Pie in the sky game ideas

[charlie-blix]

We all have that dream game idea. That one awesome game or game mechanic or whatever that we came up with when we should have been studying or working or sleeping. The idea that if we ever had the chance or ability to make we would be vaulted up to the level of all the great heavy weights of the video game gods. Sadly though the chance of us ever making the game or utilizing this idea is pretty much slim to none and while hoarding it in the off chance we ever do get to implement it is an option, it is also is a waist. Why not share it? Why not let it out into the wild and see if it makes it's way into a triple A game down the road or the next generation of systems?

So lets have it. What's something you think could change or improve our world of gaming? It can be as simple as an idea for a new game mechanic or as complex as a new way of distributing games. What is your big pie in the sky idea?

[charlie-blix]

One of my pie in the sky ideas... clan/group support within a gaming system network not just a game.

What if Xbox Live or The Playstation Network had built in clan/group pages? It's one thing to have a friends list but I want a shared page that a group can put up info on. Like a calendar that they can scheduler game playing times and practice sessions. How cool would it be if a show like Co-Op had a group page that we could join and the hosts could put on the calendar what games they planned on playing or games they were going to be talking about on next weeks show. The page could have other stuff on it too, like leader boards for whatever game the group focuses on, or VIP players from the last gaming night that everyone could vote on. Stuff like that.

I've never been in a clan but I could see this being great for even causal players. I know I would get on more if I knew so and so would be on and would be playing so and so game on so and so day/time. As it is I just get on... see no ones on or they are in the middle of a game and don't bother with multilayer.

This would go a long way in building communities within these networks. I know it is something that I would love to see happen and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[gta_bmx]

Good thread. I have an idea for a PC based console system. Essentially consisting of a PC (main board, CPU, 8800 or better graphics, DVD drive, etc.). But instead of being in a big ugly PC case, have it be in a cool console-like case (with different colors available) -- something like in between a Game Cube (a black GC is about the best looking console ever, IMHO) and a PS2. USB ports in the front could be for Logitech or Xbox 360 controllers.

It could come in a kit form, where you add a CPU, RAM, HD, OS. Or fully built. About the only difference between this and a regular PC is the case. It would be a really efficient design. And could do without the usual PC trappings such as parallel/serial ports, PCI slots, tons of drive bays, etc.. It would need a PCI-e slot for graphics unless a mobo with awesome onboard graphics came out.