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This topic has moved here: Subject: Destiny Discussion: Break the immersion! (Create an NPC)
  • Subject: Destiny Discussion: Break the immersion! (Create an NPC)
Subject: Destiny Discussion: Break the immersion! (Create an NPC)
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Every MMO needs a certain level of immersion for players to come back and play. For most, there needs to be an griping plot with immersive game play wrapped in the fiction. The modes by which you sell immersion to the player are through game play experiences and fidelity in the environments and stories. I, as a player, need to feel connected to the world I'm exploring.

Developers bring the stories and environments to life through the use of NPC characters. What's a believable town/city without people to inhabit them. From the textures to their animations, every NPC in the game is designed to project an individual story or to progress the over arcing story forward. It is the developers goal to create and carefully design everything in their software to create this illusion.

Bungie's next title is described, in their contract with Activision, to be an MMO like sci-fi action shooter. Lets assume that, at least in the campaign, there will be an open world experience. With that assumption comes the nessesity to implement NPC's.

Lets have some fun.

I want you to create a NPC that breaks the immersion of a "sci-fantasy action shooter". Describe to me an animation that would stop you in your tracks, just to think "What the -blam!-?". Give me a quest that will question your drive to finish the game.

I'll go first:

Submission template:
Character description: Use any civilian NPC. Approximately 3 feet away from him is a large top hat and beside that a severed dogs head.

Setting: A very dark room with one burnt out light.
(You'll need some kind of flash light)

Character audio:
-"Do you like my hat?"
-"Do you know where the post office is?"
-"I'm telling you, there are ninjas! Ninjas!"
- ect

Character Animation: The character will walk around in circles. If you speak to the character, he/she will tell you that they need to have the light bulb replaced.

Attached quest: Find a light bulb and bring this poor soul light!

Reward:
- 100 coins

Now go create your own! Embellish on others. Feel free to add categories to the submission template. If people get into this I'll add my favorite entries to the OP.

[Edited on 06.17.2012 2:12 PM PDT]

  • 06.17.2012 2:07 PM PDT

Rain, and Jazz.
Halo: Tactical

I'm either a fool or an inteligent man, depending on how sleepy or angry I am.

I originaly made an account on 07.27.2007 but I wanted to link my GT and made this account. Don't forget your passwords!

Are you a Bungie employee?

Regardless this is quite the challenge, as I do not play MMOs and have not come across something like this in a long time.

Probably something that more than completely clashes with everything that is going on (and the clash is not explained at all). That is always annoying, IMO.

  • 06.17.2012 2:29 PM PDT
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Posted by: Arbiter 739
Are you a Bungie employee?
I'm just another fan of Bungie.

Posted by: Arbiter 739
Regardless this is quite the challenge, as I do not play MMOs and have not come across something like this in a long time.

Probably something that more than completely clashes with everything that is going on (and the clash is not explained at all). That is always annoying, IMO.
They are annoying, but entertaining.

You could create pretty much anything you want. I choose to shape my NPC around the Community forum. A little easter egg for those who have been around for a while. I might make a few more examples with better "Quests".

[Edited on 06.18.2012 11:12 AM PDT]

  • 06.17.2012 2:37 PM PDT

I knew I had read this before.

OT: I'm not great at things like this, although it should be entertaining to see what people come up with.

  • 06.17.2012 3:10 PM PDT
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Posted by: antony X1000
I knew I had read this before.

OT: I'm not great at things like this, although it should be entertaining to see what people come up with.
It doesn't look like it'll be any more successful here then it was on the community forum. I guess I'll save this for when people end up here for Destiny.

  • 06.17.2012 9:40 PM PDT

Character description: A plumber/construction worker in dirty overalls.

Setting: Side of the street in a dusty town. The outside wall of a pub or bar.

Character audio:
-"Gorram nipple!"
-"TURN!"
-"GRRRRRAAAAAAGHHHHH!"
- ect

Character Animation: He'll be trying to use a wrench to turn what looks to be a large bolt or nut, like the kind you would see on a fire hydrant. Occasionally he'll appear to give up and pace to and fro. At least once he'll back up and throw the wrench at the bolt.

Attached quest: Go into the food line pipes of the pub and unclog the buildup around the food nipple.

Reward:
- A Grunt Plushie


[Edited on 06.18.2012 11:09 AM PDT]

  • 06.18.2012 11:08 AM PDT

Fight your way out; only scrubs and mashers jump out of the corner

I find these kinds of easter eggs do best when the NPC otherwise blends into the game; rather than standing next to a giant top hat, they'd be standing near structures that make sense to the game's lore in some way.

Perhaps something like this:

You are sent to a ruined tower made of what was once glistening white marble. You strike up a conversation with a near by NPC when you are interrupted by a weathered older man who informs you of a side quest in the Marble Tower to retrieve his prized musical instrument.

The NPC, who introduces himself as Arty O'Connell, informs you that this musical instrument is an artifact of the Grizzled Ancients ( or some allegory ) which sounds like the voices of the gods when played and commands deep power over descendants of this ancient people.

Upon completing the quest he informs you that you're now a friend to a group dedicated to preserving artifacts from their Forefathers, whose ranks are swelling. 10,000 strong! And growing!

Add in a few more lines he's spoken over the years and you're all set; you have a plot plausible character and quest that's an inside joke for true Bungie fans to enjoy, AND it pokes a little fun at Marty.

It would only make a great deal of sense to Bungie fans, but would be just enough to break the immersion without making it stick out in a terribly distracting way ( remember, Bungie cares deeply about telling a great story, using solid game play as a medium )

  • 06.18.2012 11:16 AM PDT