A game like Super Mario 64 (collectathon platformer where Mario can punch and do things like wall jump, and where each level has multiple stars to collect), but 2D.

DONE

Not what I am thinking of.

I am thinking of a 2D platformer that plays like 3D Mario. Mario can punch, has 8 units of health, loses health when falling to far or while underwater, recovers health when collecting coins, etc.. There's a hub world, with some actual levels, each of which is large and has many stars to collect (each of which exits the level and is saved). A certain number of stars need to be collected for the end-game. There are no power-up mushrooms or fire flowers; instead, you hit switches that unlock cap power-ups in the levels.

So, it plays like Super Mario 64, but in 2D. (Simply re-creating the levels in Mario Maker doesn't get the same effect, as each level has only one goal, and the game plays like classic Mario (though, if the NSMB style is used, he could at least get wall jump and ground pound, but still no punching).

Another strange idea I just thought up: A game that plays like Morrowind (complete with open world, dice based combat, character creation, custom spells and enchantments, spells like Levitate and Mark/Recall, interaction with NPCs, etc.), except that it's a 2D sidescroller.

So would the levels be cylinders, like Lemmings Revolution, or totally 2D?

The Chrono Trigger 3D fan game... Dark Souls in modern Japan April joke.

Levels would, of course, be totally 2D. (Of course, they would be much larger than levels in traditional 2D Mario games; they'd have to be in order to fit 6 or so objectives in each one.)

Back in the late 90's, I was gushing over Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight and basically all things Star Wars. As a then-casual Warcraft 2 player, I thought it'd be cool if they made a similar RTS set in the Star Wars universe. This was probably before I played Starcraft, because I clearly envisioned the hypothetical game looking and playing like Warcraft 2. Fast forwarding a few years, my concept become a reality when Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds came out. As much as it would've been my dream game at 12 or 13, it's very ironic that I never played it!

Wizardry 9

How in the world did I miss this thread?! (O_O)

Oh well, if the rest of you will forgive me for 'bumping' it, I have a few ideas. ^_^U

One thing I wouldn't mind seeing is a large(r)-scale crossover game (read: involving more than 2 companies/franchises).

A greatly expanded version of Jump Ultimate Stars is one option - being able to build teams of characters (and evolve those characters over time) would be a welcome change from cliche 'staples' like Street Fighter and its many clones.

A crossover (j)RPG (bigger than Kingdom Hearts) could be another option. Being able to (re)visit classic anime-ted series as one of several different characters (ie a male or female character Trapped in TV Land'; an abandoned villain(ess) trying to reshape his/her fate) could be a breath of fresh air for players tired of the usual Tolkien-esque cliches.

Another game I wouldn't mind seeing (until Wreck-It Ralph 2 and its spin-off titles arrive) is an expanded version of Sugar Rush Speedway. Not only would it have the movie's randomized Arcade mode (with 9 racers) and an unlockable Plus mode (with a full selection of 16+ characters) but it would have an RPG mode that allowed players to explore the game's world (in or out of their character's race car), interact with the other racers (for quests and recipes for new cars) and discover new 'dummied out' secrets in Speedway's 'code'. (ie the original Sugar Rush platformer that Vanellope was set to star in). If the designers wanted to, they could also include a track editor (ala Race Driver Create & Race, Stunts/4D Driving or even rFactor) and two different difficulty settings (Normal for those of us who want to jump in and play; Advanced for those who want more complexity like car customization (including tweakable engines) and extra techniques to learn/utilize (ie jumps and snaking)).

Another thing I wouldn't mind seeing are 'definitive versions' of some games.

An 'ultimate' version of Tetris, for example, would include elements from its many variants like a 'composer mode' (ala Shockwave Tetris), Mission Mode (ala Nyet 3) and a multiplayer mode that allows those who host sessions/servers to decide which power-ups (ie bombs, gravity, a block shooting satellite) are used (ala Neitris, IIRC).

An 'ultimate' version of Lode Runner would include all of the features from past incarnations (ie bombs and sticky floors from The Legend Returns, phase blocks from Mad Monks' Revenge) and allow players to add new ones (ie faster enemies with different abilities, new hazards such as crumbling ladders and floors) via the game's editor.

And I'm sure that players of tile-based games like Boulder Dash, Laser Tank, Oxyd and Chip's Challenge 1 & 2 can imagine a Chip's Challenge 3 or even an even more versatile (if you'll pardon the pun) Tile World. ^_^

Feel free to let me know what you think of these ideas, folks. ^_^

I'm sure that they'd be better than a SCUMM-based Andy Capp adventure, a 6-player Attack of the Killer Tomatoes coin-op or even Battle Circuit 2. ^_^

Here's an idea along those lines:

An 'ultimate' version of Final Fantasy 4, or, more specifically, a 100% complete collection. It would include:
* Original FF4, with the original game mechanics, and the GBA version's added content (but without the bugs)
* Easy version (FF4 EasyType (which is *not* actually the same as FF2 SNES); this version, when the language is set to English, would use FF2 SNES's translation, except for the few things that didn't exist in that version but do in EasyType (like the Piglet Sword)
* 3D FF4, based off the DS version (with the difficulty selection the smartphone versions added), complete with augments (and, ideally, I would like Whyt to be available)
* FF4 Interlude (from the PSP version)
* FF4 The After Years (both 2D and 3D versions)
* Language selection
* Soundtrack selection; in addition to original and remake soundtracks, the soundtrack from the WonderSwan Color version would be an option (for non-Japanese languages, this option can be called 8-bit or retro; the TAY only songs would need to be redone in 8-bit)

(Also, I'd like to see a DRM-free PC release of this, though I don't see that happening.)

A WWI RTS where tens of thousands of units can be on the map at once.

Considering the number of variants you listed, I'm not surprised. ^_^ Well, let's see what happens. ^_^

If Chip's Challenge 2 could be released (after 25+ years of digital imprisonment), so can the compilation that you described.

In any event, here are a few more examples that I wouldn't mind seeing

Battle Circuit 2 - This side-scroller would include (updated versions of) characters, enemies, items, vehicles and stages from many of Capcom's classic titles including:

- Final Fight
- Captain Commando
- Knights of the Round
- King of Dragons
- Warriors of Fate 1 & 2

and, via licensing or 'expies',

- Aliens vs Predator
- Cadillacs & Dinosaurs
- The Punisher
- the D&D titles, Tower of Doom & Shadow Over Mystara

The stages that need to be cleared can be randomly chosen or travelled to like the spaces of a board game (ala Gunstar Heroes) and, when enough have been completed, characters can defeat a randomly chosen final boss (ie Scumicide, King Pluto or, if special conditions are met, an updated Master Program).

Maniac Mansion 3
Using an updated version of SCUMM, this sequel to Day of the Tentacle would follow Dave as he rescued his wife, Sandy, and all of his friends from random TV shows. With help from a reformed Dr Fred and his family, can he & the gang defeat the evil Purple Meteor or will it conquer all existence?

And, although it likely won't happen, I wouldn't mind a game where the villains of various platform games (ie Mario, Sonic, Mega Man, etc) were allowed to swap worlds. With the heroes at a disadvantage (ie Sonic can't break Metools or the various Robot Masters; Mega Man can't utilize/copy the abilities of Robitnik/Eggman's machines), they'll have to figure out new ways to save their respective worlds.

Again, feel free to let me know what you think of these ideas and, if they've been brought to digital life (ie via engines like Beats of Rage), please let me know. I doubt that any of us would object to exploring a(n indie) designer's/team's unbridled imagination. ^_^

This is a really good idea, in fact I bet some indie dev out there is already working on it.

A strange idea that I believe I have had floating in my head for decades:

This game would be a driving simulator that is not a racing game. Basically, the game would allow you to explore a town/city in a car, but would also have some missions you could attempt. In particular, some features of this game would be as follows:

* The rules of the road would be enforced. Running a red light would (typically) cause you to lose points, and it's possible to get arrested and get a speeding ticket or similar.

* There will be traffic to contend with as well; you aren't the only person on the road.

* An accident would be an automatic game over. (Since it's a computer game, you would be able to reload your last save.) Getting too many points on your license could also have that issue.

* Weather effects could affect driving, of course.

* Gas is something to worry about; if it runs out, you could end up stranded (and that would be another game over situation). There might be the option of getting an electric car, but if you do, the amount of power it has will be tracked, and if you dont recharge it before it runs out, that is, again, a game over. Solar cars are a possibility, but what if you have to do a mission that takes place in the middle of the night?

* Soft real-time missions: You have a certain amount of time to deliver something (for example, hot food or ice cream). If time runs out, your score will drop, and the reward for the mission will be lower.

* Hard real-time missions: Probably the most intense part of the game. You get to drive a police car or ambulance, and you get the option to use your sirens and break some of the rules, but you are on a strict timer. If time runs out, you fail the mission entirely; unlike with the soft real-time missions, there's no "partial credit" for barely missing the time limit, your passenger died before you reached the hospital, sorry!

* Because I feel like it (this idea is more recent), maybe a special mode where the physics work differently in a way that isn't designed to be realistic, and where there are some physics glitches put in on purpose.

(One thought is that this game (if not playing the glitch mode) could be useful for teaching people how to drive in a safe environment.)

Just thought I'd post another set of ideas before this thread eventually 'dies'. ^_^U

I doubt that these 'dream titles' will ever become real but, then again, the future is built on dreams, as the saying goes. ^_^

In any event...

One such idea is an adventure/RPG where you are a genie determined to improve life in your hometown by granting people's wishes. The catch is that at least some of the citizens have very strange requests. Players can improve their character's skills (and chances of granting wishes correctly) by reading books, visiting various landmarks (ie museums, art shows, etc) or even simple practice on a willing volunteer (or two). Requests can be (politely) refused and botched wishes can easily be fixed (and often forgiven by the wisher) but successful grantings/fulfillment can build your character's reputation...and invite new challenges (ie a god(dess) or 5th dimensional imp who wants to 'Mx' things up).

Another idea is a customizable roguelike that allows the player to decide how he/she explores the game's world/universe.

Want to explore a small town's 200+ level dungeon square-by-square slaying monsters? Go for it.
Want to explore the surrounding forests, mountains, etc. in an overhead view and befriend (or capture) its 'wildlife'? You can do that too.
Want to see what hides in the skies above? Book passage on (or, if the resources are available, build) a ship to the stars.

Players can even decide if 'permadeath' is active. (After all, who wouldn't want to perish after 10,000+ hours of up-til-then-rewarding gameplay?)

And, being open-source and fully moddable, new (playable) creatures and other features can easily be added. ^_^

Yet another one (that I was tempted to post in a separate thread) is a 'virtual pet' for adults that allows them to care for a (male or female) character (at least 18+ years old). The catch? Along with food and other necessities, the character that the player selects (or even creates) has at least one prurient interest to be catered to (usually by letting them explore any number of randomly/procedurally-generated or user-made scenarios).

A character with a giant(ess) fetish (aka macrophilia?), for example, could be happy with smashing buildings, crushing tiny people and consuming planets and suns.
A character with a stuck fetish could enjoy trudging through a slime or candy-based world (or even having its movement/abilities (temporarily) limited via various adhesives).
And a character with a robot fetish could glean enjoyment from seeing/feeling its metal body being 'maintained', 'upgraded' or simply polished/buffed.

Treat the character well and he/she will reward you in various ways.
Treat him/her badly (long enough) and not only will the character (among others) learn to hate you but he/she could rebel and/or try to destroy the gameworld (if not prevent it from being reinstalled).

Along with a level/scenario editor, the game could also be modded so that new character types (ie robots, aliens, dolls, genies, etc.) and fetishes (which I'll leave to your own imagination) can easily be included.

I'm sure that any of us could go for pages about potential projects (if not titles that come close to the posted descriptions) but, as a certain character once said, the shows (and games) in our minds are almost always better.

Enjoy your weekend, folks. ^_^