Reality TV to birth Reality Gaming

[bean19]

An upcoming MMO for the PS3 and X360 will tie-in with a reality show that shares the same name: X-Quest.

X Quest the game will be released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and like other massively multiplayer online games, it will create a community of players who interact with each other online. However, unlike other MMOGs, its influence will expand beyond gaming consoles. The overall X Quest property, which includes the Fox reality TV show X Quest, will work across formats, meaning that the game will influence the show, and vice versa.

Both the game and the show will be set in the near future, but instead of relying on fantasy elements for future technology, its world will be based on technology currently being developed in the real world. The show, which is the brainchild of director Ron Howard, will see two teams of seven jump into a "space simulator" and take on a series of challenges over a monthlong period.

The game will exist in the same world, and users playing on their PS3s or Xbox 360s will be able to interact with stars from the show. Seropian hopes to bring the best X Quest gamers on board to star in the subsequent seasons of X Quest.
I've quoted the buried lead, but you can read the full article (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6144873.html) at Gamespot.

I'm sure there are lots of reality TV haters out there, but would you play this game anyway if it's fun? If the game is fun, would you watch the show?

[Klade]

Something tells me that when they find out that all the best gamers are either overweight white men or starved asian men that they will not be included in subsequent seasons.

As for the game itself. Well right now they don't reveal any information about what type of game its going to be, if it will even be a true MMO or a pseudo one ala Guild Wars. So I really can't make any comment on whether I would buy it or not. If its a decent game and can work on low level hardware this does have a chance of moving gaming in general another giant leap into mainstream. Of course something tells me that this could not make it on reality tv.

[Deadend]

This seems more like it will be a fictional TV setup as a reality show involving a game. So it is what is described, but there is a layer of storyline over it. Hmm, you could do some intersting things with the format, unless the game is boring.

[Sl1pstream]

So it's a reality tv show that will be set in the future. I hope they have a time machine.

[KarmaGhost]

So it's a reality tv show that will be set in the future. I hope they have a time machine.Good call, I wonder if this guy has anything to do with it.
http://content.ytmnd.com/content/6/5/65f4a1ec5a001a02396ac2d1baa8e31a.jpg

The reality scene has, thankfully, calmed down a bit. I think networks understand that people are getting a little sick of them. I dunno about this idea, sounds quirky.

[MaiXu]

This'll all depend on the game. I hate TV, reality TV especially (granted, a few gems, like Arrested Developmen and Carnivale are amazing), and I could care less about the show and even less about being on the show. And as much as I like MMOs, even WoW, I've never cared enough to pay for them beyond a month (even WoW I play vicariously through a friend). So if this game is amazing, then it may succeed. But I can't imagine being the only person who never really wanted to see reality TV and games converge.

[slink-jadranko]

Interesting idea, but like most all interesting ideas embraced by media types, I suspect it will be unbearable.

[Citizen Philip]

I'm sure there are lots of reality TV haters out there, but would you play this game anyway if it's fun? If the game is fun, would you watch the show?

No and No. If Fox has it's grubby hands on an MMO, in its best incarnation it will appeal to the most lowest common denominator socially possible.

[MaiXu]

No and No. If Fox has it's grubby hands on an MMO, in its best incarnation it will appeal to the most lowest common denominator socially possible.

... or if its anywhere approaching good, they'll promptly cancel it.

[BreakerX]

Hmm.. "Space Simulator" and mmo reality TV show... So... basically what we have is a TV show where you watch people level grind. Sweet, I'm in. Well, only as long as at some point in time during the 30 minutes of the show you see someone run by and yell "U bai space suit +1 3000 credits yes?" then promptly advertise some rmt website.

[DarkEternal]

... or if its anywhere approaching good, they'll promptly cancel it.

Oh, burn!

Anyways, though, so long as they don't overplay the fact that the game is on TV, if it were a good game (which, probably not), I would play it. No reason not to, because the way it sounds, interaction is minimal anyways.

[TrackZero]

This'll all depend on the game. I hate TV, reality TV especially (granted, a few gems, like Arrested Developmen and Carnivale are amazing)

Uhhh...neither of those shows is/was Reality TV.....do you even know what it is?

[Sl1pstream]

Unless he meant he hates tv (insert shows), especially reality tv.

I could be wrong tho.

[Wombat]

The major problem I can see happening is that the ordinary players could gang up to grief the TV players if it becomes known who they are. It may not be a PvP game, but there will always be plenty of people who will find ways to be a dick.

[Durandal-217]

Seropian just isn't the same since he left Bungie.

[mneosyne]

i feel we dont know anything about the actual game, just the gimmick

[Tohoya]

That could be interesting. There's a lot of interesting player-created drama in MMOs, especially in open-ended ones like EVE. Remember hearing about that huge corporate theft awhile back? Shit like that would make a good TV show.

[Tia]

I hate Fox network. They are everything that is wrong with television. Yich.

Sorry had to say it. I just really hate them.

[MaiXu]

Uhhh...neither of those shows is/was Reality TV.....do you even know what it is?

Carnivale is too a reality TV show!!111!11one1!

[rein]

i feel we dont know anything about the actual game, just the gimmick


Exactly why I am not expecting much.

[Panda Love]

Psssh, this is nothing new. I swear, all developers can do these days is regurgitate old gameplay.

http://www.tomheroes.com/images/nes%20smashtv.jpg

[motor]

Also remember that an MMOG can be anything from WOW to a web-based trivia game where people compete for the best score. Expect this to be much more like the second of these two options. I'm guessing something built in flash (like doofus) that is "technically" an MMOG but really isn't anything that you guys are imagining. It just takes far too long and cost too much to ramp up a 3d immersive MMOG based on the popularity of a TV show (which could be canceled a month after starting).

[Nessus]

I play games to do things I can't do in reality. No thank you.

[Royal Fool]

Wow, just imagining the merging of TV and MMOs... if you think that people in online games are rude and act like assholes, just imagine what they would do in a game that would be shown on TV! I can already smell the burning embers of chaos.

[punk2h8tshun]

TV and gamers, more specificallly, the lowest common denomination of gamers.

So, basically, when this game launches, we'll get to see:
1) How long it takes someone to hack the game
2) How long it takes to see evidence of said hack(s) on the show
3) How many fines the FCC can issue to Fox for people running around "OMG U R TEH F*G"

Can you say train wreck??

[Zeal]

I'm with HALO and all, but I really don't know what to think about this shit. Merging reality TV with videogames? I dunno, man...

Don't like it.

Seems like they're attempting to make a quick buck on a current fad.

[Sl1pstream]

The major problem I can see happening is that the ordinary players could gang up to grief the TV players if it becomes known who they are. It may not be a PvP game, but there will always be plenty of people who will find ways to be a dick.

And that would be a bad thing? I would play the game, just to fuck up the tv show, unless I had to spend money on it, which will probably be the case.

[KamaItachi]

Psssh, this is nothing new. I swear, all developers can do these days is regurgitate old gameplay.

http://www.tomheroes.com/images/nes%20smashtv.jpg

I am all for more double fisted action on TV nowadays.

[bean19]

So many negative predictions.

I share your cynicism guys, but I do think this is an interesting idea, and I'm looking forward to the game. The biggest problem I see is that the game's publisher and developer aren't revealed yet. MMOs take time to make and the show is due out in the first half of next year.

That leads me to believe that the X-Quest "game" will be a trifling add-on to the show. . . not a stand-alone game of any worth.

When you think about how much a reality show/MMO crossover could broaden the market, that is pretty sad.

Maybe they have some company that has been working on it for over a year already and they just haven't released that news yet.

[Sl1pstream]

The biggest problem I see is that the game's publisher and developer aren't revealed yet. MMOs take time to make and the show is due out in the first half of next year.

They could be making something Runescape-ish. It'll still be an MMO and it won't cost that much to produce, meaning more profit for Fox.

[MojoJojo]

I hate Fox network. They are everything that is wrong with television. Yich.

Sorry had to say it. I just really hate them.
Don't make me call Jack Bauer. You don't want to go down this road with him. Haven't you read his file?

[didragondi]

Reality TV is shit. Televised waste.