Salutations.

Being one of the newest members in the community (though an old fan of the franchise), I'm guessing this idea has been discussed to a degree, but honestly I can't help but ask here. I suspect I'm not the only one that can see immense potential in a TRON-based MMO. Has this idea ever been suggested? I know it’s been on my mind for quite some time so I find it hard to believe no one else came up with something along those lines.

Ever since TRON 2.0 came out, the various RPG-esque features it incorporated made me think an MMO (not too unlike the TRON 2.0 game itself) could be a valid bet. In fact there could be features in a game like this completely unique (besides the already unique setting, sound, look and feel of it) and much preferable to countless other titles in this genre that no longer rely on originality and rather focus on technical and graphical advancements.

I don't know about the rest of the fanbase but I would LOVE (and that is a gross understatement) to immerse myself in a TRON-based MMO game... I mean, even fantasy MMOs show they have their limits, but the digitized world can go beyond Elves, Trolls and Dragons (in fact... it can go that way too if it so chooses....)

****Long Idea Rant in the form of a Big @$$ Wall Of Text follows****************
The game style, leveling system and Program (character) tweaking are - in a sense - already there. All of them, though, have very large development possibilities, whole steps beyond the T2.0 game.

Dozens of additional subroutines, maybe even a category or two added to the Combat, Defense and Utility tabs.
Subroutine upgrade versions ranging from Alpha, Beta, Gold, Platinum to Custom, to Military to Experimental to anything imaginable.
Leveling tied to Program build versions. (It would be nice to see something other than "Level 40 Rogue" show up in character definition... How about a “Version 1.2.113 Decompiler” instead?)
Health, Energy, Weapon Efficiency, Transfer Rate and CPU attributes form a very good basis but Memory Size, Scripting and Scripting Efficiency would also make interesting additions.
Memory Size could finally provide with an inventory system unlike the “fit what you can in this square space right here” or the “x slots = x items” inventory we’ve seen so far. An infinite inventory where you can fit items according to their byte (Kbyte/Mbyte/Gbyte) value compared to your Program’s memory size.
Customizable Colors manageable by RGB parameter sets, sold by (imaging) vendor Programs perhaps, or even dropped as unique RGB sets by “Executive”(Boss) Programs to display high level status.

All of the above could give character Program customization and leveling a very large potential. Aesthetically… well I don’t think I can do better than others (although I’ve done heaps of concept art, since it’s the only thing I’m good at) but I always imagined the Defense subroutines a Program loads/equips (and their corresponding upgrade versions) can change its appearance much like different Tier armor sets function in other MMO titles. Defense subroutines could also be split to types that correspond to Program classes (heavier/lighter/covert defense subroutines).

As far as Program types or classes go in such a game I’m inclined to believe the combat system would define much. And knowing a few things about MMOs I think the frantic disc fights you had in T2.0 would have to give place to a combat system based on more “strategic” foundations. However the “basic” types of class can be present. Tanking Programs, Scripters (spellcasters), Covert Programs (Rogues, much like the Datawraiths in T2.0), Affinity/Synergetic Programs with satellite bits/bytes/search engines as pets… If you want to follow the theme that TRON 2.0 started you could change the memory requirements for Programs according to where they are active (different servers/systems = different mem reqs = more / less subroutines to load = different gameplay even for standard Program classes). Need I go on? It’s all there.

You also have your “mounts” in the form of Light Cycles that can be used as much for travel (and who wouldn’t love to ride a Light Cycle through a crowded “Hub” or Server) as well as for Arena Gaming – Imagine Light Cycle speed racing, demolition derbies, capture the byte and other types besides the grid racing obvious – and a whole series of Light Cycle upgrades maybe… There’s tanks, data transports, a whole range of ways to get from one place to another. Again it’s all there, ready to be used.

The questing system is ridiculously vast as an idea in the TRON universe. Programs can busy themselves in everything from gathering punctuation marks to send a set of emoticons from one user to another in a “Messenger/Chat” quest, transferring Packets (possibly through hazardous disc clusters), hacking into Government servers, combating viral infections, performing industrial espionage, distributing warez, creating trojans/worms/viruses, escorting commercial programs through their journey, formatting hard drives / flash discs etc, much of which could be used in both PvE and PvP scenarios. You could have Conquerable Server towns and areas where “Compilations” (groups/clans/guilds) of Programs can install themselves and so much more. In addition the Permission system used in T2.0 is one of the simplest yet one of the most effective “lock/key” mechanisms I’ve encountered so far. One with a vast number of combinations that can create a whole meta-game level in the form of constructing and upgrading permission parameters, hacking permission sets and loads more. On another scale, there is something a game of this sort can use to its benefit that not many other games can: The ability to tie in real world events and timelines to their digital counterparts. The launch of a new operating system, a new game, a viral outbreak, a Y2K bug-type event… I’m not even trying here, the content is almost ready itself.

Locations and landscapes, I shouldn’t even bother mentioning… The aesthetics of the film and game are incomparable to anything I’ve seen done so far. The symmetry (and of course the chaos) takes on a whole new meaning in TRON where shapes, colors and space will blend in a way no other game has taken advantage of even till today. Your commoner areas, your “buildings”, your pets, roads, vehicles, skies, seas, mountains, deserts… they can be depicted in ways that surpass the obvious, boring, usual land depictions in other games. If you’re not satisfied with what the film has to offer, the T2.0 game took it a few steps further. Firewalls, modems, PDAs, Old systems, new systems, infected systems, laptops, mainframes, web pages, server hubs, abandoned networks, unexplored areas… there is too much to mention and all of it unique to the TRON franchise. And from what I can gather, the prospect of digitizing a program or virus threat in the real world could provide with innumerable more possibilities.

Finally I can still remember the soundtrack of both film and game being incredibly pleasant to accompany my long hours of delving into the digital world… no longer the epic, symphonic “clash of steel on steel” cheese. The music had a very unique way of blending into the ambient sounds of the digital world. The sounds themselves are another story… I remember walking around in energy pools in TRON 2.0 just to listen to that crystal-like footstep sound. Digital-ish sounds… mmmmmm, finally the kind that would make a lot of players that are fans of Electro/Techno music happier.

I’m sorry if I’m just reproducing ideas that have been mentioned here before, as I’m sure they have, but knowing there’s another film (and most likely another game) in the works, I can’t help but ask myself, why not go that extra mile and make it an MMO, finally giving this very underrated franchise a chance to take off? Besides, MMOs are slowly becoming the bread and butter of the gaming industry and the resources to create one are practically in the hands of every developer.

To wrap this up I think I should say that this is something of a “wish” I’ve had since TRON 2.0 came out. I think this post is kind of a way for me to see if there are likeminded fans of TRON out there maybe in hopes of making something like this reach the right ears and possibly making it a project we can see come to life. I can’t really tell if this is an idea WD/BV would invest in but as a fan I can think of nothing better and nothing more fitting to keep this franchise alive and potentially expand it beyond measure than an MMO game.

Again, sorry if all of this has been mentioned previously (which would mean I’m a lazy sum-of-a-bit for not looking through older forum posts) and forgive any mistakes (English is not my first language).

Have a nice microcycle.

A TRON MMO would be beautiful. I like your idea of one, Lybra. I thought of something similar to that a while ago. But still, it's a brilliant idea!

Hi Lybra, welcome to Tron-Sector.

You are correct. Several people here have an idological concept in thier head about how perfect Tron's high technology is and what it's really made of.

It's a marvelous thing - computers formulating all those memories and inventions looking at a perfect instrument in the mind telling a story describing the art forms of electronic life to the utmost detail and precision, that is why Tron has reason, liquid nature applied to synthetic energy that keeps the aesthetic complexities materializing in our conscience.

So yeah, I like the idea of a MMO.

Agreed with the MMO idea.

As for my 10 bits: I always preferred the "classless" MMO style of Star Wars Galaxies before they massively screwed it up by making it "World Of StarWarsCraft". >< I liked customizing and re-customizing my character's role in the world without losing my identity or having to make another brand new character (compete with having to run through the tutorials again!) if I wanted a change of pace.