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Editor’s Note: The recently-announced Max Payne 3 takes place in São Paulo, Brazil, so maybe not every game these days is set in New York. Still, Suriel makes some good points. Though I’m not yet sold on Omaha! -Demian
I’ve never been to New York City, but from all of the photos, videos, games, movies, coffee mugs, etc., I think I have a pretty good idea of what it looks like.
It’s a metropolis, filled with lots of great cultures and ideas. And with so many producers of media hailing from there or having lived there and grown to love its expansive urban jungle environment, it’s understandable that many of our cultural influences originate from there. Both Batman and Superman live in fictionalized versions of New York City, and Spider-Man is actually from there. It’s the most prolific city in the world as far as media goes, and the image of the Statue of Liberty watching over the sprawling landscape of concrete and metal was one of the most iconic images of America in my head before I moved here at the age of four (ironically, I arrived in Anaheim, CA, which is known for its own iconic, castle-based architecture).
That said, I think it’s about time we take a break from NYC.
When an open-world game doesn’t take place somewhere made up, it usually takes place in New York. Prototype takes place there, and Infamous takes place somewhere that’s pretty much a fictional version of it, as does Grand Theft Auto 4. And I see why; NYC offers not only one of the biggest, most fleshed-out cities to wreak havoc upon, but it’s also one that many people are familiar with. However, I think it’s safe to say that New York’s been done. If you’re a developer looking for somewhere else to set your fantastic new sandbox game in, here are some wonderful new places to consider. Also, would you like to buy a timeshare?
Tokyo: Pretty much your runner up as far as familiar locations go. Most people think they know what Tokyo’s like, and really, it’s not too much different from that, but having all of its districts, lights, Japanese culture, and all those weird walkways would make for a pretty cool place to break some shit. Japan has plenty of other exciting, scenic places to explore outside of Tokyo, as well. Not only that, but Tokyo inhabitants should be pretty used to the idea of having their city destroyed. Plus, there’s totally a giant robot there now. (More after the jump.)
Hong Kong: You might not think that Hong Kong is too different from Tokyo, but you’d be wrong. It’s an amazing mix of Eastern and Western culture, and it’s very much a business district, but all that does is make it more tempting to destroy. Not only is it the world’s most verticle city, it also has an extensive coastline, ideal for fast-paced cigarette boat chases (or slow-paced junk boat chases). Plus, it’s apparently where lots of seedy business deals go down, so if you’re going to destroy a place, why not stop rotten business at the same time?
Berlin: Now, for this suggestion, think post-WWII Berlin. Say your character has powers like those in Infamous or Prototype; a Berlin-based game could involve you fighting a communist regime by hopping back and forth between the East and West, completing spy missions to help try to feed and free the citizens of the East. Or forget the super powers idea and imagine an open-world stealth game. Maybe you could help Reagan make his speech to tear down that wall, using the Motion Plus to write it word for word, of course.
Mumbai: Now for something a little less Western, but no less fun to roam around in. Mumbai has fantastic architecture and numerous, culturally-significant landmarks, as well as densely populated slums. There’s also a chance here to have us Westerners learn a thing or two about another culture — and if the protagonist were Indian rather than American, maybe we could avoid some of the ethnocentrism that Eastern cultures so pointedly remind us of.
Omaha, Nebraska: I have to make an argument for my current residence! Really, though, I think open-world games could use a setting that’s a little less urban. For those of you who are worried about not being able to run-climb up buildings, we do have a business district here, and the buildings are made from metal and glass, just like yours. GTA San Andreas had a pretty big non-urban area, and even though people harped on it for not having anything to do there there, I think the combination of urban and rural areas still has plenty of potential. For example, if you wanted to kill a certain target without destroying half a city, why not do it where no one will see you?
Again, I don’t hate New York/New Yorkers or anything, but I think that so far they’ve been getting a pretty big piece of the pie (like they usually do). So if you’re looking for some scenic, interesting areas to set your triple-A title in, why not give these a shot? Or maybe you have a suggestion of your own?