Poll: Just How Many People Think Their Game Ideas Would Make In The Video Game Market?

ygetoff

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Oct 22, 2008
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I wish some of my ideas were out there. I would play them. But I mostly think of ways to add to or improve existing titles, like thinking of the issue of making a working Mercenaries MMO, as a sort of mind challenge.
 

forever saturday

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Nov 6, 2008
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i had an idea a while a go which started as an idea for a graphic novel/comic book, and it eventually evolved into a video game. gameplay would be like the legend of zelda meets assassins creed. the story was kinda long for me to do any sort of summary now, plus i havent figured out the details or how it ends. but it did have some interesting ideas. if you are a fan of tv tropes wiki, then you would understand me when i say that it averts, subverts, and inverts a lot of tropes that are usually played straight. if you dont go to tv tropes wiki and dont know what i just said, then you suck.
 

Railu

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Aug 7, 2008
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I was told on 2 separate occassions by different professional game designers a pretty brutal lesson. Take this with a grain of salt:

No one gives a crap about your story.

At first I thought it was rude, but after some thinking and discussion it made sense. Games are not movies, books or plays. No one will buy your game if it isn't fun first. A good story can help set the atmosphere and can drive the gameplay as well. Story is a means to keep the gameplay progression cohesive.

That doesn't mean forget about story, but think of how it will interweave with the gameplay. Also as important, if not more, is art style, flow, ambience and audio.
 

Clemenstation

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Dec 9, 2008
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Say Anything said:
My ideas are all crap. I'll freestyle right now for you guys.

Alright. You're a boy who has magic powers, but you can only use them at night. During the day, you have to use sticks of celery as your weapon. What's the catch? Day monsters are extremely weak against magic, and night monsters are allergic to celery! Imagine the disappointment of said boy who has a hard time fighting monsters. He must go on a quest to save hot chick, destroy evil guy, and figure out how to use his magic during the day and his celery at night!

Coming 2010
Still the best idea in this thread. By far. Presentation is everything.
 

raankh

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Nov 28, 2007
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Ideas are all nice, but following through is another matter. Anyone who plays video games can probably think of an idea that could become a smashing game, but realizing that idea is where the fun starts. If you're into that kind of thing; I can guarantee from some personal experience that few understand what kind of corporate bs you have to go through to "make it" in the game industry. In the end, it's really not that different from many other IT-related office jobs, unless you're fortunate enough to be among the core developers (and you get there through said corporate bs). That's probably an awesome job-- the tantalizing smidgen at the end of rope right in front of the hamster wheel they have you sweating on.

You know, people make careers in the game industry. That more or less says it all to me.
 

Railu

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Aug 7, 2008
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raankh said:
Ideas are all nice, but following through is another matter. Anyone who plays video games can probably think of an idea that could become a smashing game, but realizing that idea is where the fun starts. If you're into that kind of thing; I can guarantee from some personal experience that few understand what kind of corporate bs you have to go through to "make it" in the game industry. In the end, it's really not that different from many other IT-related office jobs, unless you're fortunate enough to be among the core developers (and you get there through said corporate bs). That's probably an awesome job-- the tantalizing smidgen at the end of rope right in front of the hamster wheel they have you sweating on.

You know, people make careers in the game industry. That more or less says it all to me.
It's not that bad. Unless you work for EA. Independent studios are where you want to go. There, even if you're a small player, you can have a voice.

It is a job, but it can be a fun job. But you will work crazy hours and most people burn out after 3 years. Many people will take a hiatus for a year or more before going back. As an engineer, it's twice as bad as the rest, even if the pay is great.

But I can tell you, after 8 years of making accounting software, it was a very refreshing change. Chances are you'll change again after 10 years, no matter what career you choose. Why not pick one that you love?
 

samsprinkle

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Jun 29, 2008
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Say Anything said:
My ideas are all crap. I'll freestyle right now for you guys.

Alright. You're a boy who has magic powers, but you can only use them at night. During the day, you have to use sticks of celery as your weapon. What's the catch? Day monsters are extremely weak against magic, and night monsters are allergic to celery! Imagine the disappointment of said boy who has a hard time fighting monsters. He must go on a quest to save hot chick, destroy evil guy, and figure out how to use his magic during the day and his celery at night!

Coming 2010
Hey I played that game! It was called NIGHTCASTER! it BLOWED BAWLS!
 

CJ1145

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Jan 6, 2009
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I have a game idea that is basically a single player mumorpurger and set in a post-apocalyptic future. (I have the backstory worked out, but much too long to post) and you basically play as a leader of a division of soldiers, leading them in an FPS/RTS hybrid in various Locales around the half-destroyed world in varying scenarios in a freestyle "Conquer the World" game. Doesn't sound too great summarized, but got nothing but praise for the fleshed-out ideas.
 

guyy

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Mar 6, 2008
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j-e-f-f-e-r-s said:
No offence, but I can't help but wonder if that sort of attitude is half the reason why game stories generally suck in the first place. Story is incredibly important. A game can have great audio and ambience, but if there's no good story there, then in the end it just feels like fluff.
Well, pointless fluff games do have their place; the Smash Bros. series has a terribly contrived story at best, but it's still fun and very popular. But it is kinda ridiculous to say that the story doesn't matter; just look at Half-life, Mass Effect, Bioshock...most of the best and best-selling games recently had elaborate and well-designed plots. Any developer that says the story is irrelevant is either totally inexperienced or cares more about money than about making a good game.
 

Railu

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j-e-f-f-e-r-s said:
No offence, but I can't help but wonder if that sort of attitude is half the reason why game stories generally suck in the first place. Story is incredibly important. A game can have great audio and ambience, but if there's no good story there, then in the end it just feels like fluff.
LOL, none taken. Like I said, it wasn't me who said it first. Their whole point is, don't for a second think that because you have an idea for a story that it will sell your game. If you don't have good gameplay to begin with, your story won't mean jack squat. If you just want to tell a story, there are far easier and simpler ways to do it that won't cost millions of dollars and thousands of man hours.

Their whole point is, if the game is fun, you almost don't need a story. A good story makes a good game even better. However, this was also a quote from about 4 years ago. I think games are transitioning more into an art form now, so I think story carries more weight than it used to. But the theory holds true, because there are still many excellent games with very generic stories.
 

NezumiiroKitsune

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Mar 29, 2008
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Every time I get an idea it gets made. Im getting suspicious. Tin foil hats, spatula weaponary and raptor proof window guard made of celery (I got a tip off Raptors dont like it)!

We all have ideas, be them good or bad. However without the ability to gather a team and build the game idea in question, said idea can transcend into the following things:

1) The past - Forget it and move on.
2) A Book - Your ideas are there, all you need is a pen and paper and alot of spare time.
3) Webcomic - Woe betide you if it sucks...
4) Porn - Rule 34 (Apply this to 1, 2 and 3).
 

Sion_Barzahd

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Jul 2, 2008
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i often find myself scribbling ideas for games down. Usually its concepts of the gameplay mechanics. I always suppose i could find some bizarre writer to put a story to the chaos the spews from my mind.
 

Nexus424

Master Of All That Is Frosty
Dec 26, 2008
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Well from what it looks like. It seems a lot of people think that they would make it but then I have to wonder is it the process that stops many "good" games from being made or are some people just to lazy to get it done or at least try?
 

phoenixrai

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Nov 4, 2008
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I only have the story and some basic concept but I highly doubt it'll get made into anything. Unless I start blackmailling someone at Nintendo.
 
Jan 3, 2009
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I fantasize about making my own games every other night. I love creating video games in my head. I think them down to the point of what would I put in the Legendary edition.

I have met developers and never have they accepted viewer content. It is sad and Just do it for fun. It is highly unlikely that you will make it any farther than every other dreamer.
 

TBA

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Apr 27, 2008
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I have some ideas that I think would be great, but the thing about the game industry is that there's a high barrier of entry. This is something that I hope will change within the next few years, because theres some great ideas out there.

Really, games are the only entertainment industry where amateurs can't turn their ideas into reality, or at least not in the way that they would like to. I mean, with music, you get an idea, and you can record it. You need some equipment, but pretty much any teenager with an instrument can make a song. Same with video; anyone with any kind of camera can make a movie if they feel like it.

With games, though, you need a knowledge of complex coding and animation techniques, and its enough to drive some people away. It's unfortunate because there are some great ideas out there.
 

keithburgun

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Aug 1, 2007
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I think MORE THAN one of mine could make it. If you idiots ate up Doom 3 and Oblivion, then probably any of my ideas could make it, as long as I had a team of sorry sacks working their ass off churning away generic high-poly bump-mapped content.