Storyline games

[Specter]

How about a game with a deep storyline,where it continues during seperate games(like halo did,I dont like halo,but I know they did it).I know some games have them yearly,but what if there were storyline games twice a month,or once a month so we could somewhat remember the details without needing to read them all.It could start off like any old mil-sim game in lets say....January,and at eh end of that game your evac helicopter get shot down and your radio(s) are all shot to hell,thus ending the first "chapter" of that storyline.In febuary the game could continue where you needed to look for a ride outta where ever you are,but get captured and that ends the second "chapter".By the time july comes the story coulda twisted so much the setting would be on mars,or there could be a zombie outbreak,or the world lost all forms of goverment and theres certain stuff you need to do in order to change the storyline again.

Just a suggestion to spice things up a bit....

[Batman]

What you are talking about is a scripted game. Some games already are that way (Michigan anyone?)

They suck, because you can be totaly kicking arse & all the sudden allong comes some OC to say "Wait it, um, you need to loose this firefight & get pushed back down over here."

[seppuku]

I agree with Batman; there's a thin line between scripted and continuous/ongoing events. I like the idea of having regular games that progress a dynamic storyline - especially if they're tailored for chairsofters like myself - but I wouldn't find much enjoyment in participating a game with a predetermined outcome, just so the next game in the "series" can take place as planned.

[Specter]

No no no,I mean it changes as you go on.You wouldn't need to loose any firefights at all.You could have a certain objective and if you dont complete it it could alter the next game.

So it could be like:
"blow up those nukes"
If you dont-the next game the nukes could blow up half of europe,so you'll be sent there to stop some looting or riots and such.
If you do-There wouldnt be any blowing up of europe.

[PAC102]

Sound cool, I'd go to it.

[A-Ron]

What you are talking about is a scripted game. Some games already are that way (Michigan anyone?)...
CUT CUT CUT!!!
Oh fun times.... Nothing like kicking ass only to b told to go back and let them come up the stairs.


Specter -

I see what you want to do, and you probably already know this if you don't heres the dirty side of it.

Storyline games, while fun, have to be thought out VERY extensively.
You have to think of every possible outcome that could happen, and incorporate that into your outline of the game.

Take your "Europe blowing up" example...
Outcome A - Europe blows up, you lose points for not gathering the nuclear devices, and now you are in a post apocalyptic world where you must now try to stop riots and looting.
Your new missions are Charlie, Delta, and Foxtrot missions.
-If Charlie happens, then Echo goes into effect
-If Foxtrot happens, then Zulu goes into effect
-If Delta happens, then November goes into effect.
--Once Echo is in effect, mission 134 must be played out in order to gain success of outcome Alpha1
... And so fourth....

Outcome B - Europe does not blow up, you've sucessfully gained control of the nuclear devices, but now the terrorist cell has moved a secluded part of Amsterdam.
Your new missions are Charlie, Delta, and Foxtrot missions.
-If Charlie happens, then Echo goes into effect
-If Foxtrot happens, then Zulu goes into effect
-If Delta happens, then November goes into effect.
--Once Echo is in effect, mission 134 must be played out in order to gain success of outcome Alpha1
... And so fourth....




Oh god.. There's just too much to think of IMO when trying to run an op like that. You have to sit and plan out every worst case scenario, and plan to make the game that much more interesting.
Not to mention how you would have to retain all the knowledge so that once Delta happens, and November goes into effect, you know within a split second what is to happen next.
That or you have it extremely readily available on a clipboard or something so as not to effect game play time, and not cause lag.



Possible? Heck yeah! But you'd REALLY need to sit and do your homework for the game.

[Specter]

Oh dont worry,I think I could think of some serious messed up outcomes....

A-ron your on the same page as I am with the alpha foxtrot zulu thing.I wouldn't force someone to lose a fight if their winning,or having to let some people up the stairs,because that would ruin any type of suprise.
I'm a big gamer,and two games come to mind when I talk about outcome.Upcoming mass effect,and metal gear solid 3,but since mass effect isnt out till the 20th,i'll lean towards examples from mgs 3.My memory is actually foggyfrom the last time i lpay mgs 3,but i know theres instances where if theres a fork in the road,the left road will be different from the right one,but the sniper boss is what jumps to mind.The end is his name,and you can actually face him in an actually battle,or take him out earlier in the game.So here's is my actualy point:

While spying on a group of enemies(with the end in the group),from afar you can decide to snipe him then,thus you wont have to face him later.If you don't kill him,he will go inside a compoundy thing,and your gonna have a hell of a sniper fight with him later.....
*If you snipe him there from afar-Your going to have to kill 10 super enemies in place of the end.
*If you let him live-Your going to have to fight him later and his annoying parrot.

What im trying to say is nobody should know what's going to happen next.Obviously during the game if you complete one objective your gonna need to have a few more to toss at them before the game ends,and eventually give the players some major decisions like wiping out an entire colony or saving it.The possibilities are nearly endless(well,not endless).

Remember,this is just an idea,I dont want to start an argument over the fact the host is going to have to do some serious planning so the games not half-a**'d so they could host a game,etc etc....