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Good Idea, Bad Idea: MMO Games
Category: Online Games Game: Default Posted on Dec 25, 2008 3:22 am

Welcome to the very first issue of “Good Idea, Bad Idea!” This article series is pretty much self-explanatory. It’s an opinionated discussion of gaming’s good and bad ideas, be it from the past, present or future. There will, of course, be facts presented, just to enlighten the readers about the background of a certain game or system or whatnot.
In this debut issue, we tackle the MMO world’s good and bad ideas for a game. What games should be out there? What games should not be lifted off the drawing board? This article also lists down some “stalemates,” ideas placed in between good and bad, ideas that are neutral because of the balance set by the good and bad reasons.
Please do note that this list is very much limited. Surely, I cannot list all the possible good and bad ideas in one go. You can add your own good and bad ideas related to this topic by posting it as a comment down below.
Before any bashings about this article, the existence of my genitalia, my sexual preference, or the existence of my brain, please read this disclaimer:
Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect that of MMOsite or anyone else’s. This article was written on the viewpoint of the writer alone. The writer is not responsible for any disagreements caused by this article. The article is subject to change without further notice (due to correction in facts or evidence). However, no changes will be made in yielding to another person’s opinion.
In short: This is my article, this is my opinion. Your attempts to change my opinion will be futile. You may concur or disagree with the content, you may voice it out, but it ends there.
Now on with the article!
Good Idea: Pokemon / Digimon Online


This is in relation to Shin Megami Tensei’s online game. Pet raising is quite a challenge and a worthy addition to any MMORPG. So why not have an online game geared for the younger audiences? Pokemon and Digimon do have the qualifications for an ideally successful online game. It has an extensive list of pet/monster species. The setting of the game is vast. The plot is open-ended. It can feature PvP (Pet versus Pet) battles, and tournaments can be aplenty.
Bad Idea: Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Online


To enlighten everyone, Devil Children is the child-friendly demon-raising game of Atlus. It was released in Japan only for the Game Boy Color and was also remade for the Playstation 1. The game features the same (or even more) amount of demons found in MegaTen Online, with the difference of having the game character as a child (about 10 years old perhaps). It can be at par with Pokemon or Digimon, if not better. But what made it bad? Let’s just say educating children about demons, the occult and the complexities of the topic are inappropriate for their age.
Good Idea: Dune Online

The bestselling Dune book series written by Frank Herbert in 1965 has spun-off in to a movie trilogy of the same name and a series of PC games. Although most of the PC games garnered generally scathing reviews due to its gameplay, it still gained cult status amongst fans and newbies alike. The Dune lore has an extensive story, even bigger than Lord of the Rings. It has numerous political plot twists, and the setting spans different planets, run by characters of different races. This title can be one solid MMO game, of an RPG or RTS genre, and could make it as a sleeper hit or one of the top contenders.
Really Bad Idea: Twilight… Online?!

Mass media has been virally advertising the Twilight series around for quite some time now. The teeny-bopper movie (with vampires thrown in for the heck of it), based on the first book, has also garnered immense success. The book may be fit for the big screen, but having a virtual world filled with sparkly vampires, narcissistic necrophiliac women, stalker-type werewolves, and a marred story due to gaping plotholes? It doesn’t seem like a good idea. We’ve had enough of “Edward” and “Bella” wannabes. They’re already walking around in other MMO games.
Good Idea: Wizard 101

Wizard 101 is another game geared for the kids (and kids-at-heart too). The game is very casual, the story is easy to digest, and the general ambience is both relaxing and exciting. Wizard 101 used the wizardry and magic fame from Harry Potter and related books as their stepping stone, thus garnering interest from families and the younger audience. Their only flaw is the subscription option…
Stalemate: Harry Potter Online

Just the same as the Twilight fame, Harry Potter has earned a place in the bad idea limelight. The movies, books, console games and other merchandise are enough. The gaping plotholes and Harry/Ron/Hermione/Luna/Snape-wannabes would only add more insult to injury. But, balanced by these, the Harry Potter world has features that can be possible in an MMO, like the Quidditch games, wizard sparring sessions (in the form of PvP), and possibly a long list of wizard skills.
Another Stalemate: Wizardry game series, online version

The Wizardry series has been a popular dungeon-crawling RPG since the 1980’s. It has 9 games in the series, numerous spin-offs, and has inspired other developers to create games with the similar look and feel of the series. Balancing out this idea are the aspects of a heavy grind, stereotypical races and jobs, and plot similar to Lord of the Rings or related fantasy titles.
Bad Idea: Wizards of Waverly Place… Online

I admit Selena Gomez and Jennifer Stone are cute. But those are the only reasons for a guy to watch this series with the children. An online version won’t help at all.
Good Idea: Halo / Half-Life/Doom Online



I think we’re having a lack of futuristic action FPS games that don’t heavily rely on PvP or deathmatches. Half-life and Doom’s high-tech-facility-crawling escapades and Halo’s planet-side journeys are appropriate settings for an MMOFPS, with the deathmatch feature just an optional part of the game.
Bad Idea: Duck Hunt

Hunting ducks… online? ‘Nuff said.
Good Idea: Final Fantasy VIII

The SeeDs could possibly return for an online spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy game. This game’s online version can feature Garden-versus-Garden battles and tournaments, vast dungeons, different classes from the Final Fantasy fame, and huge maps from different timelines.
Stalemate: Final Fantasy VII

There’s no stopping Cloud and Sephiroth’s celebrity status, especially when Square Enix continues to bank on the success of the Final Fantasy VII story, having spin-offs, prequels and sequels under the game. An online version can offer the same complex materia system, faction-versus-faction battles between SOLDIER, Turks, DeepGround, and Wutai rebels, and epic event-only boss battles of the Weapons (Emerald and Ruby to name a few). Stalemating this idea is the thought of Square Enix using this game title as their cash cow. Square’s pushing the idea too much.
Bad Idea: Kingdom Hearts Online

The Kingdom Hearts franchise might have been a huge success in the past years, but considering the idea of an online version is still too farfetched. The persistent world of Kingdom Hearts is still too small for millions of players to explore. Job classes are still pretty much limited and imbalanced in favor of the melee-type Keyblade wielder (which becomes a magic caster and summoner too, on different occasions).
Good Idea: Suikoden Online

The idea of gathering 108 heroes opens new doors to online gameplay. Numerous combos, hundreds of different possible teams to choose from, and hours of play can make this Konami game into an online possibility.
Bad Idea: Silent Hill’s Online Version

Here’s another game that simply cannot transition to the online world. Konami’s Silent Hill focuses more on the stories of the character’s psyche. The story and the setting are aspects too “small” for use in an online game.
Another Bad Idea: Resident Evil Online

Since we’ve tackled the area of survival horror genre, another successful franchise is Capcom’s Resident Evil. Puzzle-solving and zombie-killing is Resident Evil’s forte, but a shift to an online version can turn this game into a boring romp. An online game of tirelessly fighting endless numbers of zombies surely tests your patience. Survival horror genres are stories with closure, something that online games do not usually have.
Good Idea: Super Smash Bros. Online

We’re looking at a Grand Chase/ Rumble Fighter contender. The Smash Bros. series is still one of the most exciting console fighting games around, and an online version is no different. This game can be played casually as a stress-reliever, or seriously if you’re one of the gamers looking to open a can o’ whoopass.
Bad Idea: Guilty Gear’s online version

The limited number of characters (lesser than the Street Fighter series), severely imbalanced characters, and the presence of “Destroyer” moves (1-hit KO moves) are reasons to shelf this game as an online venture. It’s better off as a console game instead.
Another Bad Idea: WWE, TNA or any professional wrestling entertainment titles

The wrestling shows and the console games have attracted both young and old. The create-a-wrestler feature showcases very limited options, and pay-per-view events are scheduled on a limited “monthly” basis. An online version may still present this limitation, along with limited move choices and the slim chance of making it big in the main events. Let’s keep fake wrestling in the confines of our television instead.
And that ends our long list of good and bad ideas. This list goes to show that not all games or books or other related media can be transitioned into online games. There are other ideas out there related to this topic. You may post your ideas in the comments section.
Have fun gaming and Happy Holidays!
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