The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Safflower on January 28, 2018, 08:45:08 AM

Title: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on January 28, 2018, 08:45:08 AM
I've always wondered about a G1 video game. I'm a huge gamer and I love ponies. But, to put it simply, I'm cheap and don't really like spending money on games, so things like Pony Island aren't a great option. Firstly, has anyone made a G1 game? I've searched and searched and I can't find any!

Secondly, would there be interest in a G1 game? It would be really cool if we could make one! It could be a mobile app or online, and it could be any type of game really. I would really love to make one but I don't know how to code so I would need someone else to help me. (My signature even says so!) Anyone interested? My ideas are under the spoiler.
Spoiler
My main idea is like the G4 gameloft game, but G1. Tirac has covered the world in darkness and all the little ponies have been lost! Rebuild Ponyland and help the little ponies. It will advance through the years of G1 and might even include Nirvanas and prototypes. Playsets will be buildings along with other buildings inspired off of sets and specific ponies. There will be and adventure element as well where you have to save ponies, fight villains, etc. In a sentence: Build Ponyland then be the mayor of it :)

This next one is a Pokemon style game. Go through all the regions and collect all the Ponymon! Shinies could be nirvanas!

A collection of mini games based on sets and specific ponies.

An RPG where you play in Ponyland and help the ponies.

What do you guys think? Any ideas? Anyone interested?
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: RoseNoire on January 28, 2018, 08:50:11 AM
It would really be amazing to see G1 videogames come alive. I'm not good enough at coding, I'm so sorry. I really hope some people will come and help you/us. =D
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Mana Minori on January 28, 2018, 08:58:36 AM
I'm not good at coding, either. But maybe if you ever need lines for character dialogue or potential future plot lines where the game could go, if it's a progressive one....
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Taffeta on January 28, 2018, 09:03:51 AM
I'm not really a gamer, and I admit to being driven mad by the butterfly in the G2 game...

If you manage to make it a project, though, I wish you luck :D
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on January 28, 2018, 09:04:49 AM
Thanks guys! It would be cool to see ponies "come alive"! That way we can interact with all the rare and beautiful ponies! I'm lookin at you, Rapunzel... And thanks for the offer nightmare muffin! And I do plan to make the game progressive if I ever help make it. New ponies/places/storylines would probably keep being added :) And thank you Taffeta!
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Shatyr on January 28, 2018, 09:09:48 AM
I would buy this. I would play this. I would be absolutely useless in helping to develop this. :D
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Mewtwofan1 on January 28, 2018, 09:41:09 AM
I’m useless in development, but I could handle making the 3d assets for the game. It would be a learning experience. I’ve never done it before, but I could figure it out. I got the software already. Good luck on making this a thing.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on January 28, 2018, 10:19:00 AM
Nope. Videogames based on pre-existing properties, cartoons, movies, toys, brand name products are almost always lousy. We tried the G3 game and Care Bears game on a gba emulator. The power of suckitude was predictable.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on January 28, 2018, 10:37:13 AM
Thanks Shatyr and thanks for the offer Mewtwofan1  :)
Nope. Videogames based on pre-existing properties, cartoons, movies, toys, brand name products are almost always lousy. We tried the G3 game and Care Bears game on a gba emulator. The power of suckitude was predictable.
Well, it wouldn't be made by Hasbro for little girls who don't care, it would be made by the community :) I would probably ask the community what they want :) I would hope to make it free so it wouldn't hurt to try playing it :)
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on January 28, 2018, 10:39:09 AM
I thought about making some Minecraft G1 themed adventure maps, but quickly ran into the roadblock of being too lazy and also a lousy builder.  :P

But anyway, it might be an easy way for someone to get their feet wet.  The nice thing is that no programming knowledge would be required.  You could just go in creative mode and build MLP-looking stuff.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Kazzellin on January 28, 2018, 11:32:40 AM
Nope. Videogames based on pre-existing properties, cartoons, movies, toys, brand name products are almost always lousy. We tried the G3 game and Care Bears game on a gba emulator. The power of suckitude was predictable.
That’s because the people who are tapped to make movie-tie-in games typically aren’t given decent information to make the game, much less enough time to make anything decent; the people who give them the license are counting on brand-recognition to sell copies. *shrug* I know the gang on Extra Creditz (YouTube channel) covered it when asked why tie-in games are so lousy. I’ll see if I can find the episode once I’m home.

Alas, I don’t know how to code either, but tying in with the tips you can get via the Extra Creditz channel, Khan Academy (online) also does computer classes, and they’re free if you have a few moments to take a look? Otherwise there’s Unity, but I don’t believe they’re free (unless sponsoring an Extra Creditz ep., in which case there might be a code for a bit). :huh:
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on January 28, 2018, 01:16:35 PM
Thanks for the tips LadyMoondancer and Kazzelin! I might try the Minecraft building as an experiment. If it were to be on Minecraft though, it wouldn't be free. People would still have to buy the game if they didn't already have it. And I will look into things Kazzelin :)
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: RoseNoire on January 28, 2018, 01:19:58 PM
As a huge Minecraft nerd, it's price is really worth the hours, years even, of extremely various gameplay. It's like buying a free game if there was a ratio fun-gameplay/price.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on January 28, 2018, 05:02:00 PM
Yeah, Minecraft is pretty great :) I would like to have the game not on Minecraft because some people just don't have it. Anyway, here is a more detailed explanation of my main town building idea:
Spoiler
My Pretty Pony would welcome you into the world like Prof. Oak. You would then be launched into a tutorial. You would already have the Collectors Pose ponies in your Ponyland town. They would give you the tutorial and explain how they need help because Tirac used the Rainbow of Darkness to trap the ponies and land in darkness. Each one would have a building/house that you would need to build to learn the basics. Building comes from resources you could get from mini games based on locations from the various canons. After you build things and get the town running, you could clear your first patch of darkness and find some Year Two ponies. You then move through the years of G1 with My Pretty Pony's help when you need it. Eventually you will have a bustling Ponyland with lots of different locations, mini games to play to get lots of stuff, lots of different ponies and types of buildings, and other stuff too. Building would include playsets like the Pretty Parlor where you could dress us your ponies and the show stable where you could level up your ponies and other buildings too like gardens and farms. Of course, these are just details that can be changed! Just a more detailed explanation :)
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Khoufu on January 29, 2018, 04:35:27 PM
I need this game.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: sd_dreamcrystal on January 29, 2018, 06:45:42 PM
Personally I would not want to go the mobile game route. I know it's a popular choice for a lot of developers but most of those mobile games are platform runners or builders... which the builder games lose my attention fast due to how much you are limited.

You'd also need to watch out for copyright content, because while Hasbro has in the past claimed to have lost copyright to a lot of pony stuff, well we see what is being licensed out for G1 merch.

I play on PonyIsland and really it's not the kind of game most people will be looking for as it's more of a breeding game that is like but not like Hworse, little closer to Wajas but not really.

It's kind of hard to say what style of game would work for G1 MLP... other than going the normal route of builder or runner or collector games.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Khoufu on January 29, 2018, 06:58:49 PM
 I want a gritty combat game with a dark story that makes players sad to encourage them to save Dream Valley.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on January 29, 2018, 07:27:54 PM
Personally I would not want to go the mobile game route. I know it's a popular choice for a lot of developers but most of those mobile games are platform runners or builders... which the builder games lose my attention fast due to how much you are limited.

You'd also need to watch out for copyright content, because while Hasbro has in the past claimed to have lost copyright to a lot of pony stuff, well we see what is being licensed out for G1 merch.

I play on PonyIsland and really it's not the kind of game most people will be looking for as it's more of a breeding game that is like but not like Hworse, little closer to Wajas but not really.

It's kind of hard to say what style of game would work for G1 MLP... other than going the normal route of builder or runner or collector games.
I think a community made town builder game might work well :) I usually stop playing builder games because they are limited too. The main reason they are limited though is that you have to pay to play. They just want your money, and to progress you could buy this pack of gems for $1.99 to speed up the building time of this building that you need to complete this hard quest! Especially with children's games like the MLP Gameloft game. Children nag their parents to spend money on the ponies in the game. They make it purposefully hard so you have to spend money and take the easy way out. I don't plan on making a profit on in-game purchases for this game, so it wouldn't be that way. I would hope to make it really engaging and completely free! Probably less use of the coins and gems system. (Seriously, like every town building game has coins as the lower form of money then gems as the better, expensive, and rare currency!) Also, my main idea isn't just town building, it has an adventure aspect where you have to rescue ponies and help them, like rescuing the Twinkle Eye ponies from their captors in the mines (G1 is great for this aspect because of how many times the ponies were almost or were actually captured, haha!) Plus you could just whip out your phone and then bam, ponies!

I am a little concerned about copyright issues too. Like I said, I don't plan on making this profitable. And I could give rights to Hasbro.  don't know if these things will work though so any tips are appreciated!

And if I can make this game I would definitely try to make it work with G1 MLP the best I can :) Right now I'm trying to make my idea different from a lot of other town building games. So far I have added the adventure aspect. Plus I want to make you able to interact with the ponies like being able to dress them up. I would also like to incorporate a level system for the ponies :) More about the ponies and their adventures rather than quests and buildings that generate money.

I want a gritty combat game with a dark story that makes players sad to encourage them to save Dream Valley.
Ooh, what if the smooze covered the land completely along with all the ponies? Then you would have to fight for Dream Valley...
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on January 29, 2018, 07:48:33 PM
Giving the rights to Hasbro isn't really feasible.   They want to control the direction of their content, so even if your game is awesome, 100% G-rated, etc, they're not going to just give someone else's work their stamp of approval without their involvement.

Just my two cents.  I don't want to discourage you, I just want to warn you, because if you contact them asking for their approval you are putting them in a position where they basically HAVE TO say no.

Some G4 fans were working on a MLP fighting game (Fighting Is Magic) and I'm sure Hasbro knew about it because it was very widely talked about.  But Hasbro is usually pretty chill about fan projects so they pretended not to notice it. But then the idiots showed a beta version at a big video game exposition.  Well, Hasbro couldn't pretend they hadn't noticed THAT, and they could lose the rights to their intellectual property if they don't defend it, so they sent a cease-and-desist and killed the game.

Sidenote, you might look into RPG Maker.  It's a classic top-down RPG engine, and you can make your own graphics to display on it and such.  (I want to say Undertale was developed on it . . . ?)  Probably a lot easier than starting from scratch.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Khoufu on January 29, 2018, 08:13:58 PM
Yes let's defeat the Smooze! Either defeat parts of it, beat it back slowly, or find key items to destroy it to complete the game. And a collecting aspect would be neat, though not something that suggests collecting everything. More like "I've seen THESE ponies".
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Sparkle Pony on January 29, 2018, 08:18:59 PM
I'm majoring in computer science and know multiple languages!  Unfortunately for everyone though, I am a busy college student so I probably would have a hard time actually getting around to making a game any time soon.  I have certainly kicked the idea around for making a free fanmade My Little Pony RPG just to practice my skills.  Nothing that would actually grab Hasbro's attention ideally, haha.  I always liked the idea of a top-down RPG with loads of recruitable characters you can recruit through countless methods depending on which pony it is.  I can dream!
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: BerylBreeze on January 29, 2018, 10:34:39 PM
Are you talking about if they had a G1 video game back in the day they were relevant, or if one could be made now?

A couple years ago I saw a clip of a racing fangame with G1 ponies and a very stock-looking environment, I can't seem to find it now D:
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on January 30, 2018, 07:00:04 AM
Are you talking about if they had a G1 video game back in the day they were relevant, or if one could be made now?

A couple years ago I saw a clip of a racing fangame with G1 ponies and a very stock-looking environment, I can't seem to find it now D:
I'm talking about if one could be made now :) That racing game seems fun!

I'm majoring in computer science and know multiple languages!  Unfortunately for everyone though, I am a busy college student so I probably would have a hard time actually getting around to making a game any time soon.  I have certainly kicked the idea around for making a free fanmade My Little Pony RPG just to practice my skills.  Nothing that would actually grab Hasbro's attention ideally, haha.  I always liked the idea of a top-down RPG with loads of recruitable characters you can recruit through countless methods depending on which pony it is.  I can dream!
Awesome! If you ever have the time and you still want to make one, I will definitely be around! :biggrin:
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on January 30, 2018, 06:01:56 PM
Yes let's defeat the Smooze! Either defeat parts of it, beat it back slowly, or find key items to destroy it to complete the game. And a collecting aspect would be neat, though not something that suggests collecting everything. More like "I've seen THESE ponies".
Yeah! You could have a party with different ponies that all have unique abilities that fight off the smooze. You would have to keep their morale up and take care of them, all for the good of Ponyland! You could visit all the different species of non pony things and ask for help and items in exchange for your help. Maybe you would have to defeat the witches who created to smooze too!
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Khoufu on January 30, 2018, 08:43:34 PM
Non pony things! Because g1 had lots of magical critters and people.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on January 31, 2018, 07:45:23 PM
For those of you who want an RPG, I think I know how to implement it with the town building idea! Instead of just fighting pony captors, you could fight all the villains in the various canons along with pony captors, etc. You could go through the stories in the comics, back cards, animation, etc and play as the ponies. Then you can go back to your town, build some new buildings, maybe grow some flowers. Quests would probably be these RPG elements. While in Ponyland, you could receive a quest to go and fight this enemy. Maybe you would need to enlist the help of someone non pony like the Moochick. I also plan to make areas like where the Moochick lives visitable.You could choose to start or save it for later. Then you could choose your favorite ponies to save the day! This also solves the issue of how I wanted to use levels but didn't know how :) Levels would determine how well ponies can use their abilities, or maybe something else, not sure yet. Ponies could level up by playing at the show stable.

For getting new ponies, there would be a separate area for those quests. You could begin once you receive them or wait until later. There would also be normal quests like getting this building or leveling this specific pony up too.

I've also though about which playsets do what and areas. The waterfall would probably be the area for the sea ponies and other aquatic non pony creatures. Flutter Valley will probably exist. Areas in the comic and tv show will exist too in a separate area maybe and will have non pony characters living in them. Don't know what to do about the Dream Castle. The pretty parlor could be used for dressing ponies up and the perm shop could be for hair.

What do you guys think? (Still looking for someone who can code this!)
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on February 03, 2018, 07:31:47 AM
Any opinions? Still looking for someone who wants to code this btw :)
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Kazzellin on February 03, 2018, 01:59:05 PM
Yeah, Minecraft is pretty great :) I would like to have the game not on Minecraft because some people just don't have it. Anyway, here is a more detailed explanation of my main town building idea:
Spoiler
My Pretty Pony would welcome you into the world like Prof. Oak. You would then be launched into a tutorial. You would already have the Collectors Pose ponies in your Ponyland town. They would give you the tutorial and explain how they need help because Tirac used the Rainbow of Darkness to trap the ponies and land in darkness. Each one would have a building/house that you would need to build to learn the basics. Building comes from resources you could get from mini games based on locations from the various canons. After you build things and get the town running, you could clear your first patch of darkness and find some Year Two ponies. You then move through the years of G1 with My Pretty Pony's help when you need it. Eventually you will have a bustling Ponyland with lots of different locations, mini games to play to get lots of stuff, lots of different ponies and types of buildings, and other stuff too. Building would include playsets like the Pretty Parlor where you could dress us your ponies and the show stable where you could level up your ponies and other buildings too like gardens and farms. Of course, these are just details that can be changed! Just a more detailed explanation :)

For mini-games, you could have a few versions of Memory. I wonder how the old G1 board games would translate to computer play? Could encourage multi-player that way. Building virtual versions of the G1 puzzles could be good, too - maybe have more puzzles behind an unlock feature? :awake:
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on February 03, 2018, 04:32:41 PM
Ooh, online versions of actual G1 games could be fun! That would be a nice test because it would both be actual G1 but in digital form. And multiplayer would be cool!

A few mini games for ponies:
Cotton Candy - foraging for flowers
Blossom - growing flowers
Seashell - hunting for seashells
Applejack - apple picking
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Matcha on February 03, 2018, 08:32:57 PM
A G1 video game would be so cute done in a pixel RPG style... (like Earthbound)
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on February 07, 2018, 06:52:44 AM
A pixel style would be adorable! I wonder what kind of other art styles we could try and which one people would like best, like a pixel style, original G1 style, RaMC, the cartoon, and arena artists! Ooh, and what music as well? Maybe some really cute and bubbly music :)
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Khoufu on February 07, 2018, 08:52:41 AM
Imagine Cuphead level of animation but resembling the g1 cartoon.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on February 07, 2018, 09:06:33 AM
I'm going to repeat a recommendation for RPG Maker, because my understanding is it allows you to make games without needing 'hard coding' knowledge.  :)

I found this playlist of tutorials for it on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMcr1s5MjsiTky6KB4ML-q_QoBE_ZYJk5

This might be the case for Game Maker Studios too?  I am not as familiar with it, but it's what Undertale was made in.

If you can't or aren't interested in making pony sprites, and if you can't find someone to make them for free, then you could probably commission an artist to make them for a reasonable amount.  I imagine once you have a couple basic animations (for walking sprites, running sprites, etc) you could just recolor them to resemble different pony characters.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on February 07, 2018, 05:46:14 PM
Yeah, I've been trying to look into one, and I've searched about it, but I am swamped with schoolwork, so it might take a bit. Thank you!

Also, would you guys like to see nirvanas and variants added? The nirvanas could be after the main story since they are so rare. They could be described as ponies from different lands :) And about variants, like white stars Milky Way, alternate poses, and the four baby Embers, what should the game do about those? I'm thinking maybe for non nirvana characters and difference that make the pony different (so not different poses and things like white starts for Milky Way instead of glitter) they could just be another pony. So there would be four different Embers that are all different ponies, not just one pony for example. What do you guys think? Any other ideas?
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Khoufu on February 07, 2018, 09:37:37 PM
I think variants would be cool. Maybe do side quests and one of the possible things they unlock is variants.
Title: Re: A G1 video game?
Post by: Safflower on February 09, 2018, 04:51:39 PM
I think variants would be cool. Maybe do side quests and one of the possible things they unlock is variants.
Yeah, that would be cool. I think a separate area for nirvanas would be best, since they dont quite fit in with non nirvana canon. The same reason can be used for them being after the main story :)
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