Video Game dreams

Here. A thread to discuss video game ideas, games we would want to see. How is this that this topic hasn't come up before?

To start things off, I'd like to propose a first person shooter. Normally I don't like FPS; they've become too generic. Same weapon types, same story, just different settings (ie, you play one, you've played them all). Not so with the idea I got yesterday while watching Steve play Bioshock.

If this idea is an actual game, then by gawd someone tell me what it's called.

It begins, as with some games, a narration. No movie or animation, but rather of still images moving across the screen or clashing. The narration tells of a timeless struggle between good and evil, and how the demon hordes that are pushing through into our world (takes place in modern times), with the demons fully absorbing this dimension (as they have done in countless others) when the Queen of the Damned (no relation to Anne Rice) gives birth to the bastard demon child. Throughout the ages, there have been a select few who knew of this struggle, and who have fought against it... and now, it is up to you...

Okay, see? Simple enough premise. Yes, it's been done before, but the only real difference is that it is only you, no army or group of defenders supporting you. If the demon hordes knew of your existence, the fight would be that much harder. Got it? Good, carrying on then.

Game play is a cross between a FPS and an RPG. This is because there are elements of investigating and fact finding / interactions that you'll need to do as you track down the whereabouts of the Queen. There should be a gear limit, based on size of items and or weight. The whole game takes place in a major city, say... New York. You'll have your base of operations within some long abandoned station within the sewers or something. Items, such as weapons, armor, or gear can be acquired wither by buying them or by stealing / looting. Side quests involve things ranging from vigilante type missions to breaking-and-entering. Raid drug houses, police stations, whatever... there is no moral high ground here because the fate of the entire world is at stake; however, certain actions will cause things to happen. If you lean towards the negative aspect of things, the police will hunt you down... if you become too good, the demons will become more aware of your presence.

So far, pretty standard stuff, wouldn't you say?

Taxis and buses allow you to fast travel. You can operate vehicles from bicycles and mopeds to cars. There would also be a messenger service, either through email, dead drops, or one of those bicycle operated messengers. You would also create a character based on several archtypes (urban explorer, thug, executive, and so on), each with their own perks and hinderances... but because of the RPG elements, you could borrow traits.

Seems a bit like Elder Scrolls, but more modernized, don't it? Okay then, here's where it gets interesting (because I'm sure all of you are wondering just how the hell is this game any different).

The difference is, you're insane. This whole thing about demons taking over the world? All in your head. Depending on the archtype chosen, there was a specific thing that had happened to you that made you snap. Executive? You lost everything in the market. Thug? A job gone bad, you witnessed a bloodbath. Whatever, because no matter what, it was your fault, you caused it to happen. Your mind is snapped, gone, buh-bye. You created the whole demon thing to help you cope; after all, if you saw your world destroyed, why, it had to be supernatural / demonic in nature.

Those demons you've been killing throughout the game? You've been becoming a rather notorious serial killer. Not a mass murderer... a serial killer. You've been killing a specific type of person, over and over and over. The person? Why, they look a lot like your wife... you're very pregnant wife... the wife that left you when your world turned to shit. And you've been tracking her down this whole entire time, to pay her back for leaving you when you needed her the most.

Well? Could this be a game, or what? Oh, you don't know that this is the truth until the end (duh).

  

You know what I would like to see in games? A return of naming your save files. Here's an example:

Been playing Skyrim a lot lately. I've been focusing on exploration and side / miscellaneous mission completions. However, it is quickly getting to the point where I'll be starting the main mission soon... but that's beside the point.

One of the DLCs is Dawnguard, a series of missions and extra story that involves vampires returning in a big way. I started this quest mainly to gain some new weapons; I stumbled upon the Dawnguard's fortress quite by accident, and found out how wonderful the crossbow is. Doing some missions in order for the blacksmith functions to appear at the fort so I can buy more bolts.

At one point, and I own't say what, but you save a trapped woman. You take her back home, only to have her father reward you, and the only thing he has that is worth his daughter's safe return is his blood. You see, he's a lord vampire. Drink, and you become a Lord Vampire as well, complete with shape shifting abilities, magic, and a new skill tree. Don't drink, and the vampires will treat you as prey (but he'll give you safe passage out of his domain). Press the O button to exit the choice / dialogue menu, and he'll see that as a negative.

It's here the naming save files would be nice. As it is, I have two saved games now, one as a vampire, one as a vampire slayer. Easy enough to maintain the distinction, but what happens later on when there's another choice to be made? As in, with the Companions? One vampire file, one werewolf file, one human file.

Sure would beat having to backtrack through the auto-saves.