Oddworld MMORPG?

[Ajiellyn]

I've had this little idea locked away for a long time. I've even tried posting it once or twice, and whenever I did have the courage to suggest it, something would happen to the post, it'd get deleted somehow and I'd have to write it over, which I wasn't interested in doing.

... Anyway. Furcadia. If you've heard of it before, dandy goings. If not, it is, in my opinion, the best mmosg out there because the system requirements are so low, and it is so customizable. Don't like the walking animal theme? Make your own. In this case, it's Oddworld.

This isn't any special idea, the idea is easy to come by, maybe someone's had it before. The problem is getting it done, which can take lots of effort. Furcadia is a client that is basically a graphic chatroom. You can make your own 'worlds' (called 'dreams') in Furcadia by drawing up the avatars and items for the world. If an Oddworld one was made, it could be used for casual chatting, or roleplay.

Before anyone asks, no, I'm not trying to replace the forums. I think it would help roleplay a lot though, it's kind of like an oddchat with a view up top. I plan a range of species avatars: Mudokons, Sligs, Scrabs, Paramites, Glukkons; I think there are enough species spaces to hold them all, at least the most popular ones.

Here are two screenshots from the sketch dream I'm working on:




This isn't a solo project; I'll do it alone if I really must, but if anyone is interested in helping out, I really appreciate it! If you're really good with pixel art or making sprites, or if by chance you do have experience with Furcadia dreamweaving, that would be of great help, too!

On a less optimistic perspective, there is a chance that people might just hate this idea (I don't know, I was afraid of it from the start), but I won't go through the work making this if no one is going to use it. If this project was opened up, would you be interested? I need feedback on this one. :d I'll give more information about Furcadia and dream plans on this thread if people are intersted. Also, if you're interested, GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS. Criticism, changes, suggestions, I can't make a great thing that people from here will enjoy if I'm doing it with stitched eyes!

Thanks for reading, please let me know what you think!

[Nepharski]

Security! We've got a Scrab loose in the control tower!



Interesting propositon. Too bad I'm a total slacker and no nothing about programing and whatnot, or I might have been able to offer some assistance.

Nice idea, anyway.

[Gretin]

This could be a good idea, but I think I'll do a bit of research on this Furcadia before I say anything definite, as I've never heard of it before. From what you said, it sounds like it could be a good thing, so I could possibly help with it, the only obstacle is time, as I already have countless other projects that I'm working on a bit at a time, and I've also got a real life to tend to.
Anyway, I'll get back to you once I find this Furcadia thing...

[Leto]

No, it isn't a bad idea at all. I've thought of it on many occasions, but am always too lazy.

I could perhaps lend my hand, as I am in the same situation as Gretin here. All I could do is pixel edit, though, and perhaps do some background images.

[Ajiellyn]

http://www.furcadia.com/

I'm going to try and give a brief description of Furcadia. It is a low-resource mmosg client that can be used for things as simple as chat meetings or as complex as making games with the top screen. People have put their heads together and made some great dreams, but the great thing is that you can make your own. Even greater is that it's actually free. (Well, you pay money if you're interested in your avatar having wings, or being a dragon, gryphon, or phoenix, but it obviously isn't required.)

I've been using Furcadia for a long time, most of my buddies are in a Pokemon dream (don't laugh, the avatar art is great :P) so I basically stay there all the time. Besides the main maps in Furcadia, you can dream hop. There are dreams for everything you can think of: medieval roleplaying, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts; I've seen a lot of things, original and fan-dreamed. (Though, I haven't seen an Oddworld yet! )

Here's a screenshot from early this morning (don't worry about the dreamstats I had recently triggered, everyone's at school now and I was pretending to still be asleep).

So, you choose an avatar, choose its colors (that can be changed any time), and you even get a little profile description that can come up whenever someone clicks you up on the screen. The portrait on the left-hand side comes already with the avatar, usually, but if you want a custom one like the one I have in the screen, you can get an artist to do it for you, or draw it yourself.

I think it was first meant for kids ages 10 and up to use, but the majority of the people I have met on Furcadia seem to age 14 and up. In other words, it's easy to learn and use, so I guess if you're lazy like me it's worth taking advantage of.

You can start playing around with it, heck, if you're really interested, you can get it now and I can show you basic controls.

Private message me if you have any questions or suggestions. I'm going to start working on avatars. :d

[Gretin]

Well, I've had a fiddle around with it, and now I think, "Yes, definately!" It could very well work, my only question is how much space is it possible to have in a map? What I'm getting at is that some RPGs would have to have a fair bit of room to have stuff in, so you don't want a map the default size. However, I didn't try enlarging it, so I don't know what the limit is.

Anyway, I probably won't be able to help with the sprite editing and all that (though it looks like Super Munch might be able to help you with that bit), but I could work with any scripts if needed (I can usually learn new scripting methods fairly quickly as I've used very many of them in the past), and I could also do music seeing as I have MIDI software and can compose music (says me, anyway).

[Leto]

I must say, I am very interested. Give me some time to get aquinted with the software, and then count me in.

I can pixel edit (for player skins, sometimes backgrounds), and on occasion I can create MIDI music. You can contact me via email at mailto:super_munch@Hotmail.com .

Just note : I'm pretty basic at this program at present, so I'll need to figure out most of the functions. Are you able to direct me to any Dream Tutorials?

If you give me the XxY of pixels (for a character skin), I can try to make something as a JPEG.

[Ajiellyn]

I put together a tutorial to explain best as I could, the basics. I don't know whether I did a good job or not, it's kind of early and I couldn't sleep. x_x

http://www.freewebs.com/sligsbarrack/ and click Furc Tutorials at the bottom. (Don't snoop around the site, it's not completely finished, yet. ._.) I hope it helps! You really can drop me a whisper on Furcadia if you need me, I'm always on the name Slig.

[Taskmaster]

Funny you guys start about it.You see:i play games like guildwars and world of warcraft and i low mmo's and i had an idea in my head.I was thinking of species like vykkhers and glukkons and muds and...well all known humanoids anyway including outlaw's and steef's and if your a glukkon for example you can give slig players a job to guard a facility and turn muds into slaves and sligs can get pet's like meeches and slogs.And the vykkhers can build facility's where you make items like buttflow and homemade items,something like spices and gabbitcorn or stuff liek that and i have so menny idea's so im not ganna explain it all.But i wanted to send my idea's to oddworld inhapitends and hopping they could make a mmo outa it but i cant find a suggestion E-mail link to oddworld inhabitents.Anyway i could help with idea's for the gameplay,worldmap,species info and stuff liek that but i think you guys dont have use for that :P
(example)like in most mmo you have to pay for stuff to buy(thats why its called buy)and the money unit for natives could be spooch and for industrails moolah

[Ajiellyn]

Funny you guys start about it.You see:i play games like guildwars and world of warcraft and i low mmo's and i had an idea in my head.I was thinking of species like vykkhers and glukkons and muds and...well all known humanoids anyway including outlaw's and steef's and if your a glukkon for example you can give slig players a job to guard a facility and turn muds into slaves and sligs can get pet's like meeches and slogs.And the vykkhers can build facility's where you make items like buttflow and homemade items,something like spices and gabbitcorn or stuff liek that and i have so menny idea's so im not ganna explain it all.But i wanted to send my idea's to oddworld inhapitends and hopping they could make a mmo outa it but i cant find a suggestion E-mail link to oddworld inhabitents.Anyway i could help with idea's for the gameplay,worldmap,species info and stuff liek that but i think you guys dont have use for that :P
(example)like in most mmo you have to pay for stuff to buy(thats why its called buy)and the money unit for natives could be spooch and for industrails moolah

The problem with Furcadia that it is player-driven which means, if you're a Slig and you want a pet Slog, either you pretend to have one and control it yourself, or have a friend who plays as your Slog. (This does not have to be roleplay, you can be lounging around casually chatting and still pretend if you want :P).

The reason I picked it in spite of this was because it's a small file over all, it will work on just about any system because the requirements are so low, and it's the simplest thing I can find out there. It takes a lot of work to draw things from scratch but in the end, it's often worth it.

---------------
On the note of progress, getting the avatars started is actually much more difficult than I thought it would be. See, unlike most of the other things I've done, Oddworld has put a lot of thought into what they have created. I made a Deku avatar once, and hey, it's a Deku. It's a plant-like creature. But we move to Oddworldian creatures, and woah. They have to be just right. They have to walk and look as Oddworld expects them to. One of the worst bumps I'm hitting is how Mudokons walk with their knees constantly bent (I know the slave ones do, at least). I actually am getting to work on a Paramite, it isn't a big worry, but it should be finished soon. I practiced on drawing them this morning.

If anyone has good drawings or pictures of species they want that happen to be facing furcadian avatar directions, (ne, nw, se, sw) that would help me lots so I can have a better idea of what they look like from different views.

Anyway, I'll really try hard to get things done. I have a question for anyone reading, though; what enviornment would you want the dream to be? I can't fit a whole lot onto one map, but I was planning some industrial facility with a native village forest outside. There should be enviornment for wildlife, natives, and industrialists, but is there anything anyone wants in particular? Suggestions like "oh, I want it like necrum!" or "put webs around where paramites live!" would help. Use your imagination, I'm like a blind mud tryin' ta get to a bird portal without even being greeted first.

[sligster]

interesting....

now, how do I make a custom dude, like that slig you have there?

[Dipstikk]

What the hell is a Mmorpig? Some kind of domesticated farm mammal?

[Ajiellyn]

interesting....

now, how do I make a custom dude, like that slig you have there?

Well, it isn't really that big a thing, I just changed my colors to be Slig-like, I have the Furcadian name Slig, and the portrait art on the right side is a pixel I did of a Slig. So, basically, you get your name, get a portrait if you want (but, to have a custom one there it costs $10, unless you use a proxy, which I HIGHLY recommend) and change your colors. You can change your colors at any time by going to your Furcadia folder and clicking the Player Editor.

What the hell is a Mmorpig? Some kind of domesticated farm mammal?

Well, maybe I said it wrong, Furcadia is more of an MMOSG, though it can be both. MMOSG stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Socializing Game, which means you're playing a game, but you interact with other human-controlled players. It's like us getting together and playing Abe's Exoddus where we're all muds in a band and we can see eachother walking around on screen (man, it would be so cool if that was possible :P). There is a chat on the bottom, and a screen on the top where you can move around and see other people walk around do stuff in live time. MMOSGs tend to work really well for text roleplay.

[sligster]

What the hell is a Mmorpig? Some kind of domesticated farm mammal?

typo?

MMORPG = Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game... it's a game genre

examples would be: Everquest, World of Warcraft, Ultima Online, ect.

Like Ajiellyn already said, this is more of a MMOSG

if you were being sarcastic, well then

[Ajiellyn]

Massive production halt. I think some force stopped me from really getting started on this project, because my main computer's C drive was unrepairably corrupted after a power outage. Efforts are definitely going to be taken to recover my data, so there's probably a 50% chance I might lose it. The computer I'm using now isn't exactly fit for getting work done, the mouse is bulky and I can't change it. It's a crappy little cloned computer, and believe it or not, it has the habit of randomly restarting without warning. It does this every 30 seconds to every 30 minutes. Which is why I have to wrap this post up, just in case >_>

Anyway, I'm really sorry for the delay, but I really, really need input. If you have the slightest idea of anything you would like to see in an MMOSG, do not hesitate to email me about it, because I'll probably get it done for you.

[sligster]

and believe it or not, it has the habit of randomly restarting without warning. It does this every 30 seconds to every 30 minutes. Which is why I have to wrap this post up, just in case >_>

I had this exact same problem. The computer's power supply is fried. You need to either recharge it (I dunno if there is a way) or buy a new power supply (my choice).

Although if you are willing to spend enough to get a brand new computer all together, that might be the best option.

[mudling]

well, i'd like to help, but terrible at that sort of stuff.
it's a great idea though. it looks a bit like habbohotel or runescape.

[WildScrab]

i really good idea dude,wish i could help you out in some way,but im useless at that kinda stuff otherwise id be happy to help you make it work,So i guess i gotta sit bk an let you guy do your stuff

[Xavier]

is it me or aren't the last 3 posts on topic?

[WildScrab]

nah just your post bro,ur post aint on topin,he asked for our opinion an were giving it to him and if anyone can help him,but it's out of my reach really,good idea,cheers

[Xavier]

those kind of things shoud be discussed in the off-topic section or via PM...
this forum is for oddworld related stuff only.

[Ajiellyn]

those kind of things shoud be discussed in the off-topic section or via PM...
this forum is for oddworld related stuff only.

Sorry, we did get a bit of off-topic there. It's a mix-breed of Oddworld and Furcadia here, since I'm trying to make an Oddworld themed world using the Furcadia client.

On-topic, here is an update: My computer is back, and I finally put the Paramite avatar into play. It doesn't look perfect, but you have to understand that I'm not one of those professional Oddworld artists, I'm a fourteen-year-old with a mouse (by the way, I fixed the mouse, so I can't complain about that anymore :P). Anyway, it's coming along slowly because I integrated its creation into a tutorial.

Now I'm all worried about keeping this on topic to General Oddworld Discussion, and it's going to be especially hard because displaying the work that's been done on this so far would be considered as fanart, no? :P I'm hoping you'll excuse what updates I put as long as they're strictly relating to the topic of this project's progress.

No more playing around or planning, it has been started. Even if you don't want to read the tutorial and learn how to pitch in, take a look at the bottom where I lined up the final avatar and tell me what you think, guys.

http://www.freewebs.com/sligsbarrack...tetutorial.jpg

[Leto]

Sweet! Well, at least some well being is starting to arise amongst this chaos.

Oh, and just PM me if you need any help at all.

[Androideka]

This is starting to sound cool. I'm no expert, but if you get this going you could try and move onto a MMORPG creator like Konfuze/Playerworlds

[Scrab Watcher]

The link won't work for me, anyone else having problems?

[Ajiellyn]

The link won't work for me, anyone else having problems?

Yeah, it doesn't work for some reason, right-click it, click 'Properties', and get the full link into your browser.

I'm back early with good news! The paramite avatar (including portraits) is fully complete, even though it will probably be edited in the future. Here is a screenshot:



You can find Part II of the tutorial (and display of the south Paramite positions) here: http://www.freewebs.com/sligsbarrack...etutorial2.jpg

This is only one small step in the effort that's going to have to be put forth into this project. :x But, it is a start!

I've had people asking to help out, thank you so much! Here's what I'm currently looking for:

- Suggestions.
- Avatars: Scrab, Mudokon, Slig, and Slog are the next four that will be looked at. (You don't have to sit there and draw a complete avatar, scribbles that could become the 'stand' still would be fine).
- Sounds: .wav sounds that would put a good atmosphere in any Oddworld area. Paramite or Slog howls, or if you have good rain, bird, or any mechanical sounds, that would be good, too. I'm looking for good quality sounds that are well compressed, and aren't too large a filesize.
- Midis: That was a great suggestion! If you can make or have any midis that would also provide a good atmosphere to an Oddworld dream, send them to me!

Now that this is out, I'll get to work on the next four avatars. I need constructive criticism for the paramites, too, so I can fix errors I happened to miss.

Thanks for your support, everyone!

[Leto]

I have many, many MIDIs. Also, I can produce them. Just one thing... Erm, how do I add you in Furcadia? me is st00pid lol lol imo

EDIT: Nice Paramite, by the way.

[Beavis Core]

I've never played an MMORPG before, but would like to (I'm so cheap *cries*) but when I started playing Strangers Wrath, one thing that struck me was how huge the locations were. And if there's one thing we all love about Abe it's that it has good story, but AFTER that (:P) we love that it has GORGEOUS graphics *drools* and lush worlds *drools again*. It has industrial locations, jungle locations, desert locations, species that gallop, species that swim, species that can fly with the use of helicoptor pants... the world of Odd is a world that is greatly suited to the world of MMORPG's, in my opinion. Like, you could use bird portals to travel large distances, like other games have teleporter devices, and, like we see with Stranger in OSW, a creature handler could have animals follow him, and some, like fuzzles and bolamites, would let you use them in a weapon.

I would LOVE an Oddworld MMORPG...

[LoboDiabloLoneWolf]

Wow, this looks ab-so-lutely AMAZIN'! I couldn't help out with the designin' an' stuff but as soon as I check out the basics (I'll check out yer link) I'll definitely have a go!

[Andrelvis]

VERY interesting idea...