In this week's column, Dana Massey explores a genre that might well finally solve an age old problem for game developers. How do you get guys and girls in the same game? The answer? Vampires!

There is one genre out there that is relatively untested by MMOs and even games in general. It’s popular, one of the hottest sub-genres out there right now in fact, and perfectly suited to gaming. It also appeals to both men and women, albeit in different ways. So today, I ask you: Why not a Vampire MMO?

MMOs have always been a bit of an old boys club. Sure, women do play them, but no game has come even close to an even split. It could simply be that women don’t like video games, but if anyone can overcome that and make a game that both men and women enjoy equally, they’re going to be a very rich company.

Read it all here.

I would play a Vampire MMO, but only if I could play a vampire hunter.

As for women liking to buy things? Yeah, and water is wet.

 pretty tired of reading these "Why nots" got anything else to write about? i got more why nots than you.

I /wrists at the thought of a vampire mmo....

A highlander MMo on the other hand....................................

Since vampires are awesome, and always have been (no, Twilight did not corrupt Vampires for me), a Vampire MMO would be good.

It's a good thing CCP and White wolf teamed up to make one, then. The World of Darkness MMO could be really cool.

Originally posted by Cpt_Picard

I /wrists at the thought of a vampire mmo....

 Remember to cut up and down. Not side-to-side.

  

A highlander MMo on the other hand....................................

An MMO based on "There can only be one." sounds unlikely at best.

the day you see the movie Twilight mentioned on mmorpg could mean the world is coming to an end or at least hell is freezing over

There is already a Vampire MMO in works, being developed by CCP/Whitewolf. World of Darkness is infinitely better than the T-word-book-movie-wannabe-vampires.

Seriously, here's the math.

(T-Vampire-movie) x Infinity = World of Darkness

Vampire: Bloodline is a vampire mmo.  or was.  Not sure if it exists anymore.  I've heard rumours of multiple vampire vs werewolf games in the works. 

Originally posted by MMO_Doubter

Originally posted by Cpt_Picard

I /wrists at the thought of a vampire mmo....

 Remember to cut up and down. Not side-to-side.

  

A highlander MMo on the other hand....................................

An MMO based on "There can only be one." sounds unlikely at best.

Highlander probably would have to be a perma death game, hehe.

Originally posted by aleos

 pretty tired of reading these "Why nots" got anything else to write about? i got more why nots than you.

I know you're trying to troll, but honestly, I agree. This was pretty close to the bottom of my "why not" barrel for now ;)

...I'm likely going to adopt a new premise in the coming weeks.

Anyone got any suggestions? ;)

Originally posted by Vynt

Highlander probably would have to be a perma death game, hehe.

Lol. Yup. If killed by another immortal. I'd actually try it if it was made right. Which it wouldn't be.

Could be pretty cool though, and the Epeen for the last immortal would be huge.

Originally posted by Dana

Originally posted by aleos

 pretty tired of reading these "Why nots" got anything else to write about? i got more why nots than you.

 

I know you're trying to troll, but honestly, I agree. This was pretty close to the bottom of my "why not" barrel for now ;)

...I'm likely going to adopt a new premise in the coming weeks.

Anyone got any suggestions? ;)

Dude, some of these have been pretty interesting discussions.

The survival horror thread, in particular.

Originally posted by MMO_Doubter

Originally posted by Cpt_Picard

I /wrists at the thought of a vampire mmo....

 Remember to cut up and down. Not side-to-side.

  

A highlander MMo on the other hand....................................

An MMO based on "There can only be one." sounds unlikely at best.

Oh, It would work perfectly and be insanely awesome.

All players are Immortals, so pvp could be handeled very interestingly.

Gear wouldn't be a huge thing except weapons

Death would be temperary, essiently to make the mmo fair, players heads can't be lopped off but NPC's heads could.

Queen could provide the soundtrack.....

It's setting to be any time, how ever modern would be the coolest; one could have instances which were memories to incorperate different times....

*Cough*, I'm running off topic.... Vampires are intollerable... I may be able to accept the idea of a underworld mmo though....

I think an mmo where your out of shape progressively aging toon wakes up to some sort of horribly annoying sound then stumbles off to some no where job would be awesome. You could farm faction by working over time or by doing self degrading things for your significant other. 

OH WAIT>>>>we already have that one - it's called RL (real life).

Anyway, yeah Massey is spot on.  Folks would play a vamp mmorpg - you would have to include clans though (Kindred the Embraced). However, pvp would confuse the developers, and most likely it would be a gang land free for all or have really pointless pvp with titles that could go back and forth or such. The numbers would shrink until only the severely obese would keep playing so that they could pretent they are going to live forever...and the developers, in all their brilliance, as the game ticks its dying breath would ignore the please of a shrinking fan base, state something like "LET THEM EAT CAKE" as the Bastille crumbled...and would instead create a patch that gave silly masks to their suck...er subscribers.

Make games for gamers by gamers - death to the burgoise mmorpg industry!

Originally posted by Kalefen

and the developers, in all their brilliance, as the game ticks its dying breath would ignore the please of a shrinking fan base, state something like "LET THEM EAT CAKE" as the Bastille crumbled...and would instead create a patch that gave silly masks to their suck...er subscribers.

 

Make games for gamers by gamers - death to the burgoise mmorpg industry!

Vive le Revolution!

I'd play an MMORPG based on the p&p rpg V:TM. Would have one big problem though: expectations. V:TM has been there for dozens of years, has lots of fans and tons and tons of background and stories and lore and whatnot. I don't know how an MMORPG could pick up all that and then not disappoint.

In theory though... it would be great. The intrigues... games with might and power... the hunt for blood, the clans and stuff with their abilities and whatnot. Practically though, I doubt that there is a company out there who would have the patience and knowledge to successfully create an mmorpg about that without disappointing. I mean, creating an mmorpg about v:tm that does not disappoint... it's about as possible as writing the complete history of egypt onto your fingertip. Or if someone would try to wrap up the contents of all star-trek episodes within 3 words.

Originally posted by MMO_Doubter

Originally posted by Vynt

Highlander probably would have to be a perma death game, hehe.

Lol. Yup. If killed by another immortal. I'd actually try it if it was made right. Which it wouldn't be.

Could be pretty cool though, and the Epeen for the last immortal would be huge.

Probably wouldn't be made right. Would be cool if the perma thing was optional, so if you went to a certain area to fight another immortal, the winner becomes stronger while the loser loses his character. It gives incentive for risking your character while the rest are just run of the mill weak types.

That or there truly would be only 1. i think that way though, the game would end so kind of need a mix. Probably have to find a way to prevent people from inflating another's power by losing to 1 person over and over with a new immortal.

How can you guys all sit here and talk about no Vampire MMO's when we have the awesomeness known as Bite Fight just a few clicks away?

It boggles the mind really :(

Heh, sorry, off track with the Highlander thing.

As far as vampires, I think that would be interesting. As previously said, world of darkness, or maybe some mixture of vampires, demons wizards etc. Maybe something like Jim Butcher's Dresdin series. You have all kinds of options and variety to make an interesting game and it would be set in our world basically.