Bear with me, this might get long winded and stream-of-conciousness-like.
For the past week or so I've been developing an idea I had while playing Freespace. Basically, some sort of MMO game that combines (at least) 4 games of different genres to form one uber, all-immersive, fully-featured, MMO thing. It'd be set in space, and on planets, in something similar to the Star Wars universe.
The idea is that all the games are linked with each other, and that actions in one affect events in the others. The inspiration is stuff like Allegience and Natural Selection.
Thus:
Game 1: Large-Scale RTS
Something like BotF, but in real time.
The people playing this would handle the construction of ships, building of bases, overall strategies, resource managment and so on. They would see the game from and RTS perspective, like Imperium Galactica
They would give orders to fleet commanders, playing...
Game 2: Smaller-scale RTS
Like, say, Sudden Strike.
The people playing this would see the game from a perspective similar to that of Homeworld. They would be based on the fleet command ships and would handle the tactics of battle, would request reinforcements when needed, respond to orders from Game 1, and give orders to the pilots in...
Game 3: Space Sim
For instance, Freespace.
Playing this game would be much like Freespace multiplayer, or Allegience. Pilots would respond to orders from their fleet commanders, and act on them. However, ships besides the fighters will be crewed by players. All ships, and the turrets on them would be controlled by a human player, where possible. There would be a smaller chain of command here, with wing leaders having authority over other pilots, and so on.
Of course, it may be that commanders want to capture, rather than destroy, enemy ships, so marines would have to be sent. These marines would be people playing...
Game 4: FPS
This would be your average sci-fi FPS, with players recieving orders from their commanders, who would be playing Game 2 along with the fleet commanders. Natural Selection is a relevant example here.
There would also be ground battles, for taking planetary bases and such. This would involve commanders in Game 2 giving orders to people playing...
Game 5: Tactical Shooter
This would be like OFP. More specifically, CTI. Players would have vehicles at their disposal, would be able to command them, and would use them to carry out orders from above. Troops and equipment would be delivered to the planet by pilots in Game 3 flying transport craft. The troops in this game would be the same as the marines in Game 4. Again, the commanders would be playing Game 2, but this time from a more C&C Generals or Earth 2150 perspective. Game 2B, if you like.
It is my opinion that, if this could work, it would be one hell of a game, particularly if the entire ongoing war was modelled, rather than just specific battles. The commanders would have to think about strategies, rather than have events dictated by AI. Players lower down the line would have to rely on their commanders to form workable plans and keep the fight up.
Players would start out as a lowly pilot or grunt, and work their way up the ranks, eventually becoming a fleet commander, or overall commander, playing Game 1. Of course, when the game first starts, people will have to enter at all levels for the thing to work
We have already seen how MP games can cross genres, with NS, CTI, and various MMO titles, so this may just be possible.
One major drawback is the huge number of players required to form an entire Navy, and the problem of getting them all together.
And that's just with one side being played by humans. If both were, you'd need the entire CS player-base to fill out the numbers.
Hell, it might not work at all, but a man can dream.
Feel free to call me an idiot/tell me to have some sense of proportion/flame me until nought but my boots remain.
