The Idea of a massively multiplayer TRON project has been brought up a few times on the forums.The more I think about it, the more I think it would be an amazing idea, especially with all the interpersonal interactions used in the Tron 2.0 single player game.
Lately I've ben involved with beta testing a project called THERE, which is a massively multiplayer social experience...not necessarily a game, but an immersive online world where players gather to have fun. A project of this type would lend itself very well to the universe of TRON.
Here's my ideas of what kind of game I would like it to be...
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Players start out by choosing their default player model, color and name. Players may choose to be a Classic Civilian (male or female), Jet, Mercury, ICP, Datawraith, Lightcycle Biker (male or female), Classic Guard, or one of the new models introduced with the game.
Players interact in the world in different ways to increase their efficiency ratings, similar to a traditional RPG. However, the game is open-exploration...players are encouraged to make their own adventures, and are not hardwired into a particular storyline, nor does the game truly ever "end". Efficiency ratings include categories such as CHAT, LIGHTCYCLE, DISC, TANK, RECOGNIZER PILOT, REPAIR, EVENT HOST, and WORLD TRAVELER. Increasing these ratings gives you access to more features inworld, such as exclusive clubs and racing circuits, and more items in the ingame stores.
The game economy is based on energy points. Energy points can be traded for new skins for your player, helmets or skullcaps, eyewear, togas, robes, breastplates, gauntlets, boots, lightcycles, tanks, and tons more. Players can even use energy points to rent a lightcycle course or disc arena which can hold matches for profit and prizes. Energy points are gained by interaction with players, whether it be as a prize in a disc or lightcycle match, helping out a newbie in increasing their efficiency ratings, or performing random tasks inworld (come across a glitching item inworld? press the "use" key to repair it and get energy as your reward!).
If you really need that bit of extra excitement, you can venture out into the badlands and take out your aggressions on roving AI-controlled resource hogs and z-lots who seek to leech precious resources and cause inworld mischief. Take one out, and enjoy a tasty core dump to increase your energy reservoir. But be careful, because each time they hit you with one of their weapons, you lose a bit of your energy! Lose all your energy points, and you'll be derezzed, and restored from backup on your home server to start over again...but don't worry, anything you've purchased for your inventory will remain available for you until you trade it or sell it
Need some quick energy point to by that stylish new toga? No problem...get a job as a jukebox program, and spin the hits at a local downtime spot! Be a security program, and escort transports through the badlands! Enlist in the ENCOM or FCon ICP Corps, and battle invading virii and trojans on remote servers! Or maybe you're good enough to fight in a professional disc league! Better still, design digital fashions and vehicle shells, and sell them for profit!
Everyone needs a place to call home...so get an apartment on your home server! Complete your recharging space with the latest designs in digital furniture, then throw a housewarming bash with all your pals! Heck, you can even charge on the head for admission! But be quick about getting your housing, because the more people there are on your home server, the higher the rent will be when you sign your lease! Or, you can get some friends together and be the first to move in to the new servers as they are established, start businesses, clubs, and sporting events, and turn it into a thriving Electropolis!
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To be continued by YOU...