Having Random Events in a Driver Game | Forums

[PeaceMaker_101]

I loved this idea so much that I've decided to create a whole thread about it. You guys mentioned how we need more obstacles, more interesting locations, possibly even a limitless amount of situations to make the whole world feel much more complete. I think J_Frumpleberg mentioned that we could have construction sites popping up throughout the game sometimes, leading to all kinds of choices that the player has in how to make the car chases play out. Imagine if we could do the same with other events, like crime scenes, carnivals, festivals, marches, protests, etc. happening all around the city at different times. Some could even intentionally be placed in at certain points in the game, to add more to the story. Others could complement the missions. And, finally, there can be random events for the player to stumble upon to make the free roam so compelling. Film director making its way back should create a whole bevy of cool car chases and other fun things that go on in the next Driver's world.

Think about all the possibilities. We'll be soon heading into another console gen (with the WiiU, Xbox 720, and PS4) soon, so this presents developers with more reasons than ever before to better implement random situations that will only lead to a greater sense of immersion. And what better genre (or sub-genre) to do this with than the open world one?

[brok2]

I really liked the ideas of cones, wood barriers and sandpiles appearing randomly on sections of the streets. Provided you can see them soon enough to make a choice whether you want to hit something or not, it'd really mix things up a bit.

I've always said we needed randomly spawned plate-glass carriers crossing the road- where you have to hit the sweet spot right in the middle between the two people or they'll freak out and drop it before you get there. Doesn't impact any other part of gameplay, but just something interesting to throw in there.

[J_Frumpleberg]

I like the plate glass carriers. What are some other car chase cliches? Fruit vendors? I think I've said this before, but what if fruit stands were sort of like hidden packages, or the stars in DPL. Smash through all 50 of them for some sort of bonus. Fruit stands that you've already destroyed would be a different color, or have a different fruit thats obvious from a distance? Or the vendor could yell "Hey! You already got me!" as you approach. haha

I feel like maybe DPL had some random road obstructions, like suddenly one lane would be blocked with cones and theres a pile of sand, and it wasn't always in the same place, because it would kind of pop in. Maybe I was imagining it though, or it was a different game...?

[PeaceMaker_101]

Yeah. Having even small details like that around the city would be nice. It doesn't always have to be a huge event going on; sometimes, it could be simple, small changes in the environment (with the obstacles, people, etc.). And again, you won't likely be able to demolish the whole city in the next Driver game (what point would there be in doing that?), but you should still have a more than decent amount of destructible things around the city, particularly with anything that's randomly generated.

So, if you want to go all in, guns blazing, and blow up major portions of a festival event, either to complete your objective more easily or just part of fooling around, you should have that option. Moreover, I think that this feature is an excellent excuse to include stealth gameplay and really flesh it out. You can then choose to sneak up on your enemies and kill/stun them however you want from many locations.

[zain611]

The devs could of included putting boxes next to that unlicensed post van callled the carson (something) which they showed in one of the trailers and put road blocks having a cement truck or fire truck with those road block signs that you may of seen when jericho smashes the cop car in the first level

[PeaceMaker_101]

If only we could have other vehicles, too, which would allow for even more kinds of events. Then we could have random boat chases, people touring the city in a helicopter/blimp, packages being packed and ready for a plane to deliver them, etc. So many wonderful possibilities. And so many kinds of story and side missions (i.e. smashing objects, stunts, races, dares, chases, vehicle-specific jobs, etc.), too.

[ManoelM]

Those ideas are great guys! I'd also love to see demonstrations on the streets, and police cars blocking the roads. Or even simple things like random fire trucks and parademic going on a mission trough the streets, just like some police cars chase other cars in DSF. That wouldn't have been too hard to make!
I'd like to see big (highway) crashes too with trucks and cars and huge traffic jams and roadblocks

[J_Frumpleberg]

One thing I've been thinking about is in a lot of games, you have to make your own fun. To counter this, they could have a small percentage of the AI population mess with you, such as if you're in a fast car, or a fast n furious type car, people will pull up next to you and rev their engines, trying to get you to race. This should happen seamlessly, with no added GUI for a light to light race, no cutaways to both cars waiting at a light, or an extended dialogue, if the other guy yells from his car, thats fine, or even if he says "Lets race to _________ destination!", three beeps and its time to race. I guess they could give you points or money at the end of the race to make it worth your while.

Also, offensive driving will anger some people into riding your bumper, flashing high beams, beeping and yelling, possibly even swerving at you

[PeaceMaker_101]

One thing I've been thinking about is in a lot of games, you have to make your own fun. To counter this, they could have a small percentage of the AI population mess with you, such as if you're in a fast car, or a fast n furious type car, people will pull up next to you and rev their engines, trying to get you to race. This should happen seamlessly, with no added GUI for a light to light race, no cutaways to both cars waiting at a light, or an extended dialogue, if the other guy yells from his car, thats fine, or even if he says "Lets race to _________ destination!", three beeps and its time to race. I guess they could give you points or money at the end of the race to make it worth your while.

Also, offensive driving will anger some people into riding your bumper, flashing high beams, beeping and yelling, possibly even swerving at you

Yes, and that, too, seems like a form of greatly randomizing how the NPCs behave within the game, which, for an open world experience, would be very interesting. And while there certainly are more things to be done with cars and how shift applies to them, I don't think Reflections can hold out on offering every other type of vehicle imaginable for much longer in this franchise before things get very stale. Unless it is Reflections' hope to continue to release a new game every half a decade or so, which very much seems like a long wait to many people.