These 2 area has become popular things in the world right now.  And we have become the witness on how they are converging.  Even RO was said to have an anime character type.  We have also Talesweaver, Trickster, dan some other 2D graphic anime style graphic.  The influence of anime also can be seen to the 2D side scrolling by adopting the SD (Super Deformed) figure in Maple Story or Ghost Online.  And after the 3D engines becomes better, some games with anime type began to enter the market.  Lunia, Yogurting, Holic Online, DECO, DOMO, and many more.  Not just that, we are waiting for a new MMORPG based on anime itself.  From the legendary anime / manga of Akira Toriyama, comes Dragon Ball Online.

Will adopting the anime graphic style would make MMORPG success?  If that’s the only thing that they adopt, I believe, they won’t.  As we all already know, it will all come back to the game feature.  Surely, that using an anime style graphic will quickly catch the otaku or anime fans attention.  But, again the game feature talk more loudly.

 

Anime vs Non Anime Character

During my research for my thesis about anime manga in my country, I found that there are several things that differentiate the Japanese style with other countries style, and these are what make them popular in all over the world. 

1. Role!

Japanese anime or manga character has a characteristic of a ROLE like in the RPG.  The role that I am talking about is in term of growth.  We watch how Son Goku of Dragon Ball, when he was a little searching for Shen Long Ball, up until he has this little Son Gohan, fighting the Saiyan fellow Vegetta (or Bejita), and when he has to sacrifice himself againts Cell.  And we also watch how he was just a mere strong boy and started to learn the legendary skill Kamehameha, up until he became Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, and Super Saiyan 3.  We watch him grow!  And we got attached by the character.  While on the other side, we know some superheroes but we never watch them grow.  Lately, the publisher start to realize this and try to improve by providing the history or the youth of their superheroes.  But in my opinion, it’s too late for their ‘old’ superheroes.  They should improve them in their ‘new’ superheroes.

This what attach player to most RPG or MMORPG too.  One of the biggest reason why people can stand grinding in an MMORPG, in my opinion, is because they know that in the end of this painful grinding, there will be growth or change in their character.  A higher level, a higher stat, or a new skill.

2. Unique!

Japanese manga or anime character, usually has few or only one strength with many weaknesses.  While on the other hand, other superheroes usually has many strength with only few or one weakness.  Let’s take an example.  Naruto is clumsy, a little bit ‘late’, careless, and many more weaknesses compare to his fellow friends BUT he has a really-really strong will to become Hokage.  While Superman has a superhuman strength, light speed, an infrared capable eyesight, steel body, BUT his weakness is kryptonite.

This condition, is much closer to the real life.  Usually, someone famous is because (only) for his or her few strength, not because of many strength.  David Beckham would be related to soccer skill (well good looking too, I envy but had to admit XD), Tiger Wood with golf skill, Pavarotti with singing skill, Beyonce with sexy singing performance (drool XD), and many more.  Somehow, this pattern, would make someone famous unique!  We can get attached more easily with something that represent us more.  That’s why it is easier to remember Luffy with his Gomu-Gomu skill, Naruto with his Raisengan (or Sexy No Jutsu XD), Ichigo with his blade Zangetsu, or Kira Yamato with Strike Freedom Gundam.  And this uniqueness, what make otaku (like me), like Japanese manga better than any other comic.  While on the other hand, superheroes from other comic industries, is equipped with so many strength and finally made us really confuse about their main strength.  The uniqueness started to blur.  They don’t give any limitation to their superheroes.  The beauty of being limited, is uniqueness.

Upon reading Lean’s comment about being random and being unique, I started to realize that this feature is what makes me playing Diablo for years!  And MMORPG with this feature, will make them playable for quite a long time.  Providing unique feature is not always about being random, but also being limited.  You can not upgrade all field of stat in RO but rather you have to choose in your limited resources, what kind of character that you want to build.  A full support Priest with full VIT n INT, or speed killer Knight with full AGI n STR?

 Now I have mentioned features and pattern that an MMORPG should have.  And I am really looking forward to any MMORPG based on anime theme, that they’re not relying on the brand power, but they really work on the feature, especially these 2 strength that made them popular.

 

Mainstream Anime in MMORPG

When I was writing this article, Paradox(Destruction) is already posting his article about Dragon Ball online.  What a coincidence!   Seriously Paradox, if you read this, I am writing this article even before you post yours!  But I have the same worries as he is.  However, if I have to predict about other mainstream anime title, this is how I will imagine about them.  And here’s what I thought:

 

Naruto

I think the world that created by Masashi Kishimoto is the most potential one to be made as a world of MMORPG.  Imagine being a ninja with so many skill to choose.  Being unique because you are a member of certain family bloodline.  Uchiha or Hyuga and so finally you can see which one is better, Sharingan or Byakugan.  Or maybe you are not from certain famous family but along your adventure, there is one Jinchuriki in your character, like Kyubi!  And I can imagine that you build your castle under Konoha clan, thus having a clan war  with Sunagakure clan.  Or you don’t want to be part of the clan but rather being a missing nin and establish an organization like Akatsuki!  Moreover, you can move in a team mission like the famous Team 7 of Kakashi.  Slaying some monster or thug or even unknown missing nin.  And when you are in the middle of your mission you have suddenly face one of the famous missing nin like Zabusa n Hakku.  Hope Bandai n Shueisha start to consider this title as an MMORPG.

 

One Piece

The world of pirates in One Piece is also potential as an MMORPG.  The skill of every evil fruit is unique.  Even the non evil fruit eater is unique.  I can still remember the funny moment when Luffy was asked why he choose and believe so much in his member.

Luffy: “I can’t play sword, that’s why I have Zorro”

Luffy: “I know nothing about navigation, that’s why I have Nami”

Luffy: “I can’t cook, that’s why I have Sanji”

Luffy: “I know nothing about medic, that’s why I have Chopper”

Luffy: “I’m not good at lying…”

Ussop: “Woi woi woi woi…”

LOL, but that’s what makes you unique Ussop, besides your canon aiming skill XD.

Being unique is very important, so this world already has the preleminary condition met.  Imagine having a voyage to seek the legendary cursed weapon and slay monster and fellow pirate along the way.  You can be pirates or you can choose as navy.  The arc rival of Luffy, Crocodile, is potential as a tough boss.  Your character is a normal one until you found an evil fruit, and you can decide if you want to eat it or not.  Hope Eichiro Oda can consider a license for its title being made as an MMORPG.

 

Bleach

Well in my opinion, this title is also having a potential element to be made as an MMORPG, but it will require much more thought from game developers, compare to the above 2 title.  Indeed each character has unique skill and even weapon.  But everybody is a shinigami.   Game developer has to work on the job or race things before they can implement this title.  Moreover, there are no common skill in this title.  And the skill was always depend on equipment.  Renji with Sabimaru, Ichigo with Zangetsu, and their skill was determined by their Zanpakutou form (Bankai).  Slaying hollow will be fun but with skill limited to equipment only is rather boring in my opinion.  Well I am not hoping too much about this title of Kubo Tite being brought to the MMORPG market.

 

Full Metal Alchemist

This is also a potential world to be created, as each of the alchemist performer has skill that can grow with unique characteristic.  Moreover, this title was owned by the Square Enix, a well known game developer and publisher.  There are element that can diversified characters.   They can design fire element alchemist like Roy Mustang, or nature element alchemist like Edward and Al.  There are monster and chimera. Homonculus can be made as boss.  It’s a good potential world.

 

Universal Century (or any other Gundam Universe)

This is the world and timeline of the first Gundam series.  It is the time when the legendary newtype Amuro Ray with his arc rival Chars Aznable live.  Recently, the new Gundam 00 was told in AD timeline.  Anyway, I was once heard a rumor about a Universal Century Online (http://www.universalcentury.net/index.html).  But this title was make me more worry even compare to the upcoming Dragon Ball Online.  While Dragon Ball still have skill to differentiate each character, has race to consider, and so many monster or enemy to slay, Universal Century basically is about the clash of human principle.  So even the Zaku pilot, is a human that believe in certain principle THAT unfortunately different from other people piloting Gundam.  So who’s gonna be the monster?  All the Zaku type?  Moreover, what about the skill?  Every gundam pilot has skill growth but the Gundam itself doesn’t have any evolving skill!  They’re just changing the equipment and armaments.  Or sometimes, they even change the machine completely.  Look at the Gundam Seed series.  Kira Yamato was riding Aile Strike with weapon system,  and later change to Freedom Gundam.  It’s completely different Gundam.  And in GSD, Strike Freedom is also a very different Gundam compare to the previous one, even if the name is nearly the same.  So I really doubt the outcome of this online title if they are to be implemented as MMORPG.  Maybe they can implement it as MMO mecha simulation, but how are they going to accommodate the pilot skill growth?  Well although I doubt this title, but who knows?  We’re still waiting for the product launching anyway.

Well anime is anime, they have their own characteristic to be success.  MMORPG is another thing, feature (and marketing and some other aspects) is the key success.  So relying only on the title popularity, can't guarantee the success of the game.