Adaption Corner – Part 2: From Simple Beginnings to the Massively Multiplayer Online Game

So, after my brief adventure into the world of anime adaption ideas (I might write more on the topic in future) I decided the second part will be on the gaming side of adaption. Not the whole film to game situation, we get so much in this corporate era of games and films, but the whole MMO side of gaming (Again a money grabbing thing, but sometimes can lead to little amusing ideas gaining a foot hold of a generation). My little point here is to present two franchises that to me and maybe anyone who’s seen or played a MMO, might think or consider an improbable chose, but may be as probably by next week. (Couldn’t resist, sorry)

Dune:

Again I will refer to David Lynch’s film Dune for the presentation of the style (Not story, because that belongs to the books). You got a whole universe that could make a great game, chose how you go about acquiring “Spice” to travel or level up when you kill another player to gain their supply of “Spice”. I’ve read half of the first book and it already brought me to think “This could create an intense MMO world”. Travel the universe on a vessel dependent upon spice, become a Navigator (This would be if you teamed up and would be a rare occurrence within the game, but if achieved gives the guild a advantages in traversing the universe of the game), Fremem (Good at gaining supplies, surviving in deserts and when part of a guild gain certain advantages over other players) there’s a lot more, but I’m not entirely excellent to remembering more variations of characters types so I leave it here.

The in game design would take more from the 80’s film and descriptions in the books, then from the two miniseries and games of the 90’s.

The above is only writing basic outlines in this article, since I could leave it and research more into the world of Dune, to return and write a complete write up of how everything would work.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:

This is actually the one I’ve wanted to write about for quite some time ever since I came upon the thought of it.

The world of Hitchhiker’s is big, and I mean big as in it spans nearly every line of media you can imagine, radio, book, TV series, comic, game, film and now one more book to complete the trilogy of five. A MMO based off it should be done from the countless amount of material they could use as reference while shaping the online universe of Hitchhiker’s, right now I imagine you’re figuring out how a MMO based on Hitchhiker’s would work…..well easy, we’d each be someone from someplace scattered throughout the universe (And get this) Hitchhiker’s traversing the galaxy to witness events from the books; the moment Zaphod stole the Heart of Gold at the launch ceremony or the destruction of Earth.

“What would be the basics for each beginner?” You wonder to yourself at this exciting prospect, every newcomer will be provided with a new edition of The Guide (Soon to be updated on Earth’s current status and new entry information, collected by “Ford Prefect” who’s current status is that of missing), one Babel fish (Unknown chance of war to take place between groups) and most importantly a Towel (Survival of newcomers is essential if we are to see the world evolve).

A downside will occur if you yourself Humans or Vogons alike, Humans will be unplayable, while every other species in this conceivable universe will be.

From the beginning The Guide will contain everything you need to know of the galaxy at hand, what places you should visit, how not to use a towel and what time of the year does “The Restaurant at the End of the Universe” serve the best Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster.

The Guide will also update on your current status in the galaxy and when you may expect to obtain updates for yourself and the galaxy.

A small note on obtaining an Improbability Drive will occur once the proper paperwork has been handed in and returned to you with a number of suggestions of where you may resend, bury and rewrite; but once completed, you will gain a new way of travelling planet to planet (Note your character potential for changing gender of species will become improbably higher with each use).

To anyone interested, I plan to research and write up a detailed version for Hitchhiker’s of the above to include a number of features ether unmentioned here or newly thought of.

Eve (A MMO) would serve as a basic outline of how the universe would expand, while also providing an idea of how you could expect planets to look.

For part 1 of Adaption Corner, the link is here: http://cinemaroll.com/animation/the-adaption-corner-to-anime-and-back/