BioWare Could Move Away from Fantasy and Sci-Fi

[beema]

Face it everyone, the next game they want to make is Mass of Duty

hehe
I crack me up

 

[Aureliano]

I really hope they're talking about Jade Empire. That is definitely a game with a lot of untapped potential (I can't even think of another single-player martial arts RPG that has ever been made in the west) that could really be a lot of fun. Sure the original had its flaws, but it was ultimately innovative and really cool.

Instead, they probably want to make something between Call of Duty, Police Quest and Alpha Protocol, and frankly I don't want to play that game. It'll probably be good, but that's what we have Rockstar for. Bioware exists because SOMEBODY should make actually good sci-fi and fantasy games, and once they're out of their element I'm afraid they will lose their charm.

 

[Micalas]

Industrial Age: Modern Warfare.

 

[katsabas]

After Mass Effect 3, they can try anything they want. Just don't butcher it, please.

 

[Nokterne]

I'd like to see them succeed where Obsidian failed in the "spy, espionage, agent" genre.

As long as they keep making RPGs, I'm sure things will be awesome.

 

[Atheist.]

I disagree. Stop trying to broaden your audience. Stick to appeasing your core with games like NWN and Baldurs Gate. Please make more of these, and less shit like DA 2. I know you can do it, even if you have to disband to leave EA.

 

[Discrodia]

As long as it isn't set during world war 2, or involves some kind of warfare that is modern.

As long as it's not a straight shooter (With 'steamlined rpg elements') I wouldn't write this off completely. It would be interesting to have some sort of modern espionage game (that actually involves espionage).

Actually, while I'm on this idea, what about a game where you infiltrate a terrorist cell, with the intent of killing the leader? Only, to get closer, you have to commit terrorist actions to gain their trust (bombing, assassination, ect). However, if you fail a mission objective (or complete too many missions too well) you have to deal with the consequences of that failure / success (such as loosing the trust of allies, being uncovered, or declared a rogue agent against your country). Hell, you might even be able to throw in a conspiracy theory or two, play the faction you're out to destroy as being noble resistance fighters against an imperialist power, or you could even pull off a double cross. Set it in an open world (Either fictional, or if your shareholders have the stomach for it, the real world), add in all manner of interconnected threads of alliances, vendettas, and plots. Move away from the class-based system of earlier games, instead focusing on the development either as a jack-of-all trades, who can do whatever he needs to, or some sort of specialist who can do one job extremely well. Have your skills directly affect the results of your missions, and have the plot hinge on your ability to prove to everyone (friend and enemy) that you're out to help them. Add in a lot of RP options, and serve. And most importantly, GET RID OF ALL THE GUNPLAY. A-la Splinter Cell, gunfire should be a tool of last resort, which is going to end badly no matter if you complete your mission or not. You can focus your character on that if you wish, but reward people who can play subtly, who invest time to learn about about the inhabitants of your game world, who do their research instead of rushing in guns blazing. Make it a true RPG, not a shooter with a conversation system.

I really should write all this down somewhere.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Thanks EA, for taking an incredible development studio that makes excellent genre games and turning them into a generic "broader appeal" studio. You ruined Westwood and destroyed Pandemic, now the masters of the RPG too. If you could only ruin Bethesda and Obsidian too, you'd have destroyed all the top genre developers. Let BioWare stick to doing what they do best and go find another studio to make your mass-market garbage.

Still...wouldn't mind seeing a BioWare version of Alpha Protocol. Would buy that in a heartbeat.

 

[Vapus]

The Old Republic Is destined to fail miserably ,, Im not even convinced they will make a dime of the franchise, as much as it pains me to say that . I loved Kotor 1, 2 and was a loyal fan all the way through to DAO .. something changed tho,
The games now dont have the same soul.. or feel.. Perhaps it IS a good time to consider something completely different ? In any event i now see Bioware as a Company in need of some fresh blood.. and Ideas.

 

[RobfromtheGulag]

The idea of branching out is nice, but their 2 pillars are rather strong pillars, and without them the two genres would become a lot more stagnant. I hope they continue innovation in their current fields as well as advancing to other spheres.

 

[DementedSheep]

I am all for bioware branching out, in fact I like the idea of them branching out. I just hope they don?t abandon their roots and ?branching out? doesn?t mean trying on to catch on to the generic brown FPS?s craze.

 

[plugav]

That sounds interesting. Although he names two genres that have already been done. Espionage already has Alpha Protocol and cop drama has L.A. Noire, as I understand. I'd like to see BioWare push the boundaries in a new direction themselves.

And why abandon fantasy? Everyone in the industry seems to be pretending that fantasy is restricted to "historical Europe with magic," while the truth is that you can do almost everything with the genre.

 

[Marik Bentusi]

Well, new BioWare franchises, same characters and plot points. I wonder if you'll start off as a prodigy (or at least talented person) with a male and a female "normal human" in your party that joins an elite group operating above the law to save the world?

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

A... steam punk RPG? its kinda like fantasy, kinda like science fiction, but not...

Maybe redo Arcanum?

THIS IS GENIUS ! further deep thinking: why not doing Arcanum 2 then 3 then 4 then 5 ?

id like to see a steam punk or cyber punk style rpg or maybe some other form of alternate past/future style rpg or maybe throw it all together in a time travel/alternate dimension rpg like chrono cross/chrono trigger

there's not enough of these games... your right! and mostly because gaming companies are afraid of doing something new. so they regurgitate they're games with sequels lol.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

I'm not surprised. It's not like Bioware is proving to be good at making Fantasy RPGs anymore.

Or at least, having the people who would be good with making Fantasy RPGs on the Fantasy RPG projects.

Example:

Spoiler

Maybe it's because the heads of Bioware aren't the same as "yesterday"...

 

[Scorekeeper]

But my favorite genres are sci-fi and fantasy! At least make Jade Empire 2 before you seriously consider switching to other genres.

 

[rickthetrick]

meh cops or spies with choice based actions that affect their morality. Yeah that hasn't been done at all. I'm all for exploring new genres, but I play games for the escapism, and there's nothing wrong with fantasy/sci-fi. Just sounds like the investors are getting antsy to me, and Bioware's tossing ideas.

 

[shaderkul]

Whatever they make, will be 'streamlined to be even more accessible to the fans and when you press a button something awesome will happen! Twice!'.

Screw Bioware, they're cutting to many corners in the name of a quicker buck. And the corners they cut are all from the RPG-part of the equation.

My sentiments exactly

 

[badgersprite]

A Bioware cop drama, or a detective story would be utterly awesome. I can never get enough of that style, to be quite honest.

Seriously, Bioware meets The Wire. Make it happen.