Quoted from WindRaidor:Idea for a multiplayer Topper...
I just listened to the first portion of Slap Save's most recent podcast...great job by the way on that show. Listening to Bowen talk about how you are a Morty and how there are challenges in keeping track of progress across games...I began to wonder if it would make sense for Spooky to come out with a super innovative topper that not only looks awesome; but, also incorporates an aspect of player recognition (XBOX Kinect based sensor like), multiplayer support and remote code updates which would be delivered via the topper which could have the necessary networking components to make it happen and connect via USB to the main system. Advantages I can think of doing this is that having your networking components on top of the machine would give better wifi coverage. Kinect Sensor used to identify players (facial recognition) would be in an ideal location above the machine looking at the player, and having embedded cameras (audio and video capable) for net based play against other locations would be awesome. Cameras could also be used for streamers (go-live integration). And on screen display could be done in a non-obtrusive postage stamp view like way where the feed comes across of the other player in the corner of the main display for the machine so you can see and talk to the other person across the net. Hell, lets use our Fang club memberships as a player identification system. In order to do online play you would need a Fang club membership which would be great value to us and bring an ROI to spooky on an annual basis. Maybe even multiplied value for them if each recognizable player would require that account with them. Then spooky maintains the game history, profiles, high scores, game updates distributed as part of the Fang membership. I for one would pay a lot for a topper that would incorporate that much functionality and look good at the same time. Spooky could stay focused on building code functionality now with the intent on doing something along these lines many months from now as a way to bridge additional sales in between game creation while dipping their toes int he water on multiplayer based functionality.
For one, I hate (like truly despise) toppers. But putting that aside, I will never again pay Spooky (although technically I paid Fawzma directly) for something that promises future game-integrated functionality. I bought the Rob Zombie apron mod a few years back because of what it was promised to evolve into. Well, that never happened. I still support Spooky when it comes to their games -- I bought TNA and have a R&M reserved. So I don't hold animosity toward the company in general. But I would never, ever buy something related to a game based on "all the cool stuff" that it will supposedly do someday. Fawzma seems like a cool dude, and he was certainly busy frying bigger fish than the RZ mod. Who knows, maybe he'll actually work on it someday before I die. But for now, none of that makes my burnt $300 feel any better.
Live and Learn!