yep, there's a lot more that could be done with cities...
I tried to do some threads to figure out some things with estates, but gave up since it's so time consuming, and boring..
https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/...notes-thread&p=3550347&viewfull=1#post3550347
I think Monria now has a similar list that MS9 keeps updated.
Lots of places on Calypso never left the estate broker's hands yet, or never even got in to his hands yet since estate terminals still throw up error messages in some locations... all despite the 2007 Q&A promise...
There's actually a LOT of stuff in that old Q&A, and the other years' Q&As that Mindark could use as a guideline going forward since some of the stuff from back then still never got implemented yet as of today...
Remember the old 2009 and older factory idea?
If they implemented that, it would be pretty bad ass. They had also promised/hinted at implementing other things in the past that I think many would think could be great additions. Below I will try to expand on them, on what you had written, and come up with some ideas. Maybe others think they are good ideas or can come up with better ideas from my brain storming.
Dynamic Cities - The quote that you posted MasterMesh, about how they wanted cities to evolve dynamically with the player base sounded awesome. It could maybe work similar to how planet Cyrene has been making there map dynamic. It definitely will keep things going and looking somewhat fresh.
Factories - Allow players to own stocks/shares of them or put them in auction for players to bid on. Have it operate similar to how dungeons on Rocktropia are functioning. The owner will have the blueprint that crafts an employee card. Players can buy this from the owner to get work from the factories. This work is essentially a daily mission that asks to get X materials. The end reward can be items that are based on the industry that factory is focused on. They can make it so each factory in different cities create there own category of items to offer something unique in each location.
Hospitals - The revive terminals can be placed here. This can also be a location for where healers can wait for customers and provide an additional way to promote their services. There could be the main room, where there are ad signs all over showing the healers available. These ad sign will get screened to make sure to only advertise healing services. Make it so the ad signs have two options. First, to operate like normal, but with smaller fee since its for healing only, and the healers can be in any location. The second option in the ad sign could be to allow free advertising, so long as the healer remains in the building. Soon as the player exits the hospital, logs off, or goes afk, the ad sign turns off. These ad signs could be made to only operate two hours at a time in order to give others a chance to promote. This would really help free up space in the chat windows in my mind, as people will also be able to find help quick in the hospitals.
Ingame Companies - There are various ingame companies that at one point seemed would have there own buildings in cities. Companies such as Genesis Star, Chikara Corporation, Omegaton Industries, Ashley&Perrin, and a few others. It would be cool to see for sure, This could be a source of missions. The company buildings could be located in the cities that seem related to them. You could also make it unique with special missions to draw players to the factions. Players can be asked to choose a side from all the factions and then have a PvP component where players from different companies must fight each other for missions.
Real Companies - In the past there were several real life companies that opened up estates in various cities throughout Calypso. This would be so amazing if we can have this happen again from time to time, even if temporary. At the moment there are still a very small handful of real life company buildings ingame in some cities. Three of them are in Athena Spaceport. The real life company buildings located there are Hub Culture, Planet Employability, and Empaticus. There was another estate owned by a real life bank, but I can't recall where it is. But the ones that do remain serve no purpose. The ones that had been removed, such as New Oxford Academy of Fine Arts, Vexed Generations, and Xfire, hosted/sold art paintings, clothing, banking, and more. A really good collaboration with some current companies could bring something good to both parties, such as when they partnered with the TV show "The Truth About Marika" and the "Cyber Recreation District". Though the later did not happen due to unfortunate event.
Fishing Docks - With a fishing system in place, certain coastal cities can have docks added to them that have an NPC on a boat with daily quests for fishing. The fish can be consumables that give buffs, smaller fish reused as bait, and be ingredients for crafting new items in this new profession. Perhaps also have a chance to fish up junk (very low TT limited items) and rare chance to loot an epic fish (maybe tamable?). Can also make it so fishing can be done off of boats, this will boost the vehicle economy too I think, along with crafting for things like fishing poles, bait, clothing, etc.
Recreation Center - This can be a place where people do small and fun things for free. There could be a table with chess, connect four, card games, arm wrestle, or something else. A pool, so players can have parties in or do what they want. And an auditorium, where MA or players can speak about topics.
Club/Free space - This could be a place where people relax, throw parties, host fashion contest/catwalk, host temporary art galleries, and more.
Voting booths - With a political system, MA can put the top ideas they want to work on to vote. Then players can vote on the top 3 to let the company know what players really want worked on. Other things could also be voted on such as president, community leaders, etc.
Stock Exchange - I've seen some pictures of it from the old days when it was ingame. Can maybe add the Factories, Faction Companies, Stables, Banks, Malls, Shops, LA, and more to this if re implemented. Then players can buy stocks and profit or lose based on how those they chose perform.
Pet Battle Octagons - A place where we can battle our pets for PED. While we have some buildings in certain places that looks like it was once intended for this purpose, it is not currently functioning as such. This would be really fun. MA gave us preview pictures of this a while back, so maybe we will indeed see it one day.
Land Plot Cities - The towns that the CLD owners got are pretty barren. I'm sure its the same situation with the Arkadia and Rocktropia land plots. These locations can be made better with the addition of some of the ideas in this post, but I think it may need something more. Maybe adding more functionality to gardens would help and adding some sort of quest that requires you to consume fruit grown from each city location or something.
Hangers - Though not in cities. I feel it can be integrated somehow with it all and should really serve some function unlike it current state. One idea I had was to make is so the only way to upgrade spaceship SI is by landing it in a hanger and accessing a mechanic NPC there. And fixing the hanger door to allow it to open and close would be great too.
Other - While these also are not in cities, I feel these places could use an update to make them more fun. Castles could maybe have PvP events to siege them. Oil Rigs can occasional giant monster spawns, like King Kong style. Places such as the "Nymphtown Water Supply" and "Sissipahaw Water Treatment Plant" should gain functionality. Maybe adding it to the main storyline somehow, with a mission. Some older locations that were removed from the game should make a return, but with updates and more functionality. Locations such as the Umbranoid Villages, Thorio Temple, and the Giant tower that was once south of Pandora.
I honestly could go on and on with ideas, but it is not in my hands. The hope is that at least something will eventually get done. Maybe MA will even like some ideas from here or more will get into it and it can become realities. If anyone else has ideas, please post it.
If it was me I'd remove all the cities and instead just have one big thriving city that housed all the shops, booths, apartments, square, n00b start, etc - that would be the coolest city ever. Everyone would pool there instead of being spread out all over the place. Imagine the community.
I thought about that before too, and it is not a bad idea. However, I could imagine that then the rest of the planet would feel even more dead. In my opinion, this one city idea would only work well if there was a smaller player base and only one planet in the game. But I can see why this idea would be good too, it literally forces everyone together.
).......loved it..........