Sorry if this has been done before but for sum reason the search wont work I had a great idea for a western MMORPG. Right, u create ur own character from a variety of unusual races from different parts of the world (ie., American is grizzly-bear-type-thing, Native American is an eagle r sumthin, just an idea). everything is fully customizable. you can have a showdown against other players or you could have a drunken barfight if u want. You carry out quests and gain money which u spend on material thing and u gain points (style and experience) which u can spend on improving ur skills. if ur always on a horse u get better at horse-riding but u get slower at running and vice-versa. this will happen with other thing like if ur always using a sniper rifle ur better at accurate, slow shots but if ur always using a pistol u get better at firing faster. U can form gangs of outlaws or police (whatever u call them) with other players and cause or stop havoc on the town, cities and villages. your actions shape ur physical appearance (like in Fable) Ill type more when i think of more stuff but my hand is sore now plz give me sum more ideas

i like it and btw there sheriffs and deputys man and can u elaborate on the unusal race thing? and i think its a good idea but what kind of combat though?

the unusual races is too hard to explain but what im tryin to say is basically make up weird creatures to act like humans did during that time. the combat would differ from race to race ie., a shaolin-monk type guy (for some reason being in america) would use martial arts and a 'cowboy' would be more of a brawler so no so forth.

ic... well w/e floats your boat

if u have any ideas b sure to post them

A flying monkey capable of spewing out tramps at his enemies. The tramps come out, covered in saliva, and get up and start advancing towards their enemies, zombie-style. Highly intelligent AI, and all that. Peter Molyneux will claim they're more intelligent than him. And they probably are.

 Quoting: Snide

A flying monkey capable of spewing out tramps at his enemies. The tramps come out, covered in saliva, and get up and start advancing towards their enemies, zombie-style. Highly intelligent AI, and all that. Peter Molyneux will claim they're more intelligent than him. And they probably are.

Peter Molyneux could kick your ass.

 Quoting: Snide

A flying monkey capable of spewing out tramps at his enemies. The tramps come out, covered in saliva, and get up and start advancing towards their enemies, zombie-style. Highly intelligent AI, and all that. Peter Molyneux will claim they're more intelligent than him. And they probably are.

eh...................no

Molyneux has difficulties making decent games. Never mind taking on the Great One.

actually i have an idea for a "westworld" type of game where you are able to visit different times and planets and such i suggest you offer professions like desperado where you can use a revolver,brawl and throw dynamite that kind of thing

The unusual races he is referring to may follow a slightly similar principle to that the games Prey and Kameo: Elements of Power are putting forward. In previous games there have been attempts to have human characters that can morph into a "familiar"; a sort of spirit-based combat form that resembles that of an animal. The descriptions of an Eagle (Native American) and the Bear (North America) could mean these. As another example, the "Familiar-spirit" of China is represented by some type of serpent, as this is the strongest animal in their mythology... My own game idea uses something like this, but I think it is significantly different from your own to not cause you any problems.

I reckon your general idea is , and I can't beleive someone hasn't made a western mmorpg yet.  As for your skills idea, I think it should be more Oblivon style.  If you use a lot of pistols, you get better with pistols, rifles better with rifles, tomahawks and melee weapons better with melee, but no disadvantages to using other weapons - I hate that.

But instead of Oblivion style, I reckon you should have ol' xp as well, to put up stuff like 'dexterity', 'strength' and so on.  I remember mapping all my skills in Oblivion to make a guy with max stats, and it was painful.

For races, I think you should go with American, Mexican, and Native American, with sub-types for each, like Sioux, Texan, ect.  each having attribute bonus's and such.  horse idea, and I think everything should be fully customisable too, or at least with facials.

You should have some kind of / thing going, but I wouldn't like to look completely ugly just cause I'm a complete ***.  I'd go for FPS just cause you can make the fighting a lot more dependable on th person playing that way, and then you don't get people who have high stats/skills owning people who are actually gamers.

Oh, and don't put any sci-fi elements in at all.  That would ruin it.

And for the setting, you have to make that true blue western.  Rolling plains, wooden buildings, ect. ect.