What would fellow fans like to see in the next Oddworld game(s)?

[Michael]

I was wondering, in addition to game mechanics, what would you guys like to see in terms of story?

I cant remember where I read it, but some time ago I read a teaser I think by Lorne; it was very cryptic, but suggested to me that a new story may involve insanity as a plot direction. Whether I was simply reading too much into it or not, this got me thinking- what would you get if you crossed Oddworld with Arkham Asylum? After all, I'd imagine many Muds are driven mad by the trials of slavery!

On another note, I had an idea myself ages ago- I understand the storyline with Sam and the mudokon eggs unfortunately made the cutting room floor, where the eggs are bought by industrialists for cheap labour. But what happens to them whilst they are children? Naturally, the glukkons would need somewhere to provide them with a basic education, most likely somewhere other than the main factories. How about Abe has to infiltrate a victorian-style workhouse guarded by slig overseers, where the mudokon kids are always being forced under dangerous machinery to clean (akin to common practice in the victorian era)?

Just a couple ideas, it'd be interesting to hear others

[Stranger4002]

Can you imagine Tom Kenny doing voices for OW? *shudders* No thanks.

Arrgh; I know what you mean, hes one of the few big name voice actors I dislike.

OWI always resisted hiring professional voice artists because they wanted to use the characters for multiple games over a long period of time and that would put a massive amount of power in the actor's hands. Imagine if they got to the last game in the quintology and the actor said "I'm not coming in unless you pay me ten million dollars!". They'd be absolutely hamstrung, because the fans would associate the characters with the voices and would be upset if anything changed.

True; but I can't imagine all big name actors being like that, for example...Michael Caine apparently takes almost any role given to him purely because he loves acting. I'm not sure if he'd be a good choice for OW; but I'm just saying I'm sure not all actors are in it solely for the money.

But; that being said, Lorne is certainly one hell of a voice actor. I was really surprised when I heard he voiced the whole cast of AO. :P

[Abe'a'zull]

I'd like to see something really weird in next games (something like artworks at the end credits of "making of" Abe's Oddysee - those arts are so deep, they got my heart).

[Jordan]

That reminded me - I hope they continue to do those group shots with everyone who worked on the game they did for AO, AE and MO. They were pretty awesome.

[T-nex]

I hope they will open up their fanclub again and send out christmas cards!

[GABBITS OWN]

That reminded me - I hope they continue to do those group shots with everyone who worked on the game they did for AO, AE and MO. They were pretty awesome.

Like in MO they had abe munch in the middle and everybody around them

[Crashpunk]

I don't want Boss fights. thats one thing.

[Jordan]

Like in MO they had abe munch in the middle and everybody around them

Yep. That's it. 'Cept it's just Munch in the middle, there's no Abe.

[Daxter King]

I don't want Boss fights. thats one thing.

If they release a game along the lines of Stranger's Wrath then they have to have boss fights, too many shooters don't put them in or make them QTEs. SW's bosses were great from what I can recall.

[Sekto Springs]

Yeah, they pulled that off well in SW. They went with the MGS approach and made each mission about the boss, as opposed to just tacking one at the end of every "level".

[Fischkopf]

Default What would fellow fans like to see in the next Oddworld game(s)?

Definately ABE. I wanna play ABE again
And i want Abes Oddyssee, Exoddus style gameplay.

[Goresplatter]

I think it would be cool if the next 'quintology hero' was reversed - he has no idea who he is, and the game switches between playing a little of his every day life (without explaining why it is happening) and the old heroes trying to seek out the new chosen one, given only cryptic clues by The Almighty Raisin or Bigface.

This would be especially effective if the hero was something with seemingly little individuality. Like a single Slig (almost indistinguishable from the others - make sure you don't kill the next hero on your travels!) just working his rounds, unaware of his potential impact on the whole of Oddworld. Or even a Glukkon, who could turn environmentalist upon realising his spiritual connections. Maybe even a captive Paramite or Scrab that could nonetheless do something extremely important in the fate of Oddworld. Or a Meech!

This sort of mysterious plotline and encouragement of free-roaming gameplay is what I think the OW universe could benefit from. So many excellent and scenic locations - I think that with a 3D engine, too much potential is lost with linear gameplay.

So ideally, I guess, it would be a little like Munch's Oddysee but with the atmosphere of the first two games, much darker and more depressing, with free-roaming and deeper gameplay. Travel around the world, free Mudokons. Over 3000 to save throughout tens of factories and establishments - watch them go bankrupt as you steal all their workers. A bit like GTA I guess, with an underlying goal but tons of activities otherwise.

Oh yeah - and NO HEALTH BARS. That was stupid as hell in MO.

-

Other than that, I think some kind of business heirarchy game as a Glukkon would be neat. Like a mix between Dungeon Keeper and Sim Tower (if anyone played that) - build a factory, make it successful, add stuff, hire more Sligs, lock it up tight against certain terrorists, etc. Basically a level editor for the first two games, but you have to make levels that resist Abe rather than play as him. But thinking of putting floating mines and electric barriers everywhere? Well those things cost Moolah you know! You've got a business to run!

[Michael]

@ Goresplatter, i really like the idea of a level editor building your own factory! It would really benefit from some kind of money system like you said, to purchase defences and upgrade sligs etc.

How about throwing in some LittleBigPlanet-esque online?- what if you could upload your level to a server, where other fans could play as Abe and try their best to beat your security and reach an end point? With this trial and error relationship between creator and fans, it'd be fun to try to improve on the flaws in your design to create something truly impenetrable

[GlukkonGluk]

some time ago I read a teaser I think by Lorne; it was very cryptic, but suggested to me that a new story may involve insanity as a plot direction.

I suspect that was a reference to The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot. THe main character, Fangus, was going to have rabies that got steadily worse as the game progressed, or something along those lines. Doesn't matter, it never happened anyway.

[STM]

I think an RTS would be good as well like what Michael said

[Michael]

@GlukkonGluk,

I completely forgot about Fangus Klot, yeah you're probably right! Even so, I still think it'd be cool if they did explore the inside of an Oddworld insane asylum

[Slag?]

Do you think Jaw and OWI are reading this?
Hopefully...
D:

Anyways, Just as everyone has been saying, Munch's oddysee was a step up in some areas and a step down in others. It'd be nice if they could make it less child-friendly. The Oddworld feel you got from AO and AE was lost in MO, And thats the main thing I hope they fix.

[jmchandler]

I would like to see the quintology continued, Munch's Exoddus, and a Stranger's Wraith sequel.

[Hazel-Rah]

I thought Abe's Exodus had boss fights, right wouldn't you count the Glukkons? Man come to think of it Abe's Exodus had more gameplay in it than a lot of today's game.

Anyway I'd like to see: dark rhyming narration with Abe's somber voice in the cutscenes, creative boss battles, Abe and Munch back in glorious 2.5D, a new character (hopefully Squeak), etc.

Oh and perhaps the ability to use some of the Mudokon weapons from MO, I don't want them to act like that game never happened, but it should still only take one hit to kill Abe.

But whatever it's Oddworld, as long as it's not some cheap slap-stick five minute game with cel-shaded graphics and lots of product placement I'll be happy

[Daxter King]

It has to have Abe, or its not an Oddworld game.

[Hazel-Rah]

Abe's a pretty cool guy.

[Xavier]

It has to have Abe, or its not an Oddworld game.

I rather have another Stranger's Wrath than another Munch's Oddysee

[lycaon17]

I want a story where Abe enters a truly metropolitan area of Mudos to rescue Mudokons from the slums of it while penetrating the facilities and, buildings, and some cases living quarters of the Glukkons, which are infested with Slogs and Fleeches. 2.5D game to reintroduce Oddworld to what made it so uniquely amazing. Side-scrolling the streets of a Glukkon city just sounds so hot to me, obviously heading back to the wilderness and later on discovering a Mudokon strong-hold, or a Mudokon like City. Also sometime in the future Abe should meet Stranger.

[The Crappin' Elum]

What about some super powers for abe, something beside the enchanting powers and shrykull(dunno' how it's spelled)....anyways, i would also want to see a female hero in the game other than just male!

[Xavier]

Yep, Abe shooting lasers from his eyes is definitely something we need.

[Wil]

I want to play as the Raisin. I want to be able to have him roll around Oddworld with things sticking to him until he gradually becomes a bigger and bigger ball of things. Eventually the Raisin-ball becomes so big he can reach Abe's Moon and change it to look like his own handprint, thus becoming the real Chosen People.

[Josh]

NA-NAAAAAA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NAAAAA - ODDWORLD DAMACY.

[shaman]

Let's shoot for " I want it to be released".

[luke3212]

2D [Using a 1337 super-megalol-modernised alive engine]
Abe as protoganist [ofc]
Better AI [AI Was quite good, but moar sophisticated AI would be shweet]
Ideas from fans [Not the retarded ones]
The same motherfucking artist who made the backgrounds for AO and AE []
Keep the dark atmosphere, dont make the outside theme like sunny or anything
Gore [BLOOOD]
Funny quotes to refer to.
"Hello" and "Follow me" to stay.
The difficulty, with some reverse psychological traps disgused as ones the player would assume is the same as the ones from the older games; But isn't.

Keeping the plebby atmosphere that oddworld will never lose, ofc

[Hazel-Rah]

The difficulty, with some reverse psychological traps disgused as ones the player would assume is the same as the ones from the older games; But isn't.

I agree, I hope they include a few references to the original games so fans of the Abe games can feel 'leet.

What about vehicles? You guys think there should be an airship level?