Mini Games like Trading Card Game inside MO?

[Kulin]

Hi there,

in the standard mmo-development process the designers create a huge amount of concept arts. Do you consider to reuse this Art in things like a Ingame Trading Card Game? I think that would be a very nice way to fill the time when nothing is to do. For example: when you wait for a group member in front of a dungeon. Or when you play the guard at the front of your keep and wait for the enemies to arrive. Or while you are riding to your destination.(Naturally the player should be able to pause such a game).

This games are very addicting and entertaining and you can insert additional endgame content without too much effort(grinding an enemy for a special card for example). Naturally the feeling has to fit with your atmosphere. And if you look at the various trading card games its easy possible to create such an atmosphere if you have the fitting concept arts for it.

Thanks for your time.

Best Regards,

Kulin

[The Last Spartan]

It would take away from the realism that the Devs and most of us (the players) want in a game. It's very doubtful.

[Aiten]

I would play. I have a pet hate that games forget everything and focus on the killing ... which is all well and good in an FPS, but an MMO with a persistent and social world? Not everything revolves around killing ... even in a full PVP game.

[Veith]

Originally Posted by The Last Spartan

It would take away from the realism that the Devs and most of us (the players) want in a game. It's very doubtful.

I think also would not fit very well to MO, also some trading card games in itself make fun, sure.
But so you could also say those minigames in a more believable way would be a chessgame, dice-games, 'old'fashioned cardgames all in your backpack.

Best minigame would be on a towns marketplace there is a huge chessboard painted and players are the figures...Rules are clear slightly changed to real chess, if a figure wants to beat annother it must be a duel
Would be also a minigame.....or at least a different arene. (not seriously)

[The Last Spartan]

I want Mini games, but just give us darts, makeshift boards, chess boards and pieces, and we can make our own games.

[Kulin]

I already had minigames in some mmos. Especially Chess or things like this. I have to say that these games weren't really accepted by the players because they were not very good connected to the game world.

A Game of Chess or Dart will never be so close to the game like something as a trading card. The explanation is easy: you can't make chess-figures lootable from mobs because chess is unplayable without let's say the queen or the towers.

And that's the core about my TGC-Suggestion: you can loot the cards from monsters. You can exchange them with other players and you can use them as ante in your games. It's hard to do that with chess figures or darts.

But i do understand that it doesn't adds to your immersion, if loot a trading card out of a dragon. But this was just a suggestion. This trading cards could also made available(for example) from special npcs in exchange for monster parts(that would be otherwise sold to the npc-vendors).

[Traceur]

what about an inspiration sort of system? being in certain situations (a certain layout of creatures at a certain environment or whatnot) will "inspire" the related card with concept art depicting a similar situation, enabling you to draw it (a.k.a. crafting the card)?

[Kulin]

Wow! This is a really nice Idea. A normal Trading Card System gives you a complete set of cards for every creature. Goblin Rock Slider, Goblin Warchief and so on...
If you transport this to the game you can create the following situations: -Let's say you meet a bunch of goblins at night. This could give you the inspiration to the card: "Goblin Night-Crawlers".
-If someone in your group finds a rare sword you are getting inspired to draw a "artifact" card.
-If you use a special skill in the right situation(like a stun while some bossmob is casting a very dangerous spell) you can get ability cards like "Counterspell".

Wow, this sounds really nice. This would give especially the explorers a tremendous amount of things to do. Especially if there are little card descriptions that tell more about the background information of the things you saw.

[Rathius]

I'm not sure I'm for a trading card game. But I would like to see some sort of mini-game included. Something that you can sit down at a tavern, or anywhere perhapse if you have the items, and just play while you're waiting for something or someone. I personally believe this would keep players in the game more because they wouldn't be preoccupied with something outside of the game while they're waiting. As long as it's something that fits into the realm of the game.

[Lachrymose]

plz no. a good game shouldn't need minigames to distract players from the game's main content. would be a tremendous waste of the devs time to implement this imo.

[ccoa]

I'm not sure, I kind of like the idea. A sort of "acheivement" system that unlocks certain cards would be cool. I think it would also add to the one time boss situation. I mean how are people supposed to know you killed that boss if it doesn't drop an epic sword of the sort?

[Fingels]

I don't think that a card-game would be a that good of an idea, sure it'd be cool and it'd give yet another reason why to grind bosses, but I belive that one or a few different dice-games with betting would be better.
Dices are easy to make and something you could just carry in your pouch with the money.

Also historically dice-games was very common amongst soldiers and the like. Easy rules and easy betting
You could even implement the possibility to bet items against eachother, or money of course.
It could prove to be a really fun pass-time if you wait for someone, or just wish to kick-back and relax in the local tavern (I do hope that this game will contain some nice Roleplaying content) .

[Melathian]

I agree that a few Tavern Style mini games would be a nice addition to an MMO. I think the Darts, Chess, Dice, Drinking Games, Knife Throwing ect would be an excellent idea to help players "relax."

I mean, normally the only reason I log off is because I just finished something big, and need time to wind down before going off to do something else that will consume 2 or 4 more hours of my life. In my opinion if there were something to help a player wind down it might help increase player retention.

[Ravenwoods]

I would like mini games in taverns like the Witcher's dice-poker game or chess or some sort. Or some bar fights, or cockroach races!

In WoW the concept art were used as paintings on the walls etc.

[niblick]

I like the idea of inspiration to draw a card. Just so you can gradually collect and trade rare cards, say when someone is lucky enough to slay one of the great non-resurrecting beasts then each person who was there is able to craft a picture of the battle which can be sold or displayed around the game. Kind of like a trophy system.

[Arxon Havenloft]

Every since the early days of Final Fantasy gaming I've enjoyed card games within the game world. My favorite I guess would be Final Fantasy 8. It just adds an entirely new element to the game. I don't think that monsters should drop these cards.. Instead I think maybe there could be an entire skill based on the card game such as "Card Collecting". This skill would enable you to tag a monster that you are killing and after you kill enough of this creature you would be given the ability to create a card about it. Of course anyone could use the cards and play with them.

It also gives players other objectives to strive for other than gear which is always a plus when it comes to the MMO environment. The great thing about it is that players that could care less about this card game could simply sell off any of the cards that they run into for great amounts of money to someone who really wants it. It's like free gold for them. I agree that it would be a great addition to any MMO.

I think in the end though it's more a matter of MMOs not allowing card games because of some sort of gambling mechanic that would raise the rating of the game to adult or something. Usually in card games if you lose you lose a card somehow, which I couldn't imagine it being very fun if this wasn't the case but I know that it can be seen as gambling by some people.

Edit: Though, the games couldn't last all too long... An ordinary Final Fantasy card game would last maybe 3-4 mins. I think around that range should be the length of the game. Nothing like Magic the Gathering, or Yugio/Pokemon. And of course keep all other mini-games in as well such as chess, dice, etc.. It's the variety that makes things great.

[Phi]

i wanted to ask this question too. I like idea of card games like ff8 or KOTOR'S pizak. That type of mini game belongs in an MMO. Also chess, and dice games would be sweet.

[lazyasian224]

i think small minigames like this would actually add a lil more realism to the game. The one thing i dont like in most MMO's is that when you walk into a tavern/inn its almost completely empty. Taverns were places where people came to relax, meet up, or make major buisness deals and such. small minigames like dice, regular card games, chess, and such would boost the tavern atmosphere, split up the major crowds usually hanging out in the market districts. and provide a way for people to kill time waiting for others.

[woodland]

Originally Posted by Kulin

Wow! This is a really nice Idea. A normal Trading Card System gives you a complete set of cards for every creature. Goblin Rock Slider, Goblin Warchief and so on...
If you transport this to the game you can create the following situations: -Let's say you meet a bunch of goblins at night. This could give you the inspiration to the card: "Goblin Night-Crawlers".
-If someone in your group finds a rare sword you are getting inspired to draw a "artifact" card.
-If you use a special skill in the right situation(like a stun while some bossmob is casting a very dangerous spell) you can get ability cards like "Counterspell".

Wow, this sounds really nice. This would give especially the explorers a tremendous amount of things to do. Especially if there are little card descriptions that tell more about the background information of the things you saw.

I really like this idea. It's not really about the mini game for me more of the exploration and collection part of it. I used to be a huge collector of things in the other sandbox mmorpg's (as an example I collected monster statuettes). Cards that can be created from inspiration and collected sounds like a great way to add to the exploration part of the game. This would also require team work and skills. You will need someone with the ability to get you close enough to that dragon. And you will need someone with the skill ability to create the card.

I really don't want to find cards on on monster loot that just doesn't fit with realism.

On the flip side I do want to see the smaller games instilled. Chess, checkers, dice & cup. What else would you have us do at the guild house passing the time before the hunt. Besides dulling our weapons on each other that is.

Remember not everyone is in the game for the hack and slash.