The problem with Chao and a possible solution.

[Chaos Walker]

In a previous topic I asked for people's opinion on an all Chao game. The response I received here, and observed from several other sites, was that alone, Chao were not enough to constitute a full game. People said that half the fun of raising Chao was replaying levels to collect rings and hunt down animals. Without the crucial "Hedgehog Factor", Chao would simply lose their appeal and become repetitive.

I was at a loss for a solution. My first thought was minigames, but those can only remain fun for awhile, before they too become repetitive. Finaly it came to me one night while I was frustrated to find I could no longer move Chao from SA2B to SADX, since I had sold my GCN-GBA cable as well as my GBA SP. I said to myself, "Why can't the games just share the garden? It has a seperate save data anyway!" It was then I realized the solution. If one Chao garden was connected to all Sonic games, then there would be no need to add a Chao garden to the next game.

They could make a Chao garden Wiiware game available for download, and add an option to the menu of future Sonic games allowing the game to detect, and connect to the Chao garden data. This would allow each new game to transfer rings, and if updates could be downlowded each time a new game came out, a set of animals, fruit, hats, and other items, unique to each game. Thus the "Hedgehog Factor" would be restored, and would remain untill the next generation of consoles.

[Diogenes]

But they still have to waste time programming the Sonic games to interact with the chao game, and the differences between the Sonic games wouldn't give a consistent reward; some games might be far easier to collect rings than others, for example. Or worse, they end up limiting what they do in the Sonic games so it can fit with the chao games...

And by this the chao garden itself is still crippled; it needs another game along with it to be of any real value.

[JezMM]

Diogenes pointed out some solid flaws, however... I do like the concept of this. It's a good idea, but it just needs to be tightened I think. My only suggestion would be not a WiiWare download... have it be installable from the game itself (like the Mario Kart and Wii Fit channels). As Diogenes said, without the Sonic games connected to it, it'd be lame by itself, and poor punters would purchase a very shallow game.

[Miko]

I think chao would be a nice feature to up the replay value as long as it's optional and they don't do stuff like make you get emblems off of races and stuff. I think SEGA's alternatives for lengthening gameplay value to date have not been... quite as engaging. Chao are kind of infinite in terms of how long you can play with them. So they may as well let people who want to play with them have a shot or make a game with Chao for people.

[Chaos Walker]

But they still have to waste time programming the Sonic games to interact with the chao game, and the differences between the Sonic games wouldn't give a consistent reward; some games might be far easier to collect rings than others, for example. Or worse, they end up limiting what they do in the Sonic games so it can fit with the chao games...

And by this the chao garden itself is still crippled; it needs another game along with it to be of any real value.

I simply meant they would not need to work on a new garden, like how the gardens in Sonic Adventure 2 were completely diferent, and featured 3 times as many chao. Not getting new chao or gardens wouldn't be expected as much with this method.

As for limiting the Sonic games, as long as things are handled the way they were in the adventures, it would fine.

Still, you make a good point with the differences in the games. I'm just not sure how big of a deal it would be. It could be minor, or it could be huge. I suppose a good way to check would be to compare the four Sonic games that came out for the GCN.

So yes, major tightening is needed.

Edited July 20, 2009 by Chaos Walker

[Miko]

If they did make major updates to Chao gardens it could be something annual. Maybe a new type of chao or a new kind of garden. Gardens are not huge. They're REALLY small actually and compared to an actual level would probably be a lot easier to make. I'd have actually liked to have had a make your own garden feature to eliminate the problem entirely. You have 3 empty spaces and maybe a bunch of items to make your own garden. That or they may have skins like they do on PSU.

[Diogenes]

I simply meant they would not need to work on a new garden, like how the gardens in Sonic Adventure 2 were completely diferent, and featured 3 times as many chao. Not getting new chao or gardens wouldn't be expected as much with this method.

But would it really reduce the demand for it? You can't play a game, even a very good one, forever. I got bored of chao back in the Adventures, and the only way I'd get a chao-centric game is if there was a significant overhaul to make it worth playing. And obviously even people that still like raising chao aren't satisfied with just SA/SA2's chao raising, else they wouldn't be asking for games like this. The demand for new content won't just disappear...this doesn't solve the problem, it just ignores it.

As for limiting the Sonic games, as long as things are handled the way they were in the adventures, it would fine.

No, see, that's the problem! Already the supposed side-game is affecting what the main game can and can't do. I don't want this series to stall out and repeat stuff from the Adventures endlessly as things are now, and I certainly wouldn't want them doing it because of a crappy virtual pet spinoff game!

[Miko]

Already the supposed side-game is affecting what the main game can and can't do

Honestly? Not by very much. They already waste enough time trying to make replay value with multiplayer mode (which will get boring a LOT faster), or some other gimmick like collecting coins or something to unlock a level. Or new Xtreme gear/car/[insert sports item] upgrades. If a tiny few updates to a chao garden here and there can prevent me from having only that crap for replay value, I'd be all for it. Heck a chao garden with no updates from the last would be more entertaining. I thought the chao were far more enjoyable an option. I don't care about getting new extreme gear. I don't care about (in Shadow's case) playing for multiple endings when the last story will debunk it anyway. They might attract a lot of girl gamers who seem to have an affinity for Sims games as well.

Edited July 21, 2009 by Miko

[Mau]

Hm. Couldn't they do something along the lines of a spin off with the chao?

Let's think. Chao can morph depending on what animal they're exposed to, or what character their exposed to for a long period of time. The most common chao are the blue ones, while silver, gold and others are a little harder to find.

Chao are tied into chaos right?

I could see the potential for an RPG style game, you play as a chao and then go around meeting animals and developing your abilities that way....while fighting off some kind of enemy...and gaining strength as you go through the course of the game. Certain mini games would allow you to gain other abilities, and it would be really customizable.

Edited July 21, 2009 by Mau

[Miko]

It would be fun to see them do a chao spinoff game with Sonic characters. Perhaps special chao in homage to some of the Sonic characters too with gardens that mimic popular zones like casinos, etc.

[Picchi]

Now I could see if SEGA hadn't developed the programming for these little guys but they have already have. All they need to do is add in a little more details here and there and it'd be great for girl gamers or fans who want more in terms of replay value.

3D Mini-adventures like what happened in the VMU days would be cool. That and trading rings for more accessories like and items to get through the Mini adventures easier--- sort of the direction SEGA went with when they used the Black Market.

Chao also have the ability to be born with different personality traits, which means they can have can make certain options for decision making and stuff and thus enhancing the options they can take each game and their replay value.