Priority 1: Go to Casino; Priority 2: Save the World

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

It happens in every commercial game. The world is in danger, the heroes are chasing after some bad guy, or there's a killing spree going on. And yet, the heroes always seem to find the time to go to the Chocobo Races along the way.

Personally, I don't have a problem with this. I'm all for deviating from my quest after Guy Who Is Evil to find missing cats and getting a tan (as long as it's fun/rewarding enough). The problem is, I can't seem to have such things in my own games. Their quests are always too urgent to take the time to relax.

"Come on guys, I heard Guy Who Is Evil went through the high mountains!"
"Ooh, a mall! Let's stop and go there!"
"What?! No you stupid ****! If we do that, Guy Who Is Evil will get too far ahead of us and do who-knows-what!"

I dunno, I guess I'm putting too much logic into how my games flow. My games just become some big linear quest with nothing else to do but chase after said evil person. I suppose I could try to put them in, but it just doesn't feel right. Anybody else have a problem like that?

[Green_Haired_Girl]

Re: Priority 1: Go to Casino; Priority 2: Save the World

Actually, I have plans for an entire Carnival in The Lost Islands , so don't feel too bad.

Actually, with the pacing of my story I could pull that off without too much trouble; the lead villain is magically sealed/sleeping, so hauling butt out there to off him is not a huge priority...

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: Priority 1: Go to Casino; Priority 2: Save the World

Well I solved it by having some of my quest and side quests time sensitive.

For instance, Villager runs up to hero party screaming "Oh no, an army of zombies is heading toward Othertown! Please save them!" And if you just spend all your time drinking at the bar and playing minigames or collecting mushrooms or something, two days later the few survivors from Othertown are all "Thanks for nothing ya bastards!"

That way the player can choose to lounge around and waste time if they want but it doesn't kill the sense of urgency with world-changing events going on. Like in FF7 for example, Meteor is supposedly barreling down on the planet but you can go play arcade games for as long as you want and it'll just hang there waiting for you. How different would that be if you knew Meteor was gonna hit in 5 days if you don't stop it first?

[abner]

Re: Priority 1: Go to Casino; Priority 2: Save the World

Like I did for Trian's Quest for the Pocket PC, I put in a hero training center where you can fight magically delicious members of the party as well as a tournament between different characters.

And in some games, gambling can ensure victory! Like in Xenosaga 1, I won the Soul thing and the Dice, and put them both on JR, and he was 10 times better than any other character after that. It was as he always said, "Too Easy!"

[Omnislash024]

Re: Priority 1: Go to Casino; Priority 2: Save the World

Kinda hard putting in casinos without probability scripts now. Funny thing is they have a casino building in the game.

[abner]

Re: Priority 1: Go to Casino; Priority 2: Save the World

I can't BELIEVE they couldn't put in a simple randomizer. Almost a crime.

I'm ok with EVERYTHING as long as they release a 3.5. Yes, I will fork out another 40 bucks, but fix some of these tons of little issues!

[WilliamKirk]

Re: Priority 1: Go to Casino; Priority 2: Save the World

I think eventually you'll hit some point where the characters aren't in such a hurry...

[Rodak]

Re: Priority 1: Go to Casino; Priority 2: Save the World

IThe problem is, I can't seem to have such things in my own games. Their quests are always too urgent to take the time to relax.

I ignored the problem and made all mini games accessable through the user menu system. That way they can be standing right in front of the last boss (George Bush in the case of Videogamedrome, where I implemented this idea) and decide they want to play some Fire Baseball, or Pseudo PAC-MAN before killing the President. They press a button and are warped to the game. When it's over they are right where they left off.

Of course I'm using RPGM2 so that is easy.

It probably can't be done on 3 and I am unsure about 1, but know it can be done with XP.

But yes, I love the side questing and often take pleasure in ignoring the safety of the world to go and get drunk and play games (our Government Officials do it all the time).

So I say include the option. If you need help implementing it, just ask in the workshop forum and countless thousands will flock to help you.

Well... one or two anyhow.

Peace.

[Shard]

Re: Priority 1: Go to Casino; Priority 2: Save the World

Somewhat of a tangent, but that's not exactly unprecedented in this forum:

I wondered if anyone has ever made their boss-fight into a mini-game itself? While reading Rodak's post I had the mental image of Dubya standing before a Ms. Pac-man machine in a cheetos-stained t-shirt, challenging me to beat his top score. Thoughts?