Super Mario MMORPG (idea)
by Anthony McClenny · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 08/06/2004 (11:31 am) · 12 replies
My idea.
For years I have dreaming about a MMORPG that was set in (Mario stylized) realm. Instead of forming up to fight MOBS, you and your friends would explore and hop on baddies and collect coins build blocky castles, etc. The whole world would have to be full of things that you jump on, explore, and ride around in.
The problem lies in the fact that because of the character simplicity it would get boring fast to see five million of the coolest avatar run by.
The character creation would have to be so dynamic that you could actually create your own 'race' by adding different characteristics to your character from many different interchanging bits. Collecting the coins, you could purchase gadgets, power-ups, and lots of other things. By jumping on the heads of other players, you will knock a few coins from their pockets and this would add a player vs. player system without creating a game where people actually kill each other. One idea for a power up would be an armor you could purchase that would make you resistant for (n) number of player attacks. When your armor wears out, you would need to go back to the store and purchase another powerup. This would keep the game economy moving. You couldn't sit on your duffs, you need to continue to buy this armor, etc. Gadgets should require some sort of energy that is also purchased at the shops in bulk, but is constantly depleting (sort of like mana that you can purchase). The gadgetry would be things like helicopter beanies, grappling hooks, large hammers, lighting guns, smoke bombs, head seeking guided missles. The bigger the gadget, the more (energy orbs) it would take. There should be a coin casino where you can gamble your hard earned coins.
The MMORPG would have huge bosses that drop very cool gadgets. I'f you took all of the gadgets from the current mario series, ratchet and clank, Ape Escape series, and Rayman and put them in the chaotic anything goes world it would be out of control.
The other thing that I think would be great is if you had persistent pets that you grew like in Pokemon or Monster Rancher. How cool would it be to roll up in the middle of a realm battle and unleash a crazy looking beast that goes ape. Instead of leveling your player character up, you could invest the time in leveling up your monster instead. The fact that you could take you monster out and unleash him on the world, would be just so cool.
To sum it all up you would marrying a MMORPG with the graphics of a Platformer, hundreds of gadgets, the ability to build your own blocky castles or domains, and a huge world full places to explore, pets you can build and fight against other pets, or unlease on the world, set in a choatic world where the players can build things, and tear things apart with enough coins.
It's a rough idea, but if someone built a game like this, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it and play it.
To clarify: This is a pipe dream, I have no intention of even attempting to make this, I just wanted to share an idea.
For years I have dreaming about a MMORPG that was set in (Mario stylized) realm. Instead of forming up to fight MOBS, you and your friends would explore and hop on baddies and collect coins build blocky castles, etc. The whole world would have to be full of things that you jump on, explore, and ride around in.
The problem lies in the fact that because of the character simplicity it would get boring fast to see five million of the coolest avatar run by.
The character creation would have to be so dynamic that you could actually create your own 'race' by adding different characteristics to your character from many different interchanging bits. Collecting the coins, you could purchase gadgets, power-ups, and lots of other things. By jumping on the heads of other players, you will knock a few coins from their pockets and this would add a player vs. player system without creating a game where people actually kill each other. One idea for a power up would be an armor you could purchase that would make you resistant for (n) number of player attacks. When your armor wears out, you would need to go back to the store and purchase another powerup. This would keep the game economy moving. You couldn't sit on your duffs, you need to continue to buy this armor, etc. Gadgets should require some sort of energy that is also purchased at the shops in bulk, but is constantly depleting (sort of like mana that you can purchase). The gadgetry would be things like helicopter beanies, grappling hooks, large hammers, lighting guns, smoke bombs, head seeking guided missles. The bigger the gadget, the more (energy orbs) it would take. There should be a coin casino where you can gamble your hard earned coins.
The MMORPG would have huge bosses that drop very cool gadgets. I'f you took all of the gadgets from the current mario series, ratchet and clank, Ape Escape series, and Rayman and put them in the chaotic anything goes world it would be out of control.
The other thing that I think would be great is if you had persistent pets that you grew like in Pokemon or Monster Rancher. How cool would it be to roll up in the middle of a realm battle and unleash a crazy looking beast that goes ape. Instead of leveling your player character up, you could invest the time in leveling up your monster instead. The fact that you could take you monster out and unleash him on the world, would be just so cool.
To sum it all up you would marrying a MMORPG with the graphics of a Platformer, hundreds of gadgets, the ability to build your own blocky castles or domains, and a huge world full places to explore, pets you can build and fight against other pets, or unlease on the world, set in a choatic world where the players can build things, and tear things apart with enough coins.
It's a rough idea, but if someone built a game like this, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it and play it.
To clarify: This is a pipe dream, I have no intention of even attempting to make this, I just wanted to share an idea.
#2
1) Back when Super Mario Bros. for the NES debuted, what were the bricks made from?
2) Who made the bricks?
3) For what purpose?
Who a'knows their Mario? ;)
08/06/2004 (11:38 pm)
POP QUIZ!1) Back when Super Mario Bros. for the NES debuted, what were the bricks made from?
2) Who made the bricks?
3) For what purpose?
Who a'knows their Mario? ;)
#3
08/06/2004 (11:45 pm)
They were made of mushroom people or something??
#4
08/07/2004 (12:54 am)
Yes, recycled bricks of %75 post-consumer mushroom people :) And they taste good in soup to boot!
#5
08/10/2004 (4:00 am)
One reason a Mario MMORPG sounds so good is we're all familiar with the characters, the worlds and the memories... Making a game with similar appeal including characters and stories etc from scratch is a whole other matter, and I can't see nintendo letting it slip by for long if you did steal their characters...
#6
Soon, Mario 64x4 will be out for a handheld (Gameboy DS-Developer's System) which will allow players to play the original Super Mario game from N64 online with 4 players as Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Yoshi (But I think that this is only for a special mode)
It's not MMORPG, but it's still online! Baby Steps.
08/10/2004 (8:40 am)
I think Nintendo is starting to get on track with this idea.Soon, Mario 64x4 will be out for a handheld (Gameboy DS-Developer's System) which will allow players to play the original Super Mario game from N64 online with 4 players as Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Yoshi (But I think that this is only for a special mode)
It's not MMORPG, but it's still online! Baby Steps.
#7
If I wanted to play a game that so closely resembled real life, I would already be playing it at my day job.
My fantasy 'Mario MMORPG' would focus on 'fun', it would be fast paced and furious. Imagine unleashing your pet, that would be the size of a boss in the Zelda series and letting it reak havok on NPC's or others. That MMORPG would be a winner, I have no doubt of that.
08/10/2004 (11:35 am)
I think the appeal to me would be an MMORPG that wasn't so serious. Everything about MMORPG's now days involve in game politics, problems with economy, career disillusionment. For instance, a 62st level druid that can't get in a group, guild, and figures out after 62 levels, they don't enjoy playing a druid anymore.If I wanted to play a game that so closely resembled real life, I would already be playing it at my day job.
My fantasy 'Mario MMORPG' would focus on 'fun', it would be fast paced and furious. Imagine unleashing your pet, that would be the size of a boss in the Zelda series and letting it reak havok on NPC's or others. That MMORPG would be a winner, I have no doubt of that.
#8
08/13/2004 (12:18 am)
But wouldn't that get boring after 5 minutes? Current MMORPGs have politics and economies etc to keep the world interesting.
#9
08/13/2004 (9:28 am)
@ Anthony - You know, you could always try designing a complete fantasy of your own! That's the joy of being an independant developer - take your imagination and run with it!
#10
You could build these fortresses either in a player kind of level design area, or you could build these in the world to protect goods and item blocks that you find and hoard. (these goods and item blocks would not leave the map area, but would provide powerful buffs and a daily supply of items that could be taken outside the zone, these item blocks and special equipments would have to be guarded or hidden, lest other players take them away.
Also other players could attempt to ransack these fortresses, unless you create them in a safe location there would be a variety of players who could try and claim your fortress. Another idea i had was that you could gain a ton of power ups and items that could only be used in that area, for instance there ccould be permanent items that you could find in a world map zone, but you could not levave the zone with them, instead you would have to hide them within fortresses, or other parts of the map in order to make sure noone finds them.
03/12/2013 (3:12 pm)
i love this idea, i had a very similiar idea of this myself. here some ideas i had for the mario world. I also envisioned the ability to build your own blocky castle or domain. I envisioned that when you broke blocks or other structures you could achieve portions of the materials of that area, kind of like minecraft. But you could either do things with them like blocky castles in a mario esque kind of minecraft way, or you could save up your materials and use stencils to create more intricate premade, or other generated creations. You could also enchant your blocks so they would move, you could try and make your own kind of levels and these would all be permanent structures that would be built in the freezone maps in the game. The map would be big for sure, however there would be natural elements that could wash off, burn away, or just blow down these contraptions if they were not upkept well. You could create your own kind of levels for training or just fun, you could catch enemies and bring them to your fortress tamed to you but hostile to others (unles it is a especially ferocious crreature.) ...in regard to your creature ideas, i really enjoy them, i had originally thought that my creatures would be those you tamed, but the idea to customize your creature would be more interesting in many aspects, Having a boss creature did occur to me, but it would only happen if you were able to defeat a powerful boss yourself in a taming way. This could be changed of course. You could build these fortresses either in a player kind of level design area, or you could build these in the world to protect goods and item blocks that you find and hoard. (these goods and item blocks would not leave the map area, but would provide powerful buffs and a daily supply of items that could be taken outside the zone, these item blocks and special equipments would have to be guarded or hidden, lest other players take them away.
Also other players could attempt to ransack these fortresses, unless you create them in a safe location there would be a variety of players who could try and claim your fortress. Another idea i had was that you could gain a ton of power ups and items that could only be used in that area, for instance there ccould be permanent items that you could find in a world map zone, but you could not levave the zone with them, instead you would have to hide them within fortresses, or other parts of the map in order to make sure noone finds them.
#11
03/12/2013 (3:13 pm)
i have alot more ideas but i couldnt mega post so if you want to talk just send me a message. 
#12
03/12/2013 (8:48 pm)
The original post was nine years ago. 
Jeffrey Rodriguez