Lila Dreams is an indie MMO, in development over at Kongregate (the upload-your-own games site). Developed by "three sexy men", it's obviously small fry compared to WoW or the like, but so what - have a look at some of the things they're planning design-wise.
Here's what it isn't:
There are no elves, dwarfs, or other Tolkien-derived player races. There are no dragons, orcs, or other Tolkien-derived creatures. There’s no magic. Well, there are “powers” that might be analogous to magic spells, but in terms of the setting they are psychic powers and not spells. So, there’s no magic.
There is no level grind. Level grinding is when you do boring tasks like killing cellar rats over and over to watch your game character become more powerful so you can kill bigger cellar rats. I personally do not like level grinding, and I think that it puts the focus of play on the experience of grinding rather than on the experience of the game world. I am working hard to design systems that do not require grinding so that the game world itself is the focus of fun.
And here's some of what it is:
... but there is combat: juicy, 2d platforming combat with RPG-like mechanics!
... and, gardening!
There is a kind of crafting, and it’s a central part of the gameplay. All I can say for now is that you don’t craft items–you grow them. Yes, gardening.
But in a surrealistic game world where plants are not just plants. But I must not give away too much! (It’s very hard for me not to spill the beans! Oh how I fight!)
Heh. The game is set in an 11-year old girl (Lila)'s head. Here's some concept art:
I'm completely delighted by this, sketchy thought the details are. One to watch, yup.
Lila Dreams blog, from Creatrix Games.
(via the excellent Indie Games blog)
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