Make these MMOs!

Year 2008 was a lousy year for MMOs. Hellgate: London and Tabula Rasa both tanked. Age of Conan and the Pirates of the Burning Sea both consolidated servers due to low subscribership. On the whole, the only new MMO that had a good year was Warhammer Online, and arguably it’s little more than a refreshed variation of the 800 pound gorilla known as World of Warcraft.

There’s speculation all over the place why 2008 saw a rash of MMO failures. Yes, releases were rushed. Yes, games were buggy. Yes, games offered nothing revolutionary that wasn’t seen in games before. Bottom line, build a good game with a good concept and people will come and play.

So what’s a good concept that will lure people to play? Well, I submit the following as prime candidates for a MMO. These are franchises, genres and intellectual properties that are just begging to get the MMO treatment.

Naruto

No, I'm not smoking anything. The Naruto world would make a great MMO.

Naruto is an anime and manga series that is as beloved as it is sometimes despised. Both the anime and the manga are getting long in the tooth and even ardent fans have complained about filler episodes. Only very recently has the manga gotten good. In addition, there is much to say about the maturity level of the Naruto fan base. The natural fan progression seems to be from Pokemon to Naruto.

Despite all that, there is no doubt that the fan base is large and a MMO set in the Naruto world would draw a lot of attention.

What is overlooked however is that the world Kishimoto sensei has developed is actually quite rich and ready made for MMOs. It has a natural level progression: genin - chunin - jonin - kage. It has different skill trees -  taijutsu (body techniques), ninjutsu (ninja techniques), genjutsu (illusion/mind techniques) - all based on chakra (what most MMOs would call energy level or mana). Further, the premise for faction warfare is already in place with the rivalries of the various ninja villages and organizations such as Akatsuki and Snake/Hawk running around.

With a large fanbase and a setting specific combat/leveling system, the World of Naruto could become a stellar MMO.

Bleach

Bleach has a complex and interesting world - perfect for a MMO

I’m sure as you’re reading this, you must start thinking I’m nuts for picking yet another manga and anime series that has an obnoxious fan base. Bleach’s fan base may be as obnoxious as Naruto’s but it is also pretty large in its own right. Bleach has been made into three films and have spawned 168+ anime episodes (as of this writing).  It has also spawned a number of games, mostly for consoles.

Bleach has Naruto beat in terms of the complexity of its setting. From the normal human world to the Soul Society to Hueco Mundo, the potential World of Bleach could be vast and awe inspiring. As a shinigami (death god), you’d be up against Hollows, the Arrancar and Visoreds, wielding your zanpakuto up close and personal. Or you could be a Quincy, a ranged fighter. The game could even allow for spiritually awakened characters like Orihime and Chado, which could be a hook to round out potential character classes and allow for spell-casting types.

Wuxia

Apart from Jade Empire, Wuxia themed games have been virtually nonexistent

Wuxia isn’t a franchise but rather a genre. When you think of Wuxia, think of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or the House of Flying Daggers. It’s the martial arts equivalent of the sword and fantasy epic prevalent in western culture. With that said, it’s surprising that there are so few games based on this genre. You would think that having characters perform martial arts, have them fly through trees (as if suspended by wire), walk on water and fight in picturesque temples and bamboo forests would have players dying to play such a game.

However, with the exception on Bioware’s Jade Empire, I can’t recall a single Wuxia based game of any significance in the last several years. It’s time for a well-made MMO from this genre.

Dragonriders of Pern

Cover from Dragonflight, first novel of the Dragonriders of Pern series

Why hasn’t this been made into a major movie already? Dragonriders of Pern is a spectacular and beloved franchise on par with Frank Herbert’s Dune and perhaps even the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Well, maybe not Tolkien but it’s close. Still, I’m surprised more hasn’t been made of this novel series when lesser works like Eragon get made into a major motion picture.

Game play would be interesting as you impress a dragon, learn to fly it and then fight thread. Add in the politcal factionism and economics that were a factor in the novels and you’d come up with an original MMO that wouldn’t be about grinding against hordes of monsters.

Shadowrun

Probably the most anticipated non-MMO ever!

If Shadowrun ever get made over as a MMO it would be as if millions of geek voices suddenly cried out in joy and were suddenly silenced. This is one of those great franchises that because of licensing issues and other nonsense has never seen much daylight as a video game. Yes, I’m aware that a Shadowrun video game was released for the Xbox 360 not too long ago. I’m also aware that it basically sucked. Here’s a quote from the Gamespot review:

This multiplayer-only shooter does absolutely nothing with the Shadowrun name, and its unique strengths are offset by a lack of variety.

The Shadowrun setting has it all.  It has the sword and sorcery elements that would satisfy those that feel out of their element in a non-fantasy MMO;  sexy elves to those that need their digital eye candy; but also guns, cybernatics and hacking for those gamers looking for something new. Throw in a heavy dose of Neuromancer, a little bit of Blade Runner with a lot of corporate conspiracy and espionage, and you have the IDEAL setting for a MMO. Best yet, the makers of the Shadowrun role playing game, has already put together a detailed and well balanced skill and character progression system that would probably lend itself well to any game incarnation.

The problem is that this MMO will never be developed. WizKids (made up of FASA employees) currently owns the license to produce the table top version of the game; however, they’ve long relinquished its rights to produce any video game versions of the franchise. So who’s the owner of the video game rights? Microsoft. Yep, big brother from the North owns possibly the greatest not-yet-made-into-an-MMO franchise around.

Microsoft is seemingly content to let this property just languish. I’m not sure whether or not they have something grand in store or whether they just don’t care. However, it’s clear to me they just understand the treasure they possess. Anyway, the fanboy in me is hoping that Microsoft wakes up and smells the coffee one day. Or sells the franchise to someone who’ll do more than let it grow mold.

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