Feature request title:
Multiplayer Support & Flying Between Airports
Description:
Thinking far out into the future for ACEO and where development may lead, I was wondering if it would be conceivable to add in multiplayer support. The idea: on a particular server, a bunch of players could build their airports as usual - across the globe - and then fly to them. It is essentially a streamlined way to share creations, while also expanding the game’s scope a bit to make it feel like a more live-in world.
Another option for multiplayer support could include allowing players to work on the same airport together, though I realize that may not be as practical or useful.
As for the flying between airports system, that’s a bit more complicated unless the “flight” portion of that system is just a cut scene or skipped altogether. My ambitious and ultimate idea would include the ability for players to actually FLY their plane from one destination to another. This is certainly easier said than done. The graphics and perspective wouldn’t change for this, in my mind. We’d still have the top-down view while giving players manual control over a plane of their choice.
Clearly that’s a lofty idea and it wouldn’t be easier to simply build a world for people to fly around in. Maybe the scale could shift within different servers, say just covering a single country or region instead of the entire world. Like just Europe, or even smaller and say just Germany, or the U.S., Canada, etc. I realize this isn’t a flight simulator and truly that isn’t the point, but it is added depth and perhaps fun to fly to another person’s airport and then explore it on the ground as a “pawn.”
Certainly a number of these ideas can be expanded upon, improved, or modified and that’s why I welcome discussion for brainstorming.
Why it should be implemented:
I don’t think this is a necessary feature, by any means. It is more of a luxury that could result from eventual development of the game over time. I certainly understand it’s a long-term goal and difficult to implement. Whether it is feasible or realistic is a fair question. I think the point is to better connect the players and create a more living world. Right now, the world feels somewhat empty (except for our singular airport).
Images, references or additional content:
I’ve created a very simple mockup for the opening map screen. The idea I’ve demonstrated is, when picking your airport, you can see where other users are located. The upper right also shows how many other players are on this particular server and the server name. Of course, selecting which server would be its own menu screen with the applicable list.
Each pin would include username, airport name and/or IATA code, as well as nearest city. This would help you with planning on where to place your own airport for purposes of travel time, flight interactions, etc. Maybe the game places a limitation on airports in a certain geographical radius (say you can’t build within 100 miles of another airport of something). Those are details less important for now.
I would also add an in-game chat so players could communicate with each other. Maybe as CEO you fly commercially to another user’s airport (with flight plans included in some contracts), or maybe you fly a private jet on your own terms to come and go as you please.
