I have long wondered whether an action-mmorpg version of Grand Theft Auto could possibly work? So here are some ideas that I have been thinking of, but they are obviously un-polished and not completely thought through. I'm just wondering whether anyone else is interested in this kind of game?
There could be the equivalent of Realms (in mmorpgs) where you are given a city (of large proportions) wherein x-thousand players can all play.
The main focus of the game could be faction/gang based warfare where you work your way up through the ranks of the Mafia, for example, to out-govern the ... triads, or any other gangs. By out-govern I mean how well the whole faction is represented and manifests itself within the city - slowly forcing the other gangs out of town by violence or by clever use of the economy.
I suppose this could be achieved in numerous ways, allowing for many types of gameplay that GTA has already used:
- straight out killings/assassinations
- destruction of money making businesses owned by gangs
- theft
- corruption
- making money for the gang as a whole
The gangs would revolve around using money to buy better weapons to equip their men, or buying better businesses with which to make more money, and so on.
Each player could start their own gang, much like a clan, and be the boss. Each boss/gang leader could delegate positions to others to get them established in the city (Some sort of system by which you can influence the city as a whole would be needed to represent this) - giving the game some longevity - and people could to be promoted to better ranks within each gang. (Aside note; one could also infiltrate another gang and destroy it from the inside by being deceptive).
Every player should ultimately aspire to making lots of money for themselves, or helping their gang take over the city. On that note much customisation could be available if you bought a house in-game, vehicles, weapons, clothes, haircut, get-out-of-jail-free cards, etcetera...
The main problem I could foresee with this idea is the whole city descending into chaotic violence. Perhaps it could be solved by implementing a vigilant AI police force and deterrents such as real-time jail sentences or fines.
Also once one gang has ultimately won I can't really think of a great way of making that Realm fun any more... A Realm reset seems like the easy way out.
So yea, any ideas guys?
*EDIT* I am aware there is GTA online but it is very small-scale and bad...