In my opinion, it's hard these days to come up with an idea for a game that's not old and tired. I like the fact that Al Emmo was a western, I can't off the top of my Head think of an adventure game that is in that particular setting.
obviously you want to be unique and stand of from the rest. You can't take too much from KQ or QFG without seeming like you're just "ripping off" or feeding on the old fans (not that there is nothing to be said for the profitability on that)
The ideal is as expected a middle road where you have something to fresh to attract new players and just enough of the old to let the old fans feel nostalgic. IMHO the fantasy Genre is far too over done. Wizards witches and goblins and things. Extreme sci-fi is often cheesy. One of the reasons I think RW worked well is because it was a comedy. Comedy is always good (if it's funny) and it's probably easier than being serious.
My personal favorites probably stray more towards lucas arts's Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle. People seem to be into Pirates these days.
If I was making a game I might try to do a little sci-fi but not too out there. Like say 50-100 years in the future, or present day but somethings just different enough to keep things interesting (think Zak McKracken but better). I LOVE saitre, and have a particular fondness of dystopias. Mini games are also great, including an RPG element would probably attract more people as well.
Also, I think that the Narrator in SQ6 adding his commentary like that was AWESOME and, if you have some one with a good voice like that which was perfect ,having the narrator make fun of the hero was a great gimmick. Geeks also love a sexy female hero ;-) It might be good to change things up in the Male hero dominated adventure game market ;-)
Oh add to that, if you have good animators, I know that 3D is in right now but I think things like the Wii prove that people don't care about realism. I love the cartoony style of KQ7 and SQ6 any day. If you can replicate something similar I think it would be beautiful, but of course do your best to make it your own :-D
obviously you want to be unique and stand of from the rest. You can't take too much from KQ or QFG without seeming like you're just "ripping off" or feeding on the old fans (not that there is nothing to be said for the profitability on that)
The ideal is as expected a middle road where you have something to fresh to attract new players and just enough of the old to let the old fans feel nostalgic. IMHO the fantasy Genre is far too over done. Wizards witches and goblins and things. Extreme sci-fi is often cheesy. One of the reasons I think RW worked well is because it was a comedy. Comedy is always good (if it's funny) and it's probably easier than being serious.
My personal favorites probably stray more towards lucas arts's Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle. People seem to be into Pirates these days.
If I was making a game I might try to do a little sci-fi but not too out there. Like say 50-100 years in the future, or present day but somethings just different enough to keep things interesting (think Zak McKracken but better). I LOVE saitre, and have a particular fondness of dystopias. Mini games are also great, including an RPG element would probably attract more people as well.
Also, I think that the Narrator in SQ6 adding his commentary like that was AWESOME and, if you have some one with a good voice like that which was perfect ,having the narrator make fun of the hero was a great gimmick. Geeks also love a sexy female hero ;-) It might be good to change things up in the Male hero dominated adventure game market ;-)
Oh add to that, if you have good animators, I know that 3D is in right now but I think things like the Wii prove that people don't care about realism. I love the cartoony style of KQ7 and SQ6 any day. If you can replicate something similar I think it would be beautiful, but of course do your best to make it your own :-D