Oblivion - Perfect model for a Lost game

[MacabreMag]

I think most people who've played Via Domus have been left very disappointed with it - the gameplay is really average and happens in short bursts before being interrupted by load screens, certain Losties (eg Locke) act so much out of character for that stage in the show, and there was a lot less combat than people expected - and I've reached the conclusion that making this sort of game without playing as a main character and without having free roam was never gonna be easy and so maybe they should go more down the Elder Scrolls:Oblivion route.

Let me explain how I see it could work...

The game starts and you create a new character - another survivor of the crash, one of the 'background characters' you see in the series that never get their own stories, and the game begins with the crash. The idea would be that the actual events of the show would serve as the 'main story' of the game (in the way that the main story in Oblivion is the gates of Oblivion being opened) and the rest of the time you go about doing quests and free-roaming the Island etc.

For example, you'd be on the beach and your popularity/trust levels with certain individuals/cliques in the camp (which would be earned or lost by taking or ignoring quests from them) would determine what happens and what you can do when certain events from the show unfold. For example, you've earned enough of Jack's trust then you'll get invited on his 'missions' (to the Black Rock etc) and be told openly about the Hatch, whereas if you don't have his trust you can sneak out and do things without their blessing which would negatively effect your standing with the Losties and could even lead to you being banished or made unwelcome in the camp.

Say you spent most of the game going out, trying to find the Hatch and The Others etc without talking to the leading members of the camp - Jack, Kate, etc - this could have a similar effect to whether you steal or not in Oblivion; it determines if you are a 'good' guy or a 'bad' guy, and could maybe even lead to being approached by The Others to join them and work undercover.

We've seen from Oblivion that it is possible to successfully have a game where you can just 'explore' every part of the map and still be fun to play, and with the Island as 'the map' this would be an amazing opportunity. Another way you could win favour with the Losties on the beach is to go out hunting boar, discovering locations etc. And since the game would have to have an 'end' point, you could make it simply that your actions determine what role you'll play in an important event in the show - eg the attack on the camp at the end of series 3 - and how you'll be judged by the 'smoke monster' or something.

As you can see, I've thought alot about this as I've been playing both Via Domus and Oblivion lately, and while I know not everyone likes RPG games such as Oblivion, it would definately be a hell of a lot better and would suit the show more in my opinion.

[Kain067]

I agree, a LOST RPG would be fantastic. And not necessarily modeled after Oblivion, specifically, because there are a LOT better RPGs out there (Morrowind, for one, and also try The Witcher - click for demo). Also, I liked that there was very little combat in the game. Could you imagine if it was Doom-style and you were shooting thousands of Others with a machinegun? I was afraid they would have made the game that style but fortunately they did not.

It would take a while to design the whole Island and it wouldn't be canon either (since there are more hatches and stuff that hasn't been discovered on the show yet and in the game they would not be there). Especially since even the producers do not have a 100% clear overview of the Island.

I also really liked the adventure style of the current game. It should keep puzzles and mysteries in the game instead of combat like Oblivion - a sort of Myst RPG. That would be fantastic.

[jesusburger]

unfortunetly a game like oblivion is open ended as the story is made for the game by the actual developers at bethesda plus was made over several years. with lost you have a story that is already happening and folding out where you then have to fit the game into it, then all the bits and pieces representing the lost franchise and get it made for a quick time frame.

tv/movie based games have never really been amazing, but i believe with what they had ubisoft did quite well as it was more a game based on the story than the actual gameplay.

[curseoftheninja]

This is exactly what I thought. The problem is that a full fledged Oblivion style RPG could not be done right now. There are still too many unknowns about the island and story. The developers need to wait for the series to end, and then produce a high quality, open-ended game.

[Eedrah]

I'd love to see a Lost MMO.....imagine it..we could all freeroam the island...interact with each other....speak to main characters for quests etc....or do work like collect fire wood, hunt boars, fishing, collecting water etc.....the possibilities are endless....

[Bohrok Awakener]

I'm a huge Oblivion fan, and once the show is over and the entire island is revealed, I'd love it if they released a Lost RPG where you could create your own castaway (or Other, or freighter, or even Dharma employee) and feel free to roleplay, not being bound by any sort of story; you could defect to other camps or help out your own, doing little jobs for the other castaways for rewards. You could also go out on your own (or ask another castaway to join you) and explore the Island, discovering Dharma stations and the like. It wouldn't be able to follow the plot of the show at all, but it'd be better, because it would be your island adventure, and as you would be roleplaying a character, you would create the storyline.

[Caladan]

I have to admit, the thoughts crossed my mind also. It would have been terrific to have the open-ended experience of exploring the island on your own, and Via Domus, with its linear game path and specific areas of exploration, really disappointed me.

I have a lot of experience modding for Morrowind (the game prior to Oblivion), and they use basically the same modding tools.

I can say, it COULD be done, it would just take a lot of work. New graphics, and new models, obviously. The coding system in Morrowind/Oblivion really sucks, but I suppose it could be good enough for a Lost mod.

[Malion]

I think the only way to have a great LOST game is to wait for the show to end, and all the pieces to "mostly" be in place... that way your game will have a more stable foundation, as the continuity is already cemented.

[Simplton]

Look at it this way, when Lost does end it will be a few years from now and new technology can only help it! But I love this idea I hope a developer listens to our prayer!

[Spearhead]

This game would be great for AFTER Lost is finished... where the entire island can be fully explored, mysteries can be resolved, etc etc.

Ya it'd be a damn good game. The problem is that it will NEVER happen.