by John Hoskin on May 04, 2007
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Daily Column New MMOG Articles at TenTonHammer Today Hot Content Real World News - You Can't Make This UpI had a much more serious article in the works for today, but after reading Cody's "Top Ten Properties to Make Into MMOGs" I felt obliged to textually tape together a list of my own. So here you have it. I decided that although I agree with Cody that Harry Potter, Knights of the Old Republic and Grand Theft Auto (it's coming and it's called APB, developed by Davey Jones of GTA fame) are top ten properties I decided to choose a list that did not include any of his choices.
I left out any properties that I knew to be currently in production and sharing information about that production. Stargate and Star Trek came immediately to mind. World of Darkness, White Wolf's vampire property also would have made this list if it wasn't already in the works. Warhammer 40k, though apparently in the development pipe at Vigil Games isn't pushing out any public information, so it made the list. It's just a gleam in a developer's eye down in Austin as far as we know. Likewise the comic book properties.
So here is the list:
10) Comic Book Properties (DC and Marvel)
Batman, Justice League, Wonder Woman, Captain America, Fantastic Four, Spiderman, The X-Men, etc. The Marvel license is deeper and probably more lucrative than DC, but the DC license could be successful with only Justice League. Given the success of City of Heroes/Villains without a license this seems like a sure-fire win.
9) Mad Max
Auto Assault explored this genre from a vehicular perspective, but imagine it from a first-person (or third-person if that is your whimsy) perspective.
8) Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen
You have no idea what I'm talking about. Go here. This is quite possibly the deepest, most open-ended fantasy world ever created. Gods, nations, ascendants and politics are all well developed, yet almost completely open-ended.
7) Transformers
One question, are you an Autobot or a Decepticon?
6) Dune
It spawned movies, games and numerous additional novels. The backstory is complex and intriguing. Spice anyone?
5) Blade Runner
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Replicants, off-world colonies and cyber-punk in one property. Please sir, may I have some more?
4) Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time
Though I didn't personally get much out of Mr. Jordan's series of books, in fact, I didn't even bother to finish them after about, oh, book six, there are thousands of people who love this series. The backstory alone is developed well enough that it would lend itself to a fantastic MMOG.
3) Warhammer 40K
In my opinion this is the Warhammer based MMOG that should been developed first. The 40k universe is a much more intriguing backdrop than the fantasy universe. Space Marines baby!
2) Starcraft
Who needs me to explain this one? Raise your hand. Now back to your Vic 20.
1) Pokemon
Is there a larger potential property for a MMOG than Pokemon? Sure it is embarrassing to think that you know about Pokemon, but you do. Some of the most influential people in the world are our children. They also happen to have access to incredible amounts of disposable income. They play the game and love it. They watch the cartoon and they will buy the movie this October when it is released. Pokemon might be the property that breaks cultural barriers better than any other and that makes it my #1 choice for MMOG property.
What did I miss? What is your top ten?
Vote, rank, share, comment or email me directly.
2. New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today
Blog: Top Ten Potential MMO PropertiesThanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com
John "Boomjack" Hoskin