and moderators, then organized.. finally and in order for the task to have benefit ie be comprehensible for someone to build an MMORPG with or access the ideas, it needs to be presented eg a website with drop down/selector boxes to build an MMO game with a compilation of these concepts~V~

 

I don't think this should be done with the intention of building an MMORPG from the ideas, more of a place to have serious discussions of design features and viability of new ones that are proposed. 

When I said, ideas for MMORPGs, I did not mean that a whole game would be build from just these ideas, but if only one idea would be taken from the database and implemeneted in some game, I think that would be really cool.

Originally posted by PTED

Ideas are just that, ideas. Anyone can have them.

If you want to attract attention you need to offer something more than a collection of fantasies. Since this database would largely involve ideas for game mechanics, how about you start it as a database of the game mechanics in current MMO's? From there, you can figure out the best way to facilitate discussion, rating, ranking, etc for these game mechanics which would then become the framework for your end goal of allowing users to submit their ideas which would be discussed, rated, etc in turn.

The former part could potentially be valuable in terms of market research on the success/failure of previous ventures and if it gains a decent following, the user submitted ideas may then be taken more seriously.

Oh yeah, it sure has to have a solid base from which the ideas should emerge. This would be a good place to start.

Originally posted by Arawnite

It should be done as a discussion forum, with an operator and moderators that can maintain absolute neutrality on each matter. It should have strict rules regarding personal attacks, pointless negativity, and the inevitable immature trolling that will result.

 

Good luck

I am not sure about it being a forume. There are already places like this forum where people can do the same. I must agree that since mmorpg.com forum is not made specifically for the purpose of sharing ideas, they may be more tolerent about what is going in the threads. However, I think a forum would be really hard to manage in such a way that it stays only on topic. I am not totally againt it, but everything has to be planned before and then we could see what are the possible option for interatcions between visitors.

Originally posted by Aines

Originally posted by Arawnite

Originally posted by Invintion

Originally posted by Cuathon

Originally posted by Invintion

since it doesn't sound like we're just creating a single game

 

As I stated above, I do not envision that we are trying to build a single game. 

It does need to be more organized than a simple forum if you want it to have any value add. 

It might be a reference point for any game in concept phases or a checkpoint for games in development.  I believe that Aines is simply on to something that does have a potential benefit and would like to see it further organized and brainstormed. =) ~V~

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. ~MLK, Jr.

Originally posted by Icewhite

Originally posted by Aines

Hello. Everyday on this forum on other places where people talk about MMORPGs, lots of different ideas are proposed, shared, discussed, polished, refused, etc... Some of them may make their way to the higher level (devs), but imo lots of these ideas stay ideas forever. So I thought, why not create a sort of database for gamers as well as developpers to actually collect these ideas and present them in a more presentable way. You have an idea, you share it with everyone on the forum, people discuss it, then you take that idea to and add it to the database, with the valid arguments for and againt. This is a really simplified example on how this would work. One thing I want to add though, it should be all FREE. If you have time and will to do it, you do it, if not, you don't. Whymaking something like that? Just so we can gather all the ideas on MMORPGs and have then in one place. I do agree that a forum may be considered such a place, but why not make something which specialises only on ideas for MMORPGs. I do know that this all may sound really stupid and wtv you want to call it....but I think that this may help developpers to actually see what people wish to see in games. For example creating a rating of ideas or something of the sort....

 

This is just an IDEA, but who knows....

We have no shortage of ideas.  But there's a very real difference between plausible and feasible.

---

Originally posted by MMOExposed

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Originally posted by Icewhite

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Originally posted by Aines
Hello. Everyday on this forum on other places where people talk about MMORPGs, lots of different ideas are proposed, shared, discussed, polished, refused, etc... Some of them may make their way to the higher level (devs), but imo lots of these ideas stay ideas forever. So I thought, why not create a sort of database for gamers as well as developpers to actually collect these ideas and present them in a more presentable way. You have an idea, you share it with everyone on the forum, people discuss it, then you take that idea to and add it to the database, with the valid arguments for and againt. This is a really simplified example on how this would work. One thing I want to add though, it should be all FREE. If you have time and will to do it, you do it, if not, you don't. Whymaking something like that? Just so we can gather all the ideas on MMORPGs and have then in one place. I do agree that a forum may be considered such a place, but why not make something which specialises only on ideas for MMORPGs. I do know that this all may sound really stupid and wtv you want to call it....but I think that this may help developpers to actually see what people wish to see in games. For example creating a rating of ideas or something of the sort....
 
This is just an IDEA, but who knows....

---

We have no shortage of ideas.  But there's a very real difference between plausible and feasible.

---

 A better thing would be to help define these two meanings

---

You can't define feasibility in such a way that you can use it to classify whether or not a certain idea could be feasibly implemented. It all depends on the context of the game you're proposing it for.

You don't say, "Random Terrain Generation isn't feasible" you say, "Random Terrain Generation isn't feasible in World of Warcraft" as it would be feasible in a game loosely based on Minecraft.

You could start posting the ideas in the Developer Corner with some identifiable subject prefix (ex: MMOIdea ) and when someone comes up with a place or method to maintain them, they can be copied over to the new site and format. This way you are making progress on the project itself while people are deciding how and where to store and catalog it. 

Originally posted by Aines

You're right 100%. That's is why I am thinking of some sort of a rating that would allow to separate ideas from plausible to feasible. Something like....rate the idea on the amount of money it requires, the amount of people ir requires to make it real, the equipment possible....from let's say 0 being impossible and 10 meaning that the idea has a potential and is possible to implement in MMORPGs. I hope you get what i mean.

 

It's a bit hard for me to explain how I see everything comming together, because it's a huge project which would require lots of organization, but I thought I would share it with everyone here just to see if anyone is even intrested in something like that.

Rating idea is a failure because too many people suggest ideas that aren't feasible but believe they are easy to do and that devs are just lazy sobs.

This isn't a huge project.

I really think its not so much a lack of ideas or the lack of those ideas being organized. I think its really just the will of the developers. Really a 4 year old could sit down and come up with more ideas on MMO's than the entire industry has been able to do and YES most of those ideas would be totally possible.

Finally, I might want to point out, why do we want to do their (the developers) job for them.

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Originally posted by SEANMCAD
I really think its not so much a lack of ideas or the lack of those ideas being organized. I think its really just the will of the developers. Really a 4 year old could sit down and come up with more ideas on MMO's than the entire industry has been able to do and YES most of those ideas would be totally possible.
Finally, I might want to point out, why do we want to do their (the developers) job for them.

---

Don't mistake yourself into thinking that developers are completely without well thought out ideas. Everything that goes into the game needs to be justified to the publishers, marketing, investors and a bunch of other people. When you join a big publishing house as a developer, you are effectively enacting the will of those above you.

If you can show conclusively how previous titles implemented various features and where they went right or wrong in such a way that it rivaled a companies market research department, higher ups may take ideas and suggestions a bit more seriously than they otherwise would.

@OP

Years ago I suggested the same thing, and dozens since have come with it as well. The end result is always one of two things;

1. They realise they don't really want the hassle of running a site like that, advertising, moderating, and being somewhat responisble for possible beef when a real developer releases anything similar to a sunken thread on your site. It's going to suck, and some dedicated sites out there like Gamasutra already do this (somewhat) and have the attentions of *actual* developers.

2. They go forward with it, and nobody pays attention to it, and it loses all progress within a few weeks. We've seen it.

You could try, but don't get high hopes, because you'll likely give up and never show your face around these forums again... at least, under *that* name.

Oh, and as for the "doing the developers job for them"... it's half-true. Many won't even bother with these kidns of sites, but there are a bunch of "trial by focus group" developers that really don't have a f**cking clue and will be relying on a site like yours to stay in business. Look at D&D taking user input atm... they have either given up, or have no idea where to go with it. Sad.

Originally posted by GTwander

@OP

Years ago I suggested the same thing, and dozens since have come with it as well. The end result is always one of two things;

 

1. They realise they don't really want the hassle of running a site like that, advertising, moderating, and being somewhat responisble for possible beef when a real developer releases anything similar to a sunken thread on your site. It's going to suck, and some dedicated sites out there like Gamasutra already do this (somewhat) and have the attentions of *actual* developers.

2. They go forward with it, and nobody pays attention to it, and it loses all progress within a few weeks. We've seen it.

 

 

You could try, but don't get high hopes, because you'll likely give up and never show your face around these forums again... at least, under *that* name.

Oh, and as for the "doing the developers job for them"... it's half-true. Many won't even bother with these kidns of sites, but there are a bunch of "trial by focus group" developers that really don't have a f**cking clue and will be relying on a site like yours to stay in business. Look at D&D taking user input atm... they have either given up, or have no idea where to go with it. Sad.

Originally posted by GTwander

@OP

Years ago I suggested the same thing, and dozens since have come with it as well. The end result is always one of two things;

 

1. They realise they don't really want the hassle of running a site like that, advertising, moderating, and being somewhat responisble for possible beef when a real developer releases anything similar to a sunken thread on your site. It's going to suck, and some dedicated sites out there like Gamasutra already do this (somewhat) and have the attentions of *actual* developers.

2. They go forward with it, and nobody pays attention to it, and it loses all progress within a few weeks. We've seen it.

 

 

You could try, but don't get high hopes, because you'll likely give up and never show your face around these forums again... at least, under *that* name.

Oh, and as for the "doing the developers job for them"... it's half-true. Many won't even bother with these kidns of sites, but there are a bunch of "trial by focus group" developers that really don't have a f**cking clue and will be relying on a site like yours to stay in business. Look at D&D taking user input atm... they have either given up, or have no idea where to go with it. Sad.

The first point I want to adress is why would I want to change my name if I do not succed doing this? Should I feel ashamed that I suggested something which in my opinion would benefit the gaming community even if it does not work out? Your logic is a bit strange to me.

I'm only intrested in doing this because I find it fun and entertaining, I do not plan on gaining money or anything of that sort throught this project. So as long as I enojoy doing it mainly for myself, I do not see a problem with that. 

About the copyright. There would be a strict policy about that. The main point is to actually get the idea into the game, the copyrights would be something to consider, but comming up with a good idea is a work of a community in that case, not just one individual.

About "doing the developers job for them". I do now view it like that. If I can do something which in someway or another may result in a better gaming experience FOR MYSELF, then it is worth doing. But that's just me.

Originally posted by MMOExposed

Originally posted by Icewhite

Originally posted by Aines

Hello. Everyday on this forum on other places where people talk about MMORPGs, lots of different ideas are proposed, shared, discussed, polished, refused, etc... Some of them may make their way to the higher level (devs), but imo lots of these ideas stay ideas forever. So I thought, why not create a sort of database for gamers as well as developpers to actually collect these ideas and present them in a more presentable way. You have an idea, you share it with everyone on the forum, people discuss it, then you take that idea to and add it to the database, with the valid arguments for and againt. This is a really simplified example on how this would work. One thing I want to add though, it should be all FREE. If you have time and will to do it, you do it, if not, you don't. Whymaking something like that? Just so we can gather all the ideas on MMORPGs and have then in one place. I do agree that a forum may be considered such a place, but why not make something which specialises only on ideas for MMORPGs. I do know that this all may sound really stupid and wtv you want to call it....but I think that this may help developpers to actually see what people wish to see in games. For example creating a rating of ideas or something of the sort....

 

This is just an IDEA, but who knows....

We have no shortage of ideas.  But there's a very real difference between plausible and feasible.

 

A better thing would be to help define these two meanings

As I view it, an idea which is impossible to do today, is very possible in two months. With new technologies arriving almost each day, I do not think plausible and feasible are very distinct now. That's why creating a bank that contains ideas which are impossible to implement right now due to their complexity or absence of a game which would actually benefit from it gives an oppertunity to review this idea later, when the time is right for it.

Originally posted by Aines

The first point I want to adress is why would I want to change my name if I do not succed doing this? Should I feel ashamed that I suggested something which in my opinion would benefit the gaming community even if it does not work out? Your logic is a bit strange to me.

I'm only intrested in doing this because I find it fun and entertaining, I do not plan on gaining money or anything of that sort throught this project. So as long as I enojoy doing it mainly for myself, I do not see a problem with that. 

About the copyright. There would be a strict policy about that. The main point is to actually get the idea into the game, the copyrights would be something to consider, but comming up with a good idea is a work of a community in that case, not just one individual.

About "doing the developers job for them". I do now view it like that. If I can do something which in someway or another may result in a better gaming experience FOR MYSELF, then it is worth doing. But that's just me.

Well, it wouldn't be the first time a user made this very post, had some sense spun towards him, and they still go off and attempt it. Most cases they made an ass of themselves by keeping a big head and just never post here again. This is seriously over a dozen times now since this topic had come up here, most in the help wanted forums, which makes me glad that your not actively wasting people's time and feeding hopes like they did.

Otherwise, you can go for it, but I dunno. To get serious traffic (not money, traffic - because an unused site is just that) is the great ordeal here, and other sites already host the majority of would-be users. I doubt they would let you advertise for your own.

Oh, and I didn't really read over what you had in mind for 'copyright', but legally anyone can post a draft of an existing IP how they would do it - they just can't persue creation - and depending on how rabid hte legal team is behind the owners of it - you might actually get a simple cease and desist for using their property in the first place. They can't really do much about it, but they look for every possible reason to flew their legal might - look at zenimax vs mojang.

As for users and copyrights, I think it may be possible to copyright your own materials - but the cost to do so *legally* is more than the average man can handle. So I doubt many users will, and there is no simple way to do it, and timestamping information electronically doesn't hold in court (yet.... I hope), Users won' be able to prove they own anything, but will still get bent like that should some real game come out thats eerily similar. Expect a tardtastic audience of users.

@MMOexpo

Gamasutra is what I was told to check out when I made my post about this long ago, dunno about any others - but I would like to know. I still have yet to really apply myself on GS either way, I continue to waste my efforts here in the dev corner (which is deadly slow lately). So if you do hear about something, hook it up.

Originally posted by GTwander

Originally posted by Aines

The first point I want to adress is why would I want to change my name if I do not succed doing this? Should I feel ashamed that I suggested something which in my opinion would benefit the gaming community even if it does not work out? Your logic is a bit strange to me.

I'm only intrested in doing this because I find it fun and entertaining, I do not plan on gaining money or anything of that sort throught this project. So as long as I enojoy doing it mainly for myself, I do not see a problem with that. 

About the copyright. There would be a strict policy about that. The main point is to actually get the idea into the game, the copyrights would be something to consider, but comming up with a good idea is a work of a community in that case, not just one individual.

About "doing the developers job for them". I do now view it like that. If I can do something which in someway or another may result in a better gaming experience FOR MYSELF, then it is worth doing. But that's just me.

Well, it wouldn't be the first time a user made this very post, had some sense spun towards him, and they still go off and attempt it. Most cases they made an ass of themselves by keeping a big head and just never post here again. This is seriously over a dozen times now since this topic had come up here, most in the help wanted forums, which makes me glad that your not actively wasting people's time and feeding hopes like they did.

Otherwise, you can go for it, but I dunno. To get serious traffic (not money, traffic - because an unused site is just that) is the great ordeal here, and other sites already host the majority of would-be users. I doubt they would let you advertise for your own.

 

@MMOexpo

Gamasutra is what I was told to check out when I made my post about this long ago, dunno about any others - but I would like to know. I still have yet to really apply myself on GS either way, I continue to waste my efforts here in the dev corner (which is deadly slow lately). So if you do hear about something, hook it up.

Wel then, just the fact that people are keeping to bring this subject means something. If it did not work in the past, it should not be listed under failure, but rather looked at from a different angle and trying to approach it differently. 

Like I mentioned before, right now it is nothing more then an idea. Throwing myself into something like that without careful planning would be a suicide. 

I do not plan on stealing users from anywhere. That is why I do not want to make it in a form of forum, but rather find a new way of presenting the contenint (in this case the ideas) in which people would be intrested to read and make suggestions, but would still continue to be a part of the community they come from.

What do you mean by ideas ? Anything that comes to mind ? Only new things, if that can be defined ? Or something old as well, the history of computergaming?

And what do you mean by database ? An exhausive list( ing ) ? An explanatory list ? A subtree listing ? A subject listing ? a Crossreference list ? All of these ?

Do you mean themes ? Mechanics ? Philosophy ? Programming ? Software ? Snippets ? Hardware ? Art ? ...

The intrinsic value of a game ? 

The reasons why we play ? The homo ludens ? The psychology of a game ?

Where would you start ? What is the first goal, if any ? What is the longterm goal, if any ?

Who will give the input ? Where will you get the input ? How will you control input ?

How wil you maintain it ? Where will you maintain it ? Security ? 

Except you having it for ... eh ... fun, who will have anything about this ?

...

Perhaps you might think I am just being negative here,but I assure you that is only an impression. These are very realistic questions which came to mind when I read the title of your thread. Sometimes an idea is 1% inspiration and 99% transpiration. This kind of database are demanding in regard of time, effort and resources.