Theme Shift?

[Devari]

I'd just like to make a new topic to address the issue of a theme shift. All ideas should be sent here; there's no such thing as a bad idea, so feel free to suggest anything.

No, I have nothing more to say at this exact moment. I'd just like to make this separate thread while I've still got that thought in my head.

[Gen. Volkov]

I like the current theme, I think we should change the Login page to reflect and explain the theme, rather than changing the theme to suit the Login Page.

[Ruddertail]

I think we should at least consider changing. The problem with a history theme is not only that "history" doesn't have a big fanbase, but it doesn't draw most people in or excite them in any way. And we're not even doing a particularly popular or well known period of history - most people have probably never heard of an Etruscan, never mind getting excited about playing as one. I think a fantasy theme lends itself better to drawing people in and getting them to say, "oh, cool. I'm going to check this out."

But certainly, changes to the login page are in order whatever theme we use.

[Freenhult]

Agreed with Rudder. History is cool to an extent, but its not a very large crowd.

[Gen. Volkov]

Bah, you were all for it when we first thought it up. Thing is, if we switch away from the history theme, it makes everything Neo and I did to make it good pointless. So I'm rather against a theme switch. I suppose we could put it to a vote though, provided we can come up with a good fantasy theme that isn't just a copy of RWL or other Promi's.

[Ruddertail]

Indeed. Because it was different then Redwall, and Redwall was obviously not working for us. Now, it can be seen that this theme isn't working any better. Further, if you look at this on an overall basis, history simply doesn't have the sort of "coolness" factor, let alone the big fanbase, to be an asset. Not this period of history. That was something that probably should have been recognized in the first place - failure to recognize it then doesn't mean we shouldn't recognize it now.

Yes, it would render a lot of work as pointless. I understand that, working as you did on the project, that that would be an unpleasant thing. But think of why you put the work into it: because of what it could do for FAF, if I'm not mistaken. If it isn't doing for FAF what you wanted it to, what better accomplishes the purpose of the work: continuing with the system produced by that work, even though it isn't achieving the goal, or starting over and producing something that will achieve the goal?

I understand the desire not to ape another promi. However, I think that one idea that should be considered would be something of the kind. Not aping, but "eating" - as it were - Devari's old Ragnarok project.

I say eating because we would still maintain the "Frost And Flame" name, simply switch to a Norse mythology theme. It would have a much stronger "coolness" factor than history, and, even if there aren't hordes of fans out there just waiting to find a game based on Norse mythology, I think people coming across it would be much more likely to be drawn in by the idea (Norse mythology? Gods and giants and all that? Cool!) than they would our current theme which, as I've said before, is not exactly something that makes a lot of people say, "cool!"

Another possibility would be some other sort of mythological theme, or perhaps trying to create our own fantasy storyline. The advantage of Rag, however, is we have a well defined concept which we can modify.

Whatever we do - whether we change or remain with the historical theme - I would council that we not become too set in it. The way the game works should determine our theme, rather than our theme determining what features we can implement. That would be the advantage of a theme we create - we could make it whatever we wanted it, and change it at will, rather than being bound to the "world" created by a particular author or writing.

[Freenhult]

Bah, you were all for it when we first thought it up. Thing is, if we switch away from the history theme, it makes everything Neo and I did to make it good pointless. So I'm rather against a theme switch. I suppose we could put it to a vote though, provided we can come up with a good fantasy theme that isn't just a copy of RWL or other Promi's.

Its not worthless per se. It was well documented and now its just old. I'd agree except for the fact that no one is playing it. So there is obviously a problem in that.

[The Beatles]

All right, how about a mathematics project?

And yes, V, the theme lasted a few years, it's not wasted effort. We all worked on it, remember. I don't know how many features we coders wrote that were later ditched.

[Gen. Volkov]

Fine, come up with another theme, and let's put it to a vote. I don't think that's the real problem. ME had basically the same theme and way more players than we have.

[Freenhult]

ME had tons of features and Ocrs. Zombies, etc. They didn't have history at all.

Our theme has to reflect what we do with the game mechanics. Its too early.

[Gen. Volkov]

The game was named "Medieval Empires" Freen, and was based on FAF code, they did indeed have the same theme we did. They may have changed it later, but I'm pretty sure that they had the historical theme, at least initially.

[The Beatles]

IIRC it was fantasy. And we're ancient, not mediaeval.

[Freenhult]

IIRC it was fantasy. And we're ancient, not mediaeval.

Correct. It was a fantasy Medieval realm. We're "Accurate History"or what not.

What does being based on our code mean? Nothing really. I could take our code and spagettify it into something else with Bjorn's help.

[Gen. Volkov]

IIRC it was fantasy. And we're ancient, not mediaeval.

OK, I was mistaken, it was fantasy. Also, I bloody know what we are. Medieval is still a historical period!

[Ruddertail]

So... ideas?