got to be some middle ground

[Age of Fable]

I want world a player can explore in a vivid way(3d or isometric actual travel), yes I want the simplicity and features of a browser game.

I used to read a lot of 'gamebooks' (choose-your-own-adventure type books which were popular in the 80s), and the best ones gave me a feeling of exploration. I tried to get the same thing in my browser game.

I think 'exploration' is a function of interesting and varied locations, and of non-linear, but not completely free, connections between them. I don't think it's got anything to do with whether the locations are joined up in a map-like way, or even the number of locations.

Anyway my game is in my signature, your mileage may vary.

[hallsofvallhalla]

yes you have definitely captured the feel of exploration and a living world. Bravo! I love to play your game. It reminds me of playing D&D back in the days with all my friends.

If you ever want to try a Sci-Fi hit version hit me up.

[Callan S.]

There is a middle ground I am missing somewhere. The element that gives the player the feeling he is exploring every inch of my world, the features that give him options of doing nearly anything, the feeling that what he does affects the entire world. The world lives and breathes around him.

I cannot give that to a player in a simplistic link filled browser game. I cannot give the features in a full 3d game.

Are you sure a 3D game can give that?

Here's something you might be running into - as the author you know too much! You are dissillusioned by your own vast god like knowledge of the game world.

Someone who knows nothing about your browser game may very well get this feeling of being in a living breathing world and being able to do many things.

Like, imagine you made a game, but someone else made a level in it and they have sprinkled all sorts of options through it. You go to play that level! You don't know what sorts of options they may have ahead...does the feeling of possibly being able to do anything come to mind? Who knows what options will be on offer?

Ignorance makes wonder!

Perhaps that's part of it? Your browser games can grant someone else this sense your talking about - but for you, you know too much to feel it - unless someone else 'GM's?

Because to be honest, 3d games are just a big set of links as well, aren't they?

Oh well, gave it a shot, anyway