We take a look at some cool franchises that definitely need an MMO! Do you agree with our opinion?
Today, those looking for a suitable MMO are faced with a huge selection of established and new games to choose from. Yet, every now and then, one reads a good book or watches an exciting series on TV and thinks “Wow, that would be the perfect material for an MMO template!”
And indeed, many great franchises still haven’t received an MMO, even though their extensive world and setting practically beg for an implementation.
Today we will look at a few franchises that, in our opinion, urgently need an MMO implementation!
The Dark Tower
“The Man in Black fled across the desert, and the Gunslinger followed.”
With this simple sentence, Stephen King began his probably greatest work in eight volumes, in which he created more than just a world, but an entire cosmos.
The setting of The Dark Tower is quickly explained: In a dystopian world, the Gunslinger Roland Deschain is pursuing the “Man in Black,” a sinister wizard who is to herald the end of the world.
The hunt leads through several worlds and ages, as the dimensions are interconnected through “doors.” There are many crumbling ruins of former metropolises that were technically far ahead of our time, just as there are small, very simply structured villages of farmers who want to secure their survival against the dark creatures that have arisen over the centuries.
Since The Dark Tower is a multiverse story, where different times, actions, and dimensional levels are connected through the namesake tower, there would be virtually endless possibilities for exciting locations or peoples. Whether one wants to play the noble Gunslingers from Gilead, the dark sorcerers of the Man in Black, or simply the gas station attendant from New York: All could have their place in an MMO with multiple factions.
With twisted settings that otherwise resemble “The Secret World,” The Dark Tower would be the perfect candidate to establish an MMO in a more surreal area, far from classical “medieval” fantasy with swords and castles.
After the abysmally bad movie, we can only hope that an MMO implementation – if it ever comes – would meet the fans’ expectations.
I would really like to wander through an MMO world as a Gunslinger, to gaze upon the beams of the world and bring down the servants of darkness.
A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones)
Good that Game of Thrones is mentioned here, that was somehow to be expected, right? But the franchise deserves it. Hardly any fantasy world has received so much attention in recent years thanks to HBO’s successful television series. But not only the success on TV makes Game of Thrones a perfect candidate for an MMO; the entire world itself is perfectly built.
Thanks to different groups, such as the Wildlings, the people of Westeros, or simply the division into various houses and their vassals (Stark, Lannister, Greyjoy, etc.), factions would naturally form that could battle each other in PvP. Knightly battles in the style of “War of the Roses,” with much tactics, could define the combat system and create excitement far from a system with various skills.
The world of Game of Thrones is cruel, brutal, and damn well thought out. Here, an MMO with permadeath would be suitable, where servers might only exist for a few weeks before a final battle for the throne occurs. Intrigues between houses, played out in a political system among players, could lead to interesting outcomes of battles.Who helps in the fight against the undead? Which houses ally to overthrow the throne? Many different factors could determine the outcome of a server and create a new player experience month after month.
The Expanse
Like the two franchises before, The Expanse is based on a book series.
The story takes place in the 23rd century. Humanity has begun to settle our solar system, establishing colonies on the Moon and Mars.
The UN has risen to world government on Earth; however, the planet suffers from rising sea levels and massive unemployment, as most tasks are better handled by androids.
Mars has since broken away from Earth and is considered an independent state. Since Mars has strong weapons, Earth has little recourse, although no war has broken out yet, and both benefit from trade.
However, Mars and Earth are dependent on a third party, the inhabitants of the asteroid belt. They supply resources such as metals and ice (which is then turned into water) from the asteroid belt and primarily live off trade.
This results in a fragile balance among the three powers: Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt.
The story of the series and book begins when the spark of war slowly ignites and all three parties are thrown into turmoil.
This makes The Expanse a perfect space MMO with many different roles. One could transport resources as a trader or fall upon merchants as a space pirate or again protect merchants as law enforcers. With expeditions to individual planets or asteroids, content could also be created where one explores the world as a human. Large space metropolises could be accessible and much more.
But for now, all this remains a figment of imagination and a distant hope.
Which franchises would you like to see implemented as an MMO? Or do you fear that an MMO could harm a particular franchise?
If you now crave new MMOs, here are some that are truly in development:
