The wide-open future of the open world action genre.
- Thread starter Timber
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Lionheart1827
Member
Imagine an open world game that had a Chrono Trigger time travel style aspect. Doesn't have to be a modern setting either, could be a completely original world. Even if it was like Chrono Cross where it was just 2 separate times.
I remember somebody mentioning also a Blade Runner-esque style GTA or a game that is set in the near future. That could be awesome.
I remember somebody mentioning also a Blade Runner-esque style GTA or a game that is set in the near future. That could be awesome.
AppleBlade
Member
I'm a fan of open world games, but as much fun as they are, they are also the genre that usually leaves me with the longest list of improvements. In general though, I'd like to see some open world games to go into this direction:
1. Smaller, more detailed worlds. I don't really see the point of some of these worlds being so damn big. Just more cookie cutter filler to make the travel time between objectives longer. I want an open world game that is big enough for me to get lost in the first time I play it, but I want to know it as well as I know my neighborhood by the end.
2. No hud-game maps with routes. I hate open-world games where I'm driving and instead of looking at the game screen, I end up staring at a stupid mini-map in the lower hand corner that has an route drawn on it. If your world is so complicated that this is the only way to get from point A to point B, then that means your environments are not distinctive enough and your world is probably too big.
3. Less generic cookie cutter pedestrians and more unique NPC's. I understand that it takes a lot more work but again, I'd trade the number of pedistrians in a typical open-world game for 1/10 that number if they were all unique and felt like they had a purpose instead of just a randomly generated model walking around aimlessly saying the same comments over and over.
4. Mission structure needs to evolve. I'm tired of the whole missions are given by glowing characters stuff. I want to feel like I'm in a real live world. Have stuff happen to me. Have the missions come and find me. Have me get kidnapped while I'm driving around. Have me get home and realize my home was ransacked and then have me proceed on an investigation.
1. Smaller, more detailed worlds. I don't really see the point of some of these worlds being so damn big. Just more cookie cutter filler to make the travel time between objectives longer. I want an open world game that is big enough for me to get lost in the first time I play it, but I want to know it as well as I know my neighborhood by the end.
2. No hud-game maps with routes. I hate open-world games where I'm driving and instead of looking at the game screen, I end up staring at a stupid mini-map in the lower hand corner that has an route drawn on it. If your world is so complicated that this is the only way to get from point A to point B, then that means your environments are not distinctive enough and your world is probably too big.
3. Less generic cookie cutter pedestrians and more unique NPC's. I understand that it takes a lot more work but again, I'd trade the number of pedistrians in a typical open-world game for 1/10 that number if they were all unique and felt like they had a purpose instead of just a randomly generated model walking around aimlessly saying the same comments over and over.
4. Mission structure needs to evolve. I'm tired of the whole missions are given by glowing characters stuff. I want to feel like I'm in a real live world. Have stuff happen to me. Have the missions come and find me. Have me get kidnapped while I'm driving around. Have me get home and realize my home was ransacked and then have me proceed on an investigation.
AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
The future of every game is more blending between genres, especially with rpg elements.
Nealand Liquor
Member
I really believe, or really hope (take your pick), the future of open world games will focus on total destructibility of everything in the game. How much cooler would and GTA have been if you could drop a skyscraper or set the city ablaze?
Lionheart1827 said:
That's a seriously awesome idea, I'm not big into open world/sandbox games (need a bit more of a sense of purpose/direction) but I'd definitely play a GTA/CT hybrid.
OP: I see open-worlds shrinking and becoming more content-rich next gen, especially due to asset creation.
Neither do I. As much as I love the genre, there aren't many games that allow you to interact with a world beyond the usual killin and explodin. In just about every open world game I play I find myself wishing I wasn't window shopping all the time. Red Dead Redemption was a step forward with its side quests, treasure hunts, inventory system and unique items, and Bully sidestepped the generic NPC problem by not allowing the player to kill anyone and by having a relatively small map. Many of the NPCs you'd pass by had names and actual personalities. That still hasn't been emulated.zoner said:
astroturfing
Member
snoopeasystreet said:
didn't we get a semi-confirmation from the first game's composer Shawn Lee that he's making the Bully 2 soundtrack? like 1-2 years ago.. i could be wrong though.
oh man i want Bully 2 badly. it has to come. hopefully it'll be a smaller open world again, but with tons of detail and fun stuff to do. better skateboard controls is a must!
BobsRevenge
I do not avoid women, GAF, but I do deny them my essence.
I'm not big on Just Cause 2. It gets pretty samey. I should probably pick up some mods to spice it up, but I'm just not motivated.
revolverjgw
Member
astroturfing said:
Yes we did. Also needs to be mentioned that that is possibly the greatest soundtrack ever. I just put a bunch of tracks from it on my Walkman as part of a summer mix. It's just so good.
east of eastside
Banned
Transformers G1 open world game on next gen hardware. Takes place between Cybertron and Earth. Huge, vast expanse of exploration that can be navigated through transforming, duh.
King of the Potato People
Member
Tighter storytelling... well I don't even know if it's possible to spread a tight story over a huge, sandbox world but RDR (Probably RS' best game) felt like the story never wanted to end. Numerous people thought it was one of those games that ends with no credits.
Boombloxer
Member
Timber said:
Joke post? AC sells 8 million every year.
disappeared
Banned
Ten years after GTAIII started the boom, and in 2011 I can still usually only go into a dozen or so buildings in an entire city/map.
As fun as open-world gaming has been, I'd really like to see a push to model more interior environments. Let me run into the odd apartment building or two and explore and see what NPCs are up to in their apartments. I want to peer out the window back out onto the street I was just running down. Let me be able to walk into a home and such. Not every interior has to have a functioning mission, quest, or purpose, but it just adds a little more depth to an experience.
I think so much detail is being put on the outside, so we can say "boy that sure looks nice!" but it's just a really pretty-looking texture. There's been hardly any substance to what we're actually seeing when we walk or drive by most areas.
Furthermore, why are most developers more concerned with how expansive they can make their map or city, and not instead focusing on perhaps a smaller but more detailed environment? I'd gladly sacrifice an entire island in Liberty City's map (GTAIV) if it had meant that Nico could enter more buildings and interact with the environment more often.
As fun as open-world gaming has been, I'd really like to see a push to model more interior environments. Let me run into the odd apartment building or two and explore and see what NPCs are up to in their apartments. I want to peer out the window back out onto the street I was just running down. Let me be able to walk into a home and such. Not every interior has to have a functioning mission, quest, or purpose, but it just adds a little more depth to an experience.
I think so much detail is being put on the outside, so we can say "boy that sure looks nice!" but it's just a really pretty-looking texture. There's been hardly any substance to what we're actually seeing when we walk or drive by most areas.
Furthermore, why are most developers more concerned with how expansive they can make their map or city, and not instead focusing on perhaps a smaller but more detailed environment? I'd gladly sacrifice an entire island in Liberty City's map (GTAIV) if it had meant that Nico could enter more buildings and interact with the environment more often.
Saints Row 3 is on path to be the real sequel to San Andreas that I've dreamed of since it came out. Hopefully it'll be the best open world game action game yet with all the insanity it will have.
But I would like some more new IPs. I understand it's probably too costly and demanding to make a good open world game though and devs and pubs are too lazy and want the quickest buck.
Next gen I'm hoping there will be a lot more RAM to get these types of games to have more stuff and maybe have more interiors.
But I would like some more new IPs. I understand it's probably too costly and demanding to make a good open world game though and devs and pubs are too lazy and want the quickest buck.
Next gen I'm hoping there will be a lot more RAM to get these types of games to have more stuff and maybe have more interiors.
les papillons sexuels
Banned
I wish open world games allowed players more creativity in tackling a mission. I've always wanted to set up a rube goldberg type reaction to complete a mission and so far I've yet to really encouter a game that allows me to do that, the closest being hitman. Overall I think the size of the worlds are too big, I'd say they should be shruken down a touch and include more things to interact and use.
Maybe flush the enviroment out a bit more too, add more building you can enter and more detail to a smaller limited area.
Maybe flush the enviroment out a bit more too, add more building you can enter and more detail to a smaller limited area.