Okay, guys, I'd like some opinions here...

My wife and I were talking last night, and wondered if perhaps there were a market for this...We'd like to see a game where you design a shopping mall -- SimMall, if you will -- complete with security, movie theater, enough "guy" stores to keep men there...Would any of you but this? Seems like a shoe-in for women gamers to me, but I think I'd enjoy it, too, so not just women.

If anybody likes this idea and knows anyone on a product development team somewhere like Maxis or Hasbro, as they seem most likely to take an idea like this and run with it, my wife and I just want a copy! ;-)

If you could tie the game in with The Sims, you'd have a game made in heaven. Design the mall and whatever items are available are also available to purchase for your home for The Sims. Sims could go to the mall to increase certain stats or skills depending on what stores they wander into (an Arcade raises their Fun and social stats, a gym raises the body skill, an art store raises the intellectual skill, etc).

That could be a lot of fun.

Yeah, I hadn't even though about that. I was thinking along the lines of a modern-day SimTower, but a mall rather than an office, but that sure could be cool...

I was picturing more of an interface like a cross between SimCity and RCT, with the little guests wandering around, looking for a food court, needing a bathroom, wanting to buy some software...But, sure, it could be even better in a Sims interface...

The mall would only be interesting if the goods in it changed frequently. Otherwise, it'd just be a more tedious version of the click-and-buy interface the Sims already uses.

Lots of Sim-things would be fun. Sim Prision would be another cool idea..

Sim Oz. There we go. I wonder how much it would cost to hire one of the cooks to put glass in the mob bosses chow? hmmm...

Great show, just kinda disturbing.

The Sims is a great concept to build upon! i think a medieval or futuristic "The Sims" would be great! just imagine the possibilities!

Sim Oz wouldn't go too well with mom and dad. . . but i'm sure "The Sims 3000 or 1000" would!

etc

Nice idea, mtKafka...That would be very cool.

So, if there were a game that consisted of building and maintaining a mall -- I'm still picturing it with a RCT interface (or, more specifically, Ski Resort Tycoon, which my wife just bought), rather than any of the Maxis Sim-stuff -- would any of you (or your wives) be likely to buy it? My wife's really getting into this idea, and I think she really wants to see this become a game...I think it could be cool, too...

Any takers?

How about a game without crates? I mean, how novel would that be?

- Alan

"How about a game without crates? I mean, how novel would that be?"

We make much hay with the crates, but I think the larger point is: build something interesting.

A room full of crates is a standard device not because developers love crates per se, but because their game engines are good at drawing rectangular objects... and I guess they just can't come up with anything original.

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

Alan: "How about a game without crates? I mean, how novel would that be?"

Hear, hear. And one without sewers. (Anyone catch the sign on the easll of the short NOFL sewer: "Required FPS Sewer" or somethign along those lines. :-D)

Just about anything would be fun to 'sim' or 'theme' if tits done right. Malls, jails Schools, underwear drawers. Mt personal favorite however is Sim Sim :)

Is the play going to build an control the stores, or make money from space rental. Definalty put in the option to build a roller coaster in the mall. 'Cause it aint the Mall of America without one. AnNd make it so that i can build a life sized Godzilla cause i really want a life sized Godzilla.

As for making it i would tell you to form your own development team. Pick up a C++ book at your local bookstore and do some programming in your spare time. If you look you should be able to find some more people who like the idea and can do basic graphics in thier spare time. The distribute over the net as shareware. Ive got a hunch that if you let anyone else do it youll be disapointed and you will have a tough time selling it given the economic crunch.

May Peace Favor Your Sword
ShiningOne

"Is the play going to build an control the stores, or make money from space rental."

Hard to say at this point -- maybe a little of both?

"Definalty put in the option to build a roller coaster in the mall."

Oh, but of course!! Couldn't leave that out!

"As for making it i would tell you to form your own development team. Pick up a C++ book at your localbbookstore and do some programming in your spare time. If you look you should be able to find some more people who like the idea and can do basic graphics in thier spare time. The distribute over the net as shareware. Ive got a hunch that if you let anyone else do it youll be disapointed and you will have a tough time selling it given the economic crunch."

Spare time? What's that? This is some good advice, though, and I'll definitely look into it. I'm just not certain that I have the time to devote to it, with so little programming experience in anything modern. Maybe in a year or so...

If anyone else likes the idea, and has the time to devote, have at it. I just want a copy!

Have you heard about the User Friendly game project? They're trying something like that, basically distributed game development among a group of like-minded techies. I'm already booked on anotehr open-source game though.

Hey, yeah, sign me up for the SimMall dev team.

- Alan

Well, I seriously doubt that I will have time in the near future to devote to a project of that magnitude. I'd really like to, but I have to be honest. Should anything ever come of this, though, I'll be sure and let you know, Alan.