New Online Game

[MrPinkPanther]

Overview
After 3 years in online game development I believe I have developed my skills like I always intended too (and made a bit of money on the side!). But now I think it is time for one final big project and this time I mean big. I've been brainstorming some ideas over the past few weeks and below you can see an overview of what I would consider 'The best of the bunch' and I want you guys to give me your opinions on them.

MMORPG
Fairly basic and obvious choice. I havent explored this option too much and so the 'title' is fairly vague. If I did create an MMORPG it would be loosely based on a period in time and a battle between 2 forces for example celts and romans. This isnt my faviroute of ideas, I personally think it has been overdone but I have left it here anyway because I know the genre is very popular.
Pros: Expansive market, Relatively untapped as far as pure online (Except RS)
Cons: Already dominated by key players such as WoW, most ideas have been done, difficult to establish yourself in

Crime MMO
This choice is based on the popularity of Text based crime 'MMORPGs' I expect you have all seen them but largely, in the MMO industry atleast, they have remained text based. No one has really explored bringing this GTA style concept into the Graphics based MMO world. It could potentially have a huge market.
Pros: Large untapped market, based off popular concepts
Cons: Specific age range, promoting 'negative' message (guncrime etc)

School MMO
I personally think this is by far the most 'intresting' of all my ideas, its definatly the most unique. The idea came after everyone in year 7 playing BBC Bitesize games at my old school where people played them thinking they were games and actually learnt a lot. This concept takes that idea and futhers it. Basically every real school that wishes too is given its own MMOCC on a subdomain of the main site eg. School1.MMOCC.com, this will then in turn have a password so only that school can use it. Money to spend in the game on your room can be awarded free by the schools administrator account for good behaviour so students are now really rewarded instead of getting worthless 'housepoints' or something similar at school (Chatlogs etc could also be monitored by this account). Students can also earn ingame Money by completing weekly quiz's for each year group, futhering students education. I am also working out a system by which teachers can send out resources (worksheets etc) too students for either homework or a bonus to get extra ingame money. I think this could be a successful idea as it will introduce a student competition element to education. This game would be aimed at the lower end of secondary school.
Pros: Potential media attention, unique idea, huge userbase
Cons: Money made through advertisements, There is a chance no schools would be intrested

[Joe!]

If you managed to create that last idea effectively I think that would be great. You would really have to pitch it well to schools though and convince it isn't just a game.

[MrPinkPanther]

If you managed to create that last idea effectively I think that would be great. You would really have to pitch it well to schools though and convince it isn't just a game.

Thats what I was thinking, the last one certainly has the most potential but its also a big risk and will take the longest.

[Camistheman]

Its worth it though

[AgnesIO]

The last idea is fantastic tbh.

The best way to present it, is to perhpas get teachers at a school near you to try it, and see if they can guess what the game is helpnig them with?

Really REALLY good!

[ideabox]

Overview
After 3 years in online game development I believe I have developed my skills like I always intended too (and made a bit of money on the side!). But now I think it is time for one final big project and this time I mean big. I've been brainstorming some ideas over the past few weeks and below you can see an overview of what I would consider 'The best of the bunch' and I want you guys to give me your opinions on them.

MMORPG
Fairly basic and obvious choice. I havent explored this option too much and so the 'title' is fairly vague. If I did create an MMORPG it would be loosely based on a period in time and a battle between 2 forces for example celts and romans. This isnt my faviroute of ideas, I personally think it has been overdone but I have left it here anyway because I know the genre is very popular.
Pros: Expansive market, Relatively untapped as far as pure online (Except RS)
Cons: Already dominated by key players such as WoW, most ideas have been done, difficult to establish yourself in

Crime MMO
This choice is based on the popularity of Text based crime 'MMORPGs' I expect you have all seen them but largely, in the MMO industry atleast, they have remained text based. No one has really explored bringing this GTA style concept into the Graphics based MMO world. It could potentially have a huge market.
Pros: Large untapped market, based off popular concepts
Cons: Specific age range, promoting 'negative' message (guncrime etc)

School MMO
I personally think this is by far the most 'intresting' of all my ideas, its definatly the most unique. The idea came after everyone in year 7 playing BBC Bitesize games at my old school where people played them thinking they were games and actually learnt a lot. This concept takes that idea and futhers it. Basically every real school that wishes too is given its own MMOCC on a subdomain of the main site eg. School1.MMOCC.com, this will then in turn have a password so only that school can use it. Money to spend in the game on your room can be awarded free by the schools administrator account for good behaviour so students are now really rewarded instead of getting worthless 'housepoints' or something similar at school (Chatlogs etc could also be monitored by this account). Students can also earn ingame Money by completing weekly quiz's for each year group, futhering students education. I am also working out a system by which teachers can send out resources (worksheets etc) too students for either homework or a bonus to get extra ingame money. I think this could be a successful idea as it will introduce a student competition element to education. This game would be aimed at the lower end of secondary school.
Pros: Potential media attention, unique idea, huge userbase
Cons: Money made through advertisements, There is a chance no schools would be intrested

Maybe the education aspect could be one of the many aspects incorporated into the game, since I noticed that although it is very good, kids would dismiss it as being nerdy or 'gay' if that was the prime USP.
I like it though but I think there should be more elements mixed in i.e. in-game products or maybe if they score high enough they can become a student tutor in the rp game. :eusa_danc
I think that definitely if you had rooms for student tutors and they were given certain privilages, that would encourage them to join teaching, which is a problem atm and educational institutions would want to support your site.
- I'm feeling it.

[MrPinkPanther]

The best way to present it, is to perhpas get teachers at a school near you to try it, and see if they can guess what the game is helpnig them with?

Nice idea, I was thinking of developing it then offering it to a nearby school for their students to come up with more ideas. That way the teachers are encouraging them to be creative, they get their ideas in a game and I get fresh new ideas. A money reward could be in line too.

[AgnesIO]

Nice idea, I was thinking of developing it then offering it to a nearby school for their students to come up with more ideas. That way the teachers are encouraging them to be creative, they get their ideas in a game and I get fresh new ideas. A money reward could be in line too.

I will ask:

Is this aimed at Primary School kids, or secondry or everyone?

It would probably work best testing it at a Year 6 or 5 class, as they will probably be the keanest, and know what they are talking about (Year 1 kids, wouldnt be great to get ideas from)

[MrPinkPanther]

I will ask:

Is this aimed at Primary School kids, or secondry or everyone?

It would probably work best testing it at a Year 6 or 5 class, as they will probably be the keanest, and know what they are talking about (Year 1 kids, wouldnt be great to get ideas from)

I was aiming it at young secondary school children because although people will only be able to access their own schools chat I dont think parents at primary school would be confident with their children accessing 'chat rooms'. I suppose I could call it something else like a school communication network or something. Anyway thanks for the input

I like your tutor idea too ideabox, I'll explore that later when I'm back from college.

[HotelUser]

I think a nice classic MMORPG would be the best . The school idea is a good idea, though.