User blog comment:Avaria/The Hunger Games (The Videogame)/@comment-5923366-20150623031255

I've actually thought about this a lot (I've thought about going for a career in video game design). It obviously needs to be made; its crazy they haven't. Here's what I've come up with:

It wouldn't even have to be a full game, I think we would all find just an official downloadable online multiplayer game to be acceptable, like World of Tanks. However, I'd prefer it to be worth $15 or $20 rather than it being free with microtransactions. Obviously the gametype would be a first or third person 3D free-for-all last man standing type dealio.

You would start off by making your character by changing their clothing, facial features, hair, etc. However, you wouldn't be able to choose your own district. Your district really wouldn't end up mattering in the actual gameplay. You'd either end up with extremely limited matchmaking with only 2 people from each district allowed in a game, or half the people being from district 12, which doesn't make all that much sense either. Don't worry, districts will be involved though, I'll explain that later.

You'd also be able start with a limited number of skillpoints on different skills, similar to customizing a character's personality on The Sims. For example, if you wanted your character to be really quick and manuverable, you might not have very many points left to invest in your character's combat skills. You could change the way your points are invested between games and you wouldn't earn any more through gameplay. This is simply so you can change your charater to better fit your playstyle and since everyone has the same amount of points to spend, the game will remain balanced. Some skills I've thought of off the top of my head are: Running speed, Stamina, melee, range (like bows and other weapons that aren't hand-to-hand), strength, steath, awareness (to counter stealth), various survival skills, and of course, Reputation, which gives you more/better drops from sponsors. Maybe its a little too much, but obviously there's a lot of potential there.

The game also needs a progression system. You would be able to complete certain achievements and challenges within the game (unrelated to gamerscore and trophies) which would unlock cosmetic items and outfits. Once again, these would NOT be available for purchase with real life currency, because they would be statuses of the player's skill. I also like the idea of an Elo ranking system so players with similar skill levels will be put in the same games (Mario Kart 8 uses this system, just to name one, though it was invented for Chess). You could alternatively do an experience system where you can level up to the next "tier" of players, once again similar to World of Tanks. I DON'T like the idea of earning items and perks through gameplay that help you, but it's obviously been done before.

As for the gameplay itself, it would obviously be a 24 player free-for-all with a small twist. Districts would be assigned to players randomly. If the two final players are from the same district, they have the option to share the victory. However, they don't have to work together throughout the game and if they're the last two alive, they don't have to share the victory and can kill each other to claim it all for themselves.

Hunger was a pretty important aspect in the books, but does it belong in the game? I imagine each match lasting 20-30 minutes so getting hungry so quickly and easy may just simply be annoying and take away from the actual game. If hunger was implemented, you should get hungry slowly, and once it reaches a certain point it starts to make your skills less effective. While you wouldn't be able to die of starvation, your chances of survival are slim if you don't eat. I'm thinking eating once every 10-12 minutes should suffice, meaning players will mostly only need to eat once a game, or twice if they make it that far.

The rest of the gameplay should be fairly straightforward I think. Thanks for reading my lengthy idea. :)