So I've been sitting here bored, looking for something to do when this just popped into my head. Here goes.

If a large (Or small I guess, doesn't matter really) game development company was making a game (of any sort really, up to you) and they asked for you to contribute an idea of a character, game mechanic, setting, plot device/twist, etc... What would you tell them?

Sorry if that sounds a bit confusing but basically I'm asking what advice you would give a game dev if they asked your opinion on what their game should have. Hope to see some unique replies in the future, maybe even things that would never have crossed my mind about this subject. Thanks in advance for reading this thread and posting in it if you felt the need.

TheJJ405 : I have always wanted to give my ideas to Gamefreak for a new pokemon game, but alas, it was not to be. I had so many ideas that I wanted to get out in the open.

I'm actually doing something like this right now. I, and a few friends, are making our own game from scratch, and we're going to develop a full fledged game developing company eventually. So with that said, you can see why this particular topic interests me a lot. I'll actually have to favorite this thread, and come back to see what everybody thinks should be in a game. Lol I myself can list several things that I have thought of that I would like to see in many games, that could actually easily be implemented, but just seem to be overlooked by most developers.

1. A real twenty-four hour day/night cycle. I mean come on, we saw it back in the Game Boy Color days with Pokémon gold and silver, so why is it, with so much more advanced technology now, we don't see this implemented in more games? It wouldn't even have to alter the game play any, it would just be a really cool effect. Imagine if you start playing in the middle of the morning, say 10 a.m., and you look outside: you're going to see the exact same thing that you're seeing on your screen it'll be daytime in the game, and the sun will be bright. Now save the game there, then come back in seven or eight hours, and load it: you're at the exact same point, in the exact same level, at the exact same place that you left off at in the morning, but now it's night time in the game, just like it is outside. In fact, we could even see it mimic the weather in your area, by accessing the weather reports on your local weather station/website. This is a small feature, but it would be so much cooler, I think.

2. Go back to having more Easter eggs and and unlockables, and less downloadable content. I mean honestly, what gamer doesn't love doing some thing, and getting a reward notification saying "since you've successfully defeated this many enemies, or you completed the game on this difficulty level, or you did XYZ, you get this certain reward"? Moments like those are a part of what makes gaming so much fun.

3. Let the player choose which side of the fight they want to be on! Good, or Evil.

4. Make the story more realistic. No one is ever 100% right or wrong in what they think or do. There's always at the very least, a tiny little nugget of truth in the argument the "bad guy", and always some sort of error, or missing piece in the opinion or approach of the "good guy". Why all of this "Absolute good versus Absolute Evil" stuff? Some fairy tale ideas like that are great, but not all games should be like that.


Anyway, those are just a few of my ideas. Sorry for the long rant, but maybe you'll find some interesting ideas in there, I don't know. Lol My two cents anyway.

If a game company asked me to give them ideas for a new game I would definitely take the opportunity to do so because I am a little ticked off about where video games have gone: the video game companies care a lot about the graphics, the sound, and the money and they seem to be less focused on the game itself.

Eirinn : Interesting. Maybe you could keep me updated on how that's going, I'd certainly like to play it when it's finished. As for your suggestions, I particularly understand number 3. I think being able to choose who or what you fight for is a unique trait for games. I especially enjoy it in the SMT games where you may choose the fate of the world based on your own beliefs.

TheJJ405 : Definitely! And I'm actually unfamiliar with SMT. What is it? As for selecting what you fight for, it's definitely an underdone concept. That's actually the basis that our current game project is built on.

Eirinn : Perhaps you are more familiar with SMT's spin off series Persona then? Basically, one of the main recurring ideas used in the SMT series is the ability to choose your ending. These endings usually include, but are not limited to, Neutral, Law and Chaos. You will get the different endings based on choices throughout the game that slowly mold the way your MC looks at the world. Sure you don't actually choose a side and fight for it throughout the game but you do get to choose what beliefs you fight for, essentially choosing a side in that way.

If you wish you can play SMT 1 and 2 on this site along with a few of the spin off series it spawned.

Glad to hear that these concepts of yours will be in your own game. It would suck if due to majority vote, you ended up making a game that has all concepts and mechanics that you don't agree with.

Oh ok, I'll have to try it out then. Thanks! As for Persona, I've heard of it, but don't know much about it. I only have a PS2, and a handful of games for it. Can't afford any more currently.

Well, the Good/Bad idea and the blurring of the line between the two, will be implemented, but I'm not sure if we'll be able to include the day/night cycle, since this is our first game. We'll have to see if we can pull it off with what we know right now. We're still learning various programming languages and stuff, so this is a learning experience for us all. I definitely plan to implement the cycle in our games at some point (hopefully this one).

I guess I should talk about some of my own hopes and ideas.

One idea I've been pondering over for a while now is somewhat of an entire project than an idea. I've been thinking about a sort of artistic take on the idea of the "Sisters Grim" and the Grim Reaper in general. By artistic I mean a not-so-true-to-legend type of deal that gives nods rather than references. I was also thinking of it being ironically cute (being that it would be based on death and the taking of souls, being cute would be very ironic) and even fun rather than dark. Not sure If this will end up another passing idea or become something more than that. I believe it would be a nice game to play but that's my personal opinion.

I've also had several idea's of post apocalyptic games, some involving only a single character. One such idea was a game that would take place in a world where nothing was left, and you, being the sole resident of said world, searches to find out how it all happened. I imagined the game would be silent, offering no sound other than a light soundtrack playing in the background, possibly going unnoticed. I think this is a unique idea because it is extremely different than all these action-oriented games we get these days and would be a simple mystery kind of deal. I guess it would be part of the Puzzle/Mystery genre that we get nothing of anymore.

As for just singular ideas, I enjoy the idea of the story being based around the innocent character. I just find it interesting having a character that is the basis of all that is going on and yet they are clueless about it. I also like jumping puzzle segments like in the Tomb Raider or Uncharted series and think there should be more of that. Lastly I like the idea of a really good story, written to be as it is, without trying to throw 50 different life lessons down the players throat. A simple story with a simple basis is all you need to spawn a complicated dream of a world. Lastly, though it kind of ruins all the things I just said, I enjoy explosions. Lots of explosions and mindless fun is a great thing to me.

Whew think I said a bit much. Thanks for taking the time to read this essay of a comment.