My Steampunk/victorian ideas for a game

dubb01 · 12-05-2007, 02:19 AM

So, I noticed that people are popping up new threads in this forum again basically throwing down their ideas for games. I wanted to include mine because it's been brewing in my head for some time now, although I haven't put much time into besides some sketches and such.

Basically, I'm obsessed with a steampunk/victorian era london type mmo. I think it's basic fundamentals would be much closer to EQ than WoW, but I have put in very little thought into all that up to this point. I really like the idea of a group heavy game that gives all those old freedoms that EQ allowed. Honestly, the only thing I'm SUPER picky about in terms of gameplay is that a heavy majority of the items would be droppable/sellable/re-sellable. I always appreciated the buying/selling aspect of EQ and bringing back an economy similar to that would be great in my mind.

I'd like to do away with magic in general and replace it with technology. It's still has the same bones as most mmo's today just a different setting to give people a fresh outlook. I've also always thought an mmo should be built from the end-game down so you can plan a clear(er) progression from level to level, item to item. That could be completely impractical, was always just a thought I'd had that would improve the drastic leap most games seem to take in certain areas.

Anyhoo, I'm certainly open to suggestions on this, just wanted to kind of get it out there and perhaps refine the idea some more. I dont really plan on spending a lot of time on it, but I would like to do a serious amount of concept work for it, and maybe someday shop the idea around. I doubt it's possible, but I suppose we all need a pet project.

Here's my images I've put together for this thing over the last 6(?) months or so.

dubb01 · 12-05-2007, 02:25 AM

and some practice 3d to see how I could pull off something similar

kollos · 12-05-2007, 04:56 AM

i would really like to see more of this, especially some world/zone concepts if you have done any. i love your art style.

maybe you could give a little more detailed gameplay description as well. i would once again suggest tho not to start with the end game, rather start with something very basic and expand the world zone by zone, or storyline, or whatever, so you always have the next milestone in sight.

dubb01 · 12-05-2007, 05:20 AM

I wish I had more to show, but just been putting pieces together here and there when I find the time/inspiration. I plan on putting together some environment/setting concepts soon, because it would help to add a cohesive vision and because my portfolio needs it badly heh.

I just think the whole jack the ripper/london fog type thing could work really well, london underground as a dungeon etc. /shrug

I'll try and update it when I can find more time to put into it. Always thought a clear vision of the world and a cool little comic or something to go along w/ it as promotional material would be a great way to sell it to a company capable of producing it.

Khorum · 12-05-2007, 10:46 AM

Looks great man. I'm a big huge steampunk/gaslight freak myself, there aren't a lot of source floating around about it either. It looks like you're leaning closer to the fantasy bent more than the mechanistic/rivetjunkie thing though. Or is that only with those pieces? I'd been working on a steampunk/alternative history RTS concept for a while.

Flinch · 12-05-2007, 11:48 AM

Do you have a Deviant Art account?

Tenks · 12-05-2007, 12:41 PM

Wow thats some amazing artwork. I'm very impressed.

Neph · 12-05-2007, 12:46 PM

Steampunk Pawn is really good. I'd love to know what kind of story/quest lines you've thought up for this world.

VariaVespasa · 12-05-2007, 06:34 PM

Girl Genius Online Comics!

For steampunk fans who havent found it yet.
Also-

www.doctorsteel.com

niteflyx · 12-06-2007, 01:10 AM

Steampunk MMO would be sick.

Let me know if you need a character animator.

dubb01 · 12-06-2007, 01:55 AM

I hate to keep updating/bumping this thing w/o updates, but like I mentioned, it's just a pet project that I want to create a cohesive vision for and maybe someday pursue it a bit further.

The webcomic/site that was posted is nice, but my vision is decidedly different. I want a very industrial gritty type feel, London fog and all that. A general color palette could be very similar to parts of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen where they're in the city capturing Hyde. Even that might be a bit too modern/shiny for my tastes though.

As far as quests go, I dont have anything in place of the sort. I dont have ANY kind of story in place, just trying to create a setting/theme up in my mind and on paper a bit at this point. Obviously the world needs some kind of conflict, but I'm not there yet, and I doubt I'd be the one to nail that stuff down anyways.

Someone asked for my deviantart page: b-nine on deviantART
and my regular website just in case: BrandonLeachArt.com

I don't update either with any kind of regularity, as most new projects can't be shown until they go to publish etc. and I'm lazy

Hopefully I'll get some environment stuff going on for this somewhat soon, but it's hard to dedicate much time to at the moment. If anyone wants to join in and contribute feel free in any sense. Just don't expect for this to get made into a game or anything just yet, as right now for me it's just a practice in building my own little sandbox to play in.

xilsharn · 12-06-2007, 09:44 AM

Whole feel just oozes some kind of Mad Queen character being challenged by a reluctant hero, maybe by a right proper chap who'd rather not be bothered during his morning tea.

"Can't wage war now, chaps, I've got tea to drink!"

etc., usual Victorian English stereotypes.

Millie · 12-06-2007, 10:07 AM

Very cool artwork. In terms of the storyline, maybe you can work in some sort of magic vs. technology thing? Like maybe magic is being eradicated from the countryside, or some such FF6-style theme?

Victorian England was all about the plowing over of the English countryside to make way for industry (this was in the height of the Industrial Revolution, after all). A lot of English folks were very bitter about the destruction of the natural landscape, forests, wildlife, etc.

You may not want to go in that direction at all, but just in case, it could be an interesting theme (or side theme) to explore.

xilsharn · 12-06-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millie

Very cool artwork. In terms of the storyline, maybe you can work in some sort of magic vs. technology thing? Like maybe magic is being eradicated from the countryside, or some such FF6-style theme?

Victorian England was all about the plowing over of the English countryside to make way for industry (this was in the height of the Industrial Revolution, after all). A lot of English folks were very bitter about the destruction of the natural landscape, forests, wildlife, etc.

You may not want to go in that direction at all, but just in case, it could be an interesting theme (or side theme) to explore.

my idea > yours

xilsharn · 12-06-2007, 10:36 AM

Any steampunk RPG must involve a star-blimp.

You heard me.

Blimps in orbit.

12-05-2007, 02:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
dubb01 Fanboi~ Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 113 +11 Internets	My Steampunk/victorian ideas for a game So, I noticed that people are popping up new threads in this forum again basically throwing down their ideas for games. I wanted to include mine because it's been brewing in my head for some time now, although I haven't put much time into besides some sketches and such. Basically, I'm obsessed with a steampunk/victorian era london type mmo. I think it's basic fundamentals would be much closer to EQ than WoW, but I have put in very little thought into all that up to this point. I really like the idea of a group heavy game that gives all those old freedoms that EQ allowed. Honestly, the only thing I'm SUPER picky about in terms of gameplay is that a heavy majority of the items would be droppable/sellable/re-sellable. I always appreciated the buying/selling aspect of EQ and bringing back an economy similar to that would be great in my mind. I'd like to do away with magic in general and replace it with technology. It's still has the same bones as most mmo's today just a different setting to give people a fresh outlook. I've also always thought an mmo should be built from the end-game down so you can plan a clear(er) progression from level to level, item to item. That could be completely impractical, was always just a thought I'd had that would improve the drastic leap most games seem to take in certain areas. Anyhoo, I'm certainly open to suggestions on this, just wanted to kind of get it out there and perhaps refine the idea some more. I dont really plan on spending a lot of time on it, but I would like to do a serious amount of concept work for it, and maybe someday shop the idea around. I doubt it's possible, but I suppose we all need a pet project. Here's my images I've put together for this thing over the last 6(?) months or so. Attached Images Last edited by dubb01; 12-05-2007 at 02:24 AM.. Reason: incoherent babbling... propably still not fixed

12-05-2007, 02:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
dubb01 Fanboi~ Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 113 +11 Internets	and some practice 3d to see how I could pull off something similar Attached Images

12-06-2007, 01:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
dubb01 Fanboi~ Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 113 +11 Internets	I hate to keep updating/bumping this thing w/o updates, but like I mentioned, it's just a pet project that I want to create a cohesive vision for and maybe someday pursue it a bit further. The webcomic/site that was posted is nice, but my vision is decidedly different. I want a very industrial gritty type feel, London fog and all that. A general color palette could be very similar to parts of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen where they're in the city capturing Hyde. Even that might be a bit too modern/shiny for my tastes though. As far as quests go, I dont have anything in place of the sort. I dont have ANY kind of story in place, just trying to create a setting/theme up in my mind and on paper a bit at this point. Obviously the world needs some kind of conflict, but I'm not there yet, and I doubt I'd be the one to nail that stuff down anyways. Someone asked for my deviantart page: b-nine on deviantART and my regular website just in case: BrandonLeachArt.com I don't update either with any kind of regularity, as most new projects can't be shown until they go to publish etc. and I'm lazy Hopefully I'll get some environment stuff going on for this somewhat soon, but it's hard to dedicate much time to at the moment. If anyone wants to join in and contribute feel free in any sense. Just don't expect for this to get made into a game or anything just yet, as right now for me it's just a practice in building my own little sandbox to play in. Last edited by dubb01; 12-06-2007 at 01:59 AM.. Reason: fixed link

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12-05-2007, 04:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
kollos Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 420 -6 Internets	i would really like to see more of this, especially some world/zone concepts if you have done any. i love your art style. maybe you could give a little more detailed gameplay description as well. i would once again suggest tho not to start with the end game, rather start with something very basic and expand the world zone by zone, or storyline, or whatever, so you always have the next milestone in sight.

12-05-2007, 05:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
dubb01 Fanboi~ Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 113 +11 Internets	I wish I had more to show, but just been putting pieces together here and there when I find the time/inspiration. I plan on putting together some environment/setting concepts soon, because it would help to add a cohesive vision and because my portfolio needs it badly heh. I just think the whole jack the ripper/london fog type thing could work really well, london underground as a dungeon etc. /shrug I'll try and update it when I can find more time to put into it. Always thought a clear vision of the world and a cool little comic or something to go along w/ it as promotional material would be a great way to sell it to a company capable of producing it.

12-05-2007, 10:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
Khorum Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,594 -36 Internets	Looks great man. I'm a big huge steampunk/gaslight freak myself, there aren't a lot of source floating around about it either. It looks like you're leaning closer to the fantasy bent more than the mechanistic/rivetjunkie thing though. Or is that only with those pieces? I'd been working on a steampunk/alternative history RTS concept for a while.

12-05-2007, 11:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Flinch SWEDGEN! Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 525	Do you have a Deviant Art account?

12-05-2007, 12:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tenks Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,593	Wow thats some amazing artwork. I'm very impressed.

12-05-2007, 12:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
Neph Late to the party Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 836 +8 Internets	Steampunk Pawn is really good. I'd love to know what kind of story/quest lines you've thought up for this world.

12-05-2007, 06:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
VariaVespasa Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 357 +8 Internets	Girl Genius Online Comics! For steampunk fans who havent found it yet. Also- www.doctorsteel.com

12-06-2007, 01:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
niteflyx Fuckin' 07er Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philly Posts: 745 +11 Internets	Steampunk MMO would be sick. Let me know if you need a character animator.

12-06-2007, 09:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
xilsharn Definitely a chick Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,743 -4 Internets	Whole feel just oozes some kind of Mad Queen character being challenged by a reluctant hero, maybe by a right proper chap who'd rather not be bothered during his morning tea. "Can't wage war now, chaps, I've got tea to drink!" etc., usual Victorian English stereotypes.

12-06-2007, 10:07 AM	#13 (permalink)
Millie A Relic Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,873	Very cool artwork. In terms of the storyline, maybe you can work in some sort of magic vs. technology thing? Like maybe magic is being eradicated from the countryside, or some such FF6-style theme? Victorian England was all about the plowing over of the English countryside to make way for industry (this was in the height of the Industrial Revolution, after all). A lot of English folks were very bitter about the destruction of the natural landscape, forests, wildlife, etc. You may not want to go in that direction at all, but just in case, it could be an interesting theme (or side theme) to explore.

12-06-2007, 10:36 AM	#15 (permalink)
xilsharn Definitely a chick Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,743 -4 Internets	Any steampunk RPG must involve a star-blimp. You heard me. Blimps in orbit.