Massively multiplayer Grand Theft Auto?

[MaceVanHoffen]

I saw an interesting bit on Slashdot:

Voodoo Extreme has the story that earlier this week Grand Theft Auto creator David Jones announced the upcoming release of APB, a massively multiplayer game in the vein of Grand Theft Auto. It won't be out until 2007, but will make an appearance at E3 this year. Business Wire has details on the game's developer, Webzen, as well. The company sounds as if it's going to be making a major push into the market. From the article: "In addition to APB, Webzen, Inc. plans to bring multiple online game titles to the U.S. market. The titles include the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), SUN, releasing in the third quarter of 2005, and a massively multiplayer online first person shooter (MMOFPS) called Huxley, that leverages the latest Unreal 3 game engine and is scheduled to release in 2006."

The linked article on Voodoo Extreme is somewhat interesting.

Even if it's not a game I would personally enjoy, I think this is an intriguing idea.  It would be quite a feat to capture the open-world flavor of the GTA series in a massive environment.

My burning question is more fundamental, though:  Destined For Vaporware or The Next Big Thing?

[HaemishM]

Both.  :-D

I think it would be fun and interesting. I'm also sure the player base would make me want to go on a spork-wielding, eye-gouging killing spree of epic proportions through every baggy-pantsed, urban-talking poseur suburban white kid gangsta wannabe on the planet.

Y0.

[WayAbvPar]

But the thought of kiilling the little bastards is just SO appealing....

[AcidCat]

I saw an interesting bit on Slashdot:

a massively multiplayer online first person shooter (MMOFPS) called Huxley, that leverages the latest Unreal 3 game engine and is scheduled to release in 2006."

That sounds even more interesting.

[Morfiend]

I'm also sure the player base would make me want to go on a spork-wielding, eye-gouging killing spree of epic proportions through every baggy-pantsed, urban-talking poseur suburban white kid gangsta wannabe on the planet.

This was the first thing that poped in to my head also. People think the Blizzard fans are bad. Wait till little Timmy from the burbs hits online at p1Mp/\/\astad00d. Oh this could be horrible.

[schild]

If I can, quite literally, pop a cap in little timmy's face and then beat the shit out of his mom with a tire iron - sign me up.

[HaemishM]

Timmy's mom not included.

[schild]

Timmy's mom not included.

sigh.

[Furiously]

I think a cops and robbers PvP set could be a ton of fun.  I wonder if you can get a bulletproof vest of +5 mph speed?

[MaceVanHoffen]

NARF!

A game like this just screams for open pvp.  It's also one of the few game concepts I can think of where constant warfare makes sense (insert reference to Haemish's well-written diatribe on the subject).  However, I'm starting to wonder how this game will keep interest in it alive after the first few months.

This could be just me, but ... I think most players play games to escape reality, not live in it or some stylized version of it.  After beating up your umpteenth crack whore and busting your 1 millionth cap in some newbies /\$$, most players will start to realize that it's too much like the real world and move on.  There's no Lord British, elves, nanite-enhanced colonists, or caped crusaders in the game.  There's just exaggerated, stereotyped thugs and cops, all doing things that make the 6pm news.  Harumpf.

Then again, maybe the playerbase will get so addicted to nonstop pwnage.  Meh.

[Krakrok]

This could be just me, but ... I think most players play games to escape reality, not live in it or some stylized version of it.

People that play sports games. They'll keep the interest alive by making it an addictive grind.

[MaceVanHoffen]

People that play sports games...

Quite right ... I should have said,  "... play MMO games to escape reality."  I play lots of simpler, single-player games over and over again.  I suppose it's just in MMO games that I'm looking for more immersion and an escape from my humdrum software nerd existence.

[TheWalrus]

Pinky and the Brain Onliine? I'm in.

[Calantus]

After beating up your umpteenth crack whore and busting your 1 millionth cap in some newbies /\$$, most players will start to realize that it's too much like the real world and move on.

I don't know where the fuck you live, but that doesn't sound anything like my life. :P

Seriously though, games to me are doing things I can't do in real life. Personally I would never go around killing and beating people up for no reason IRL so a MMOG set in the real world where I can do so would fit the definition.

[Samwise]

I always thought MMO GTA would be grand if they could do it without latency.  Not sure how you'd swing that, though.

[Fabricated]

This game won't end well if it ever makes it to beta, or god forbid, release.

Imagine stealing a car, then getting carjacked, then watching the carjacker get carjacked after driving 5 feet, then THAT carjacker gets car jacked 5 feet later, then...

Yeah, this is a really fucking bad idea.

[Samwise]

I suspect carjacking would be pretty tough in a PvP setting.  Most of the cars in the single-player game slow down when you stand in front of them, which is what allows you to jack them.  It's impossible to jack a car that speeds past or is actively trying to run you over.

In PvP, car jacks you!

[HaemishM]

After beating up your umpteenth crack whore and busting your 1 millionth cap in some newbies /\$$, most players will start to realize that it's too much like the real world and move on.

I don't know where the fuck you live, but that doesn't sound anything like my life. :P

Chances are, the suburban white kids who dress with baggy pants and hang out at the mall's food court waiting to battle rap someone gangsta style won't have a life like anything closely approximating that either. Which is what will make it so attractive, as escapism. Think Malibu's Most Wanted Online.

[Furiously]

It's really all about goals.

For me I think it would be:
1. Saying, "Out of the car longhair!"
2. Arresting someone, waiting until they get out of jail. Tailing them, then arresting them 5 seconds later when they try to steal another car.

[HaemishM]

You missed part 3:

3. Screaming "Got NUTHIN' BUT LUV 4 U, BABY!" when you do it.

[Riggswolfe]

God help the poor guy who decides making an Indian cab driver will be fun.

[Paelos]

This kind of game would make we want to be a cop. All the time. And not the type of cop that's in real life. The Shield type cop that sizzles your face on a grill to get answers.

EDIT: Typos pwnz0r me

[Rodent]

This kind of game would make we want to be a cop. All the time. And not the type of cop that's in real life. The Shield type cop that sizzles your face on a grill to get answers.

EDIT: Typos pwnz0r me

Perhaps a future expansion? I agree wholeheartidly though, bustin kneecaps for justice beats grove street yo.

[Alkiera]

Heh, they could work out a crossover deal with Cryptic, so you could fly arround and firestorm punks in baggy pants who steal cars...  That'd rock.

Alkiera

[Big Gulp]

For me I think it would be:
1. Saying, "Out of the car longhair!"

I wonder if I can be a library cop?

" '71. That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries.  Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abby Hoffman telling everybody to steal books. I don't judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public Library, fella. "

" Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y'know that little stamp, the one that says "New York Public Library"? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot.  Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before:  Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. What's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book, right now, in a branch at the local library and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees on the Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers?  Doesn't HE deserve better? Look. If you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you'd better think again. This is about that kid's right to read a book without getting his mind warped! Or: maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld; maybe that's how y'get your kicks. You and your good-time buddies. Well I got a flash for ya, joy-boy: Party time is over. Y'got seven days, Seinfeld. That is one week! "

[schild]

Now THAT was a good episode.


"It was tropic of capricorn! Tropic of capricooooooooooooorn!"

"can'tstandya can'tstandya"

Heh, ok, I'm done with that.

[Calantus]

hang out at the mall's food court waiting to battle rap someone gangsta style

Wait... people actually do that? I thought is was just music video bullshit? Please, please let it be music video bullshit.

[Big Gulp]

Wait... people actually do that? I thought is was just music video bullshit? Please, please let it be music video bullshit.

Don't make me break out my old skool Fat Boys beatbox on yo' punk ass.