Using the system date in games.

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

'Today is April 15, Resistance Day. It's the day the resistance forces won and [the town of] Claiborne was founded. The Resistance Festival is held today and all the villagers divide into feds and rebels to show a mock battle. The feds always lose at the end, of course. Claiborners started the festival to commemorate their rebel spirit, but I think it defeats the purpose when you make a festival out of it.'

Confused? This is today's line from Armengard, an NPC in one of my favourite games who has a different line every day of the year. While it's just text I was impressed that they would bother giving a character 365 different paragraphs about stuff to do with that day, sometimes talking about holidays in the fiction or real live Holidays such as New Years'. While I have seen some other good advantage taken of the fact that all consoles now have internal clocks and calendars, such as the famous battle with The End in Metal Gear Solid 3, I feel it's still got some great untapped potential for replay value- imagine a game that alters the layout of its levels according to the current season.

What's the most interesting use of a system's internal clock you've seen in a game, and what sort of use would you like to see?

 

[DoPo]

What's the most interesting use of a system's internal clock you've seen in a game, and what sort of use would you like to see?

Well, nothing as elaborate as that, however Dungeon Keeper 2 had some really awesome things. Behold!


I can't remember right now, but the dancing was every Thursday evening or something similar. Then you had some lines that were spoken at midnight and the like. Really funny, too. I'll try to find the list.

EDIT: Found it - the party is at 0:58 AM every Saturday. Other time related lines are

"Trick or treat, Keeper? Buwa ha ha!" = At Halloween at 6:06 PM and midnight

"It is the Witching Hour. Curses are half-price" = At midnight
"Surely, even Dungeon Keepers must retire to a Lair of some description?" = At 1:00 AM
"Hello? Are you still there? The Imps are about to lock up" = At 2:00 AM
"You know that low, broad, downy-soft item of furniture in the next room? It has the power to cure fatigue and restore vitality" = At 3:00 AM
"Your nocturnal perseverance has earned you a hidden gaming tip. GO TO BED!" = At 3:15 AM

Here [http://keeperklan.com/threads/890-How-to-get-silly-mentor-quotes] is the list