Hey guys, instead of just making a WoW clone with different graphics, why don't we use our imaginations? There was a similar thread about a Max Brooks-style zombie game a little while back in which I outlined an idea for a persistent world zombie FPS.
Instead of MMO character progression you just survive. There's no forced reason to kill zombies, you do it for fun or to survive. You scavenge for food, ammo and fuel in the ruins of civilisation lest you become weak, defenceless and vulnerable in the desolate wastelands of an infected world. Other players may align with you, looking for strength through numbers, but there's nothing stopping them from shooting you in the back over some rations when the going gets tough, or kneecapping you to slow the horde whilst he makes his getaway.
There would be less emphasis on quests, with the world encouraging the player to make their own way and their own stories, but there could be plenty of opportunity to follow persistent NPC characters on their journey through the wasteland.
My most controversial idea was a one life idea. You die, your character dies, you lose your stuff and you restart (with the same name) back with all the other beginners, your only advantage your knowledge. This would make all your decisions and actions actually MEAN something. Leave someone to die, their character will actually die. They won't respawn in 5 mins, laughing about it. You'll be careful about who you trust, you won't wander into that dark, gloomy house until you've got a flashlight and someone to watch your back - the game would MEAN something, and the longer you survived the more it would mean to you.
Before you dismiss that idea, think about how compulsive that gameplay could get. Persistent awards would be available, perhaps unlocking new starting perks so that on the next playthrough you have an advantage. The game rewards both persistent gamers and casual gamers, as whilst casual gamers can drop in and out without worrying about being at a huge disadvantage to veteran players or needing to devote days to enjoy the content, playing for longer means you go to new places, find new gear and make more of an impact on the game world.
Player built structures would add more depth to social interactions, encouraging the establishment of clans or families or gangs working together to survive and progress towards a mythical safe-zone on the other side of the country.
Lets think of something new, something different to the mass of WoW clones out there, something to shake up the established MMO structure in a real way.
