digibutter.nerr

Boomboxer · Twilit Masked Audiophile

Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking. "Another one of these pointless 'dream game' discussions." Well, sorry guys, but you're the only real "game-related" forum I frequent. Besides, I haven't been able to get this idea I've had affectionate-parody deconstructionist real-time-strategy game outta my head.

So, yeah. If the gods of real-time-strategy games went up to your door one day and asked you what you'd want in the perfect RTS, what would you say? Any game mechanics that you'd like to see? Would you like it too be easier for newcomers? Would it be funny? Serious? A combination of the two? What time period would it be set? What kind of crazy units and awesomeness would you like to see?

I've asked this question to myself a few times. The thing is, as much as I love RTSs, I absolutely suck at them. I can't play any of them competitively online at all. So, I want a diverse selection of views from casual RTS gamers to hardcore RTS gamers to people who've never actually played an RTS/absolutely hate them but love a game with a sense of humor about itself and its genre.

So, what do you say? Any input?

Warlord_Mike · Nintendo Zealot

First off, Superweapons are a must. That's one reason I love CnC more than Starcraft or Warcraft.

Second, if some more powerful attacks are used, the terrain alters to show deep craters, scorched earth, toxic spills, etc.

Each side has their own quirks that can be countered by a different unit. Starcraft capitalized on this heavily - a big "for instance" was with the Terran Battlecruisers and Protoss Carriers - expensive and can do some crazy-@$$ damage, but smaller units, like wraiths, scouts and scourge, can really hinder them.

Implementing "Food" limits is generally more restrictive than "Power" limits - people can often build as many power plants as possible, while there's typically an upper bound for max food.

If land, sea, and air are areas of combat, then, by God, they'd better all get used. Having just land, land and air, or land and sea often isn't as fun as all three.

That's all I can think of at this point; if I think of anything else, though, I'll be sure to add it. Cool

Boomboxer · Twilit Masked Audiophile

Yep, pretty much agree with everything you said, Mike. In addition to the terrain-altering abilities, I'd like to see a RTS designed from the ground up in terms of physics. Same with unit-balancing, races, oft-neglected water combat, etc.

I've never played Command and Conquer, so what exactly do you mean by "superweapons?"

Oh, and if the game is in a speculative fiction-style universe, I'd really like to see a very diverse group of factions, Starcraft/Warcraft-style. I would also kill for a clockpunk/steampunk "race." That would be beyond amazing.

Francis · Elite Nerr

I would like to see something with the size and complexity of Civilization, but real time, instead of turn-based. Where you build an empire, and not just a series of battlefields.

I love playing in a huge C&C game with 8 players. So it should be a MMO with thousands of players... so you can form aliances and share resources and stuff.

Warlord_Mike · Nintendo Zealot

Boomboxer · Twilit Masked Audiophile

Alexio · PC Gamer

I don't want an RTS to have a thing where you have to upgrade ages like in Age of Empires. I also don't want more than 3 resources to gather.

Boomboxer · Twilit Masked Audiophile

I don't mind ages/tiers, actually, but whatever. I'm just kinda indifferent. If there's a better way to organize a tech tree, then, yeah, sure, a game implementing that would be great. But if there has to be tiers, then I'm not whining.

A look at the wikipedia article for real-time strategy made me think of something.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_strategy

Players shouldn't have to fight against the interface and work their way around its limitations. I was absolutely THRILLED when I learned that StarCraft II wouldn't have a unit subgroup selection cap (as in, you can select more than twelve Zerglings in one group).

That's the kinda thing I'd like to see more of. The trend in the industry seems to be turning RTSs into less "click-fests" with less "button babysitting," and I'd like to see developers continue that trend with an interface designed from the ground up.[/url]

Warlord_Mike · Nintendo Zealot