Imagine a Chess MMORPG

Ok. Here's the link to the Facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33527618935

I'll add more content to it; I was just focused on getting it created. If possible, I'd like the person who started this thread to join and be set as an admin. That way, I won't feel like I'm stealing his idea.

It's superfluous but intriguing. I'd try it.

It could have some lessons to the begginers for free and advanced lessons for the members, maybe they talk to an old man npc "the grandmaster" who teaches everything

3D development engines and MMORPG creation engines are becoming easier and easier to use, for instance, check out realmcrafter below.

http://www.realmcrafter.com/store/home.php

http://www.devmaster.net/engines/list.php

Something like this could come about more easily than you think, Kevin. In fact, if there isn't something like this in 10 years I'd be really surprised.

I'm mainly glad that this is sparks the imagination. I thought for a bunch of days about implementation - I think it may've seemed sillier than I intend as I wrote it above because it's hard to convey the full scope of ideas with particular examples - like the Sicillian Badge or what have you - obviously this kind of thing would be unlockable for all kinds of openings. And the degree of nuance you can have with the games and puzzles - I've speculated about the type of writing.

For instance you might get this quest called "The Unfinished Game" wherein a ghost needs you to finish a game for him, so you travel to meet his opponent and you have to finish the game from his position.

I'm imagining an immersive chess "experience". I dunno - I think that it would be very, very neat if it was done correctly - but really, it's not so complicated - it's sortof like chess.com with a 3D graphical interface, customizable avatars, chess driven storylines, unlockable boards, "armours"/badges for appropriate feats.

All the tactics trainer data and chess mentor courses are simply utilized in a more immersive quest/storyline.

I don't think it's unlikely, in fact, I think something like this is inevitable. The real effort is in the scripting - making a coherent "non-silly" world. Now, if people could've swallowed the idea that there's a universe wherein everyone collects pokemon, the idea that there is a world wherein the Game of Kings becomes some odd driving force of society isn't that tough to suspend doubt about.

I'm talking about the world's oldest and most enduring game being given an MMO treatment - and the best part about this is it trumps the major failure of other MMO's - the idea that they're a waste of time.

I spent a summer playing Guildwars once, and when it was over I was somewhat disgusted that the time was wasted. This, on the other hand, is tied to real chess improvement. I think it would be the best of what the MMO's have to offer and really give chess a 21st century energy, ie. bring chess to the generation of young gamers. New application. Immersive feel.

Visual appeal - the crunch of the sand beneath your boots as you jog along in the village, people milling around, some bent over their boards. You see one of your friends in the distance and jog over. Your proximity triggers the chat. Words scroll beside the face (or you can hear one another through some kind of skype interface). You offer a quick blitz challenge. Both of your avatars kneel down - you buddy offers to play the game on his recently unlocked Golden Board. As the pieces array and you zoom in, you see that one of his knights is stylized like a Dragon - he's defeated the "Sicillian Dragon" 50 times and unlocked the Dragon-knight unique piece...

and the best part about this is it trumps the major failure of other MMO's - the idea that they're a waste of time.

That's the true lol

Haha...this sounds like pretty awesome idea actually. The trick is, getting it into motion. But either way, the idea is superb and I seldom get the chance to compete in the first place.

I love this Idea. You could also win something like an opening scroll or something that would let you page through an opening or something like that.

Hey, you'd be surprised how powerful an online group can get. It's not so much the existance of the group; it's the members in the group who have enough influence to actually make something happen.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33527618935

Join the cause!

And let's not forget, everything doesn't have to be unlockable. You can put money on games, receive gold from quests etc. and buy new boards or pieces. There can be a large amount of purchasable items in the game, even some armor and badges. However, all of the truly unique and rare items would have to be obtained from the things already mentioned.

Fantastic idea, I'm all about it.

Maybe we could do quests that have to do with the history of chess such as going to famous matches or having to "rescue" players so they can get to there matches etc...  Thats just off the top of my head.  :)

This is brilliant.... the best way I've heard of to get people interested in chess in a long time... You should keep this idea alive until it gets developed... thats the hard part about creating anything

Edit: I don't have facebook so I can't join, but I will keep track of this thread

I'm going to keep posting this for a while... we've three members including myself so far... join the cause! Click on the link below to be taken to the offical Facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33527618935

Perhaps to you. But to some of us, the game of chess consitutes a community, not just a string of random games. One of the best ways to learn more about chess is observing someone else play who is better than you.

woo! this sounds awesome! I just joined the Facebook group, and I really hope someone figures out a reasonable way to get this set up.

Sounds cool.  To widen appeal it might be good to include other games.  Checkers, maybe backgammon.  And I'd really want to see lots of chess variants too, like fischerrandom, seirawan chess, etc.

Now all we need are a team of programmers and artists...

ahh this is great! a friend and I had this idea too, but we werent humans in the game we were pieces. like, 16 people would be pwns, 4 bishops, ...etc  but it would be hard to find who wanted to be the king.  Your idea pwns ours, we were just joking about, but your idea actually has substance and depth, i'd play it. i might pay too depending on the depth of it.

That's a good idea. You can toss Go in there as well. I guess that would cause problems with high level quests though, because there isn't a good Go computer in the world.

so.... memories of pokemon, the card game, on the gameboy are coming back to me...

If you're interested in this idea, join the official Facebook group!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33527618935