Forgive any misspellings or bad grammar please... lol

So, I was brainstorming over coffee this morning and I had a fun idea. Being a gamer, I would LOVE to see MacGyver in a video game. However, because of his non-violent nature, it would prove to be difficult to make it work. If you were to buy a MacGyver video game, what would you like to see in it? How would you like to see the game play?

Based on recent popular titles, this is the best I could currently come up with. One major gripe with gamers is gameplay. They like something fluid, that isn't hard to control, something fun and not boring. For me, I like to explore my surroundings without being forced to move onto the next mission. I like to take my time and see every nook and cranny.

I broke things down into sections. Anyone got something to add or change, please do. Good place to post your opinions on what you think would be more true to the MacGyver universe.

Story
Most story driven games are broken up into chapters. Most games have about 10 or more chapters with save points along the way (so when you die, you don't have to redo an entire chapter). I would think the story would have a main plot, like perhaps trying to find out Murdoc's plot (which would conclude in the final chapter). The rest of the chapters I see would be the various things MacGyver does in the show (doing missions for Phoenix in LA or overseas, or doing odds and ends for the Challenger's Club). Every chapter gives the player clues as to what Murdoc is up to next.

Gameplay
This is the most difficult. Because MacGyver wouldn't carry anything more then odds and ends he picks up, I see the gameplay as more of a stealth game. He lurks in the shadows, uses his SAK to get in and out of buildings. He also would have an inventory of like... 10 slots maybe. He can carry anything like duct tape, flashlights, batteries, matches, etc, etc. You would be able to pick these up as you explore your surroundings.

The start of every chapter would probably something minor (MacGyver being at his houseboat, being at the Challenger's Club, with Pete at Phoenix, or even playing hockey at a skating rink). And each chapter would end with MacGyver using his odds and ends to get himself out of whatever jam. Now this is the trickiest part. Because Mac's plans are always so ingenious, how would you think this should work?

Most games have a difficulty feature. The easiest setting gives you everything you need and you have plenty of time to get things done. On harder difficulties, it would randomize items and you have less time to figure things out.

One thing I'd like to see is the game world being open. For instance, you want to go to Mac's houseboat for an hour, you can. Or if you want to explore the Phoenix Building, you can. Or if you just want to go to the Challenger's Club and do things, you can. It would be nice if the environments were interactive. For instance, if you're Mac's houseboat, you can switch on his TV and he'll lay on his couch and watch a Western for a few seconds. Or if you're Phoenix, you can talk to various employees and go to different levels (though I think as the game progresses, some areas would be locked at the start and open up as you progress), go into the bathroom and he can do things you would be able to do in real life. I thought it would be funny for Mac to go into the woman's bathroom and you'd hear a scream and Mac would apologize.

Combat
Because MacGyver is pretty non-violent, I would say his only combat features would be either a series of punches/kicks, or they would have to be "quick time events", which I hate. QTE's are basically instead of the player making the moves, the character does the moves when a buttom prompt comes up. However, time is limited to only a couple of seconds. If you fail to hit the correct button in the amount of time given, you either die or fail. I prefer to have more control of what I'm doing. But seeing as MacGyver would need to use items around him in combat, QTE's might be a bit better... unless someone can come up with something better.

Graphics
One thing I'd like to see are the general settings that are familiar in the MacGyver universe (like his houseboat). I kinda gripe about these types of games having bland environments. I think the graphics need to be bright, clear and have some personality to it.

Personally, there are three things in games I hate... Quick Time Events, Driving and Time Limits. But, I thought, if done correctly, being able to let the player drive Mac's Jeep while going from place to place would be kind nifty, eh?

One game that did this all well was Ghostbusters. You got to go to the Firehouse and explore. During the chapters, you picked up "haunted items" and they would be scattered around the Firehouse. You can also interact with everything around you that had a prompt. The game was fun, very silly and I loved it. I also loved that the characters were voiced by their original actors... so this would give RDA a chance to be MacGyver again without having to get too physical. Ghostbusters impressed me because it stayed true to the movies very, very well. However, you didn't play as any of the Ghostbusters. You were a rookie (and that was your name) that never spoke. The main characters were often just there to back you up and provide support or advice.

Okay, enough from me... thoughts? Ideas? Criticisms??? XD

According to this Game Development page
In 2009, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot is quoted as saying the cost for creating a major title for PS3 or Xbox 360 is typically between $20 million and $30 million.

Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime is quoted as saying costs can be $20 million up to a staggering $50 million with sales of 1.3 to 1.5 million units to make money.

So it's unlikely that we're going to see a major console game of MacGyver anytime soon, but there are other gaming platforms such as facebook games which might get something.

Having said that I would love to see a game in the same style as man vs wild or Batman: Arkham Asylum games. And if the movie ever gets made, it could be based on that story which would lend itself nicely to that genre of game.

Yeah that does sound like a cool idea.

Seems like a great idea. Couple of weeks ago I was shopping looking for the game of Saw but I bumped into something else. I found a game of... Back To The Future. I think it's been out for a little while because I bought it very cheap. Man, am I glad I found this game. I didn't know what to expect but what I played so far is beyond my wildest dreams.

It's a real interacting game. The story is set six months in 1986 after the events of the third movie. Marty is very worried about Doc's estate which is about to be sold since Doc never came back from the West. Than suddenly the DeLorean appears in front of Doc's lab with no driver and Einstein as a passenger. So it's up to you to play as Marty and find out what happened.

You have to talk with characters from the movie: Marty's father, Doc, Biff and even Strickland's mother. And you really have to use your wits in accomplishing missions/assignments.

The story itself is really quite new, when you travel back in time you're going to Hill Valley of 1931 during the Great Depression and Prohibition. And the story was developed with help of the movies screenwriter Bob Gale. And Christopher Lloyd did the voice of Doc.

The animation and the portrayal of the town's square and courthouse is superb. Very real to the movies.

So I think a MacGyver Video Game would be cool but I don't think it will happen very soon. Not until after the movie and than it depends on it's success. And if one happens, a third persons adventure would do the trick. But not just simply doing missions but like Back To The Future or Heavy Rain. You have to talk with other characters to get ahead, get or do things... a real interacting game.

I agree that if a game were to happen it wouldn't be for a while. Especially now seeing as the gaming industry hasn't been doing well. Most of the hyped up titles just weren't that good.

It would be fun if he had a stress meter. Between missions or quests, he can go to the skate rink and play hockey to get his stress meter down.

For whatever reason, all I can think of is that silly hockey game he plays at the end of The Wall. XD

I'd probably play whatever they put out... if it was a Facebook game, or a low or high budget game. I was just kinda thinking if money was no object... what would be your perfect MacGyver game?

Well in that case I would definitely go with a third person adventure game incorporating all the aspects already mentioned.

You could laze around the houseboat, drive into the Phoenix Foundation and wonder the hallways chatting to people, then when you were ready, you could go into see Pete who would give you an assignment to complete. In between assignments you would have free time to explore the MacGyver Universe.

Another fun option might be to make it an xbox kinect third person game in the style of Star Wars, only better made.

I'd go for PS3.

Hmmm... Kinect wouldn't be a bad idea. I actually don't have one though. Been meaning to get one. lol I'd think whatever they make for the Xbox, they'd make for the PS3, so there isn't any worry about console exclusives.

Share the love, I say.

I was thinking too about the stress meter. I actually like that because in between missions it'll give you chance to explore while giving MacGyver certain ways to relax. Of course, if his stress meter is full while on assignment, he gets "fatigued" which will effect his performance and determine the success of his mission.

I really do think having the Challenger's Club for side quests is a nice idea. Cynthia can give MacGyver tasks and you can do things in the neighborhood. This could be optional as well and more for people that don't mind, or even like, that side of the show... like me. lol

I also thought maybe it would be fun to throw in Jack every once in a while. Perhaps a rare side quest only at his boathouse.

I thought too, it might be kinda neat and would be something more for a side quest/collecting purposes to have maybe his other residences open for exploration... even fully decorated like in the show.

That would seem kinda unlikely, but just a fun thing fans can do.

I was thinking too to keep track of his missions and side quests, he uses a GPS kept in his Jeep which would show marked locations (kinda like the star map in Mass Effect).

I'll be honest... I'm kinda having fun with this. XD

Well if they do a kinect version there wont be a PlayStation version. lol

There's kind of unlimited potential really isn't there. They could build many aspects from many episodes into the game.

It's a nice thing to think about. I remember the stress meters in Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy. When you're 100% you can take anything, when something bothers you, your meter goes down affecting your mood.

Maybe it is something for David Cage and Quantic Dreams the developer of the games Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain. Heavy Rain especially seemed like the newest of the newest at the time of it's release. It involved everything: talking, doing some everyday things like playing with your children, taking care of your children, running, fighting, driving. Absolutely everything. Every decision you make in the game decides on how the game continues.

The thing about these games is that they are based on emotions and not shooting or racing. These are heavy drama games actually but with all the rinkles to it.

Their last project was called Kara. For as far as I know it was just a short film on youtube. I don't think it's supposed to become an actual game but it was just to show us on how much progress they made over the years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7blx46w9cY

If MacGyver ever become a videogame maybe it might be something for the developers of Uncharted too.

I've thought a Mac game would be great for years, even before the dvd sets came out and I rewatched the show again. Yeah, the development cost and all, but look at all the trash games companies waste money creating. At least with Mac there's a solid base to get started on, and fans that would buy it, unlike a game with characters and stuff no one's ever heard of which might just sit on the store shelf. I think a game would make them money and would be a huge help the franchise. The people who held the rights to MacGyver have let it stagnate for years, the same as Hasbro did with Transformers until more recently. I'm sure there's other examples too.

Remember though that Transformers didn't rejuvenate until the block buster movies came alone and the games were based on the movies. A block buster movie which appeals to the masses while maintaining the integrate of the character would go a long way towards making a game possible. Like everything in the Western world the bottom line is money. If a movie makes millions the next logical step is to keep the hype and money rolling so you get sequels and franchise (i.e. games).


If the game costs 30 million to develop (which is around the average cost of xbox and PS3 games) and the games cost about $50 to buy that means they need to sell 600,000 games to break even and more to make a profit. When you look around the net and see how little fan activity there is, I think that's quite a big ask at the moment.

It would be quite interesting to see some world wide figures of DVD sales for MacGyver to get a feel of how big/active the fan-base is because when you look around on the internet there really isn't much of an active fan-base any more which would throw off any potential investors in games at the moment.

A MacGyver video game would be great. I could picture an Adventures of Tintin / Tomb Raider style esque game where Mac goes up against some bad guys and put in situations such as a hangar where you see the villians approaching and mac looks around. He comes up with the ideas but you have to find the items in the given area. (Spoken commentary like the show). When you acquire the items, you have limited puzzles to control and Mac will do the rest.

Mac can also do hand to hand combat. He did on occasion punch a villian or two. You can also switch characters if he goes on an adventure with Jack. Maybe control Dalton on a quest or two. Or be really cool and make him fly the plane or drive the Military Jeep at a base camp or something. It would add further dimension to the game.

As for inventory items, the swiss army knife is a must and maybe introduce a mag lite or something for caves.

Transformers was around and doing just fine well before the movies. It's had various series on tv and toys on store shelves continuously for over twenty years before the movies, yet North America (and I'm assuming New Zealand) only ever saw two video games in all that time. Why was that, when clearly someone was watching the shows and purchasing the products? What would be a greater financial risk, creating games based around something people are already aware of and have shown interest in, or creating a game from scratch based on things no one has ever heard of before? I think the answer here is that some people in these companies are not very bright.

I know what you're saying KiwiTeK, but look at some of the garbage games companies put out (looking hard at you, Wii), yet people still buy. They must buy it because the companies keep making more! At least with Mac it would be a name people heard of when they see it on the shelf, seems like that would count for something in sales. At the very least, they could start by making Mac a playable character in some games, that would be a good start, and could lead to something down the road when the movie comes out.

With the current criticisms about violence in the entertainment industry and particularly video games in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre, this would seem like a perfect time for a MacGyver game.

In fact this would seem like a perfect time for MacGyver in general. I think (or hope) the world is finally starting to come to the realization that violence isn't entertainment. Sadly though the movie industry is (believe it or not) controlled by the viewers - they only make movies/games/TV shows which they know people will watch. So ultimately the entertainment industry reflects societies ideas of whats entertaining.

I agree... I feel video games (like movies) are relying too heavily on violence and gore as a selling point.

I know even M-rated horror games can still be good without so much violence and gore. Silent Hill Shattered Memories is a good example of this.

I actually don't like gore that much anyway. lol

To kinda go along with his quote in the pilot about his bag being for what he picks up along the way, I though about MacGyver's inventory. In classic Resident Evil they used a slot inventory system. You had limited spaces, but had one space for a standard item (EXAMPLE). I figure the "standard" item would be his Swiss Army Knife. So, you would have to chose what to leave behind and to take with you.

I thought if people want something to upgrade during the game, why not upgrade his Swiss Army Knife with different, useful tools. You start off with a basic SAK and earn some kind of "points" somehow and those are used to purchase the upgrades. I also though it can be used with his inventory, but being able to buy more slots for more holding more stuff.

Also an idea is MacGyver himself and his wardrobe. More then likely, MacGyver's preset looks would be updated (no mullet). For fans, you can have an option to go with his original look or stay with his updated look. There should also be the option to change his clothes. His wardrobe can have update styles and some of his classic outfits from the show that can be warn in game.

I had other ideas, but now I gotta head out. lol Anything else anyone want to add for ideas??? How about how he handles MacGyverisms in game??? That one I haven't really given a lot of thought too.

Should the player be forced to figure it out for themselves? Or should it be set up that if you have the right items Mac will do it himself? What would guys like it to work?

It should be done like the classic text adventures where you have to figure it out yourself.

Check out this online MacGyver escape game

There's some more games like this one on our games page

I'm still playing Back To The Future The Game. I'm now in the third level. It's really a mindbender. You talk with characters and choose your phrases. And with the last conversations there was a lot to talk about. And sometimes you can replay parts of the conversations to help you remind a few things.

Now at the start of that third level, the DeLorean crashes into a massive sign in front of Hill Valley in an alternate timeline and you end op stuck there several feet of the ground. So you have to figure a way out of the DeLorean back to the ground. Than later you're in front of the city walls and you have to find a way over the walls by using bits and pieces of the DeLorean.

In each level I really had my moments like: what the hell am I supposed to do now? There is however a menu in the game where they give you hints on what you're supposed to do. And you decide how many hints you want to look at. You have enough with one, go back to the game, need more, look again. While mostly it's logical thinking. Right under your nose.

This Back To The Future game is about as close it can get for a MacGyver game. I really recommend it.
Think of Marty McFly as MacGyver, Doc Brown as Pete.

It has potential and a MacGyver game could be nice if made the same way.

I think figuring it out yourself can be challenging. Maybe not exactly what most gamers think as fun. It's indeed much cooler if you can blast your way through a level or finish a race first.

are there any links or information online about this game?

Hey Jediferret, I thought the same thing when I played through the older Resident Evil games. You get all these items and sometimes use them in MacGyver-ish ways to accomplish task, so yeah, it wasn't hard to imagine a similar game starting M.

Well, here's a trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWBZXbQxK6c

http://www.ign.com/games/back-to-the-futur...e-game/pc-77147
Some info. It scores a pretty good 7,5.

Couple of pictures.

Imagine MacGyver on it and it's logo and a SAK and ductape and matches and paperclips on it.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Future:_The_Game
I didn't fully read this, it might contain spoilers on the rest of the game. I've reached level 4 now. But I sure like to quote this.

OK, so there's always one person who has to break it down like The Escapist but generally speaking, the game is well received by the audience and the critics.

To my personal opinion, this is maybe like the best game there is when it comes to the game of a movie. Though it's not the game of a movie, it's the continuation of the movies in a game. And in a way I never thought of. I always considered Back To The Future as a finished story. And it's so cool that Bob Gale had his say in it and Christopher Lloyd himself did the voice of Doc. And as stated in the quote AJ LoCascio does actually sound like Michael J. Fox. When I began playing I had that feeling each time Marty spoke but when Doc spoke, that was too perfect so I was quite surprised Christopher Lloyd did provide his voice. They did a good job except Lorraine's voice does not sound like Lea Thompson at all and I think Biff sounds different too.

Interesting also that during the promotion of the game Telltale Games gave one dollar for each pre-order to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research.

You know, I've never heard before that movie creators were involved in the making of videogames of their movies. Well, there was LucasArts for the Indiana Jones games but maybe this Back To The Future Game can set examples for others. I don't know but maybe Steven Spielberg and/or George Lucas might follow in their footsteps for next Indiana Jones games or Star Wars games. And hey, who knows what Lee David Zlotoff might do next?

And it seems more is on the way. Maybe we can all say 'It's about time'.

That's what I was thinking. You had to play it smart in Resident Evil with your inventory, or you paid the price. The older games had a lot of backtracking, but the puzzles weren't too hard. It was getting around and avoiding enemies that made it challenging. Like Resident Evil 3 and good old Nemesis... who gave me nightmares. lol

I was thinking too of any puzzles Mac came across as well. If they're too hard (like the Myst series) players might get frustrated. Myst was always a good series if you wanted a brain work out. Myst V: End of Ages was a beautiful game, but hard as heck. I couldn't figure out ANY of the puzzles without a walk-through. lol

I think I see it as... main game is like Mass Effect, inventory like Resident Evil and puzzles like Myst (but not as frustratingly difficult). lol

@KikiTek - I gave that MacGyver game a try... lol Took me a while to get it all figured out. I'll have to check out the other games too.

Another option could be that you just need to collect the right items and them MacGyver uses them. This would mean you still need to think about the items in the room and work out which ones will help etc, but having to figure out the actual MacGyverism might be too hard for most of us mare mortals.

Remember we want people from all walks of life to be able to play this, not just the select few with degrees in physics and chemistry.

Or maybe they could use MacGyverisms from the show but perhaps set them up slightly differently...

...For example many years ago I was playing around building a MacGyver text adventure based loosely on the Human Factor episode where the door into the building was locked with a number pad lock and no idea what the code was. To unlock the door you had to have picked up a hand full of the dust from the driveway which you then blew onto the keypads to see which numbers it stuck to like MacGyver did in the Fire and Ice episode....

So I'm thinking a game could use that same technique of using ideas we already have seen and know from the show (or movie) but present them differently.

Unlesss of course they make it easy. If they use basic science and chemistry trivia and stuff, you might get ahead. Don't make it too scientific or on a high school level.

With the MacGyverisms, that's why I think a difficulty level would be good. Some people are going to want to challenge themselves, while some of us (like me) don't want to sit there for hours trying to figure everything out. It really doesn't make a game fun... believe me. I think I like the idea of searching around looking for items, then having to figure out how it's all pieced together.

Some games like that often have the player character speak with hints. So even if the player doesn't get it, the character does and tries to provide hints to the player. The longer time goes by, the stronger the hints are as to what to do.

Of course, those kinds of puzzles usually grade the player... so the longer you take, the worse the grade.

That and when MacGyver speak with hints, it's like talking to himself, so it would be kinda silly... like, he could ask himself why he's taking so long, or that he's getting rusty, or something like that. lol Good way for RDA to provide a little humor into the game. There are so many awesome options though, I think if the movie is sucessful, there will be a pretty good market for a game... especially seeing as most games don't promote much of anything except violence.

I was just thinking it would be funny if they had some kind of workout mode and MacGyver can be your trainer. Time for some nice, easy stretches! (End of Tough Boys) lol

In the Back To The Future game when things takes too long Marty also hints the player to carry on. Usually it's along the lines of: 'I shouldn't hang out on the town square so much. I better go talk to my dad.'

Also you can decide before starting a mission if you would like that hints appear on screen or not. If you need to remember a hint or a goal of the mission you can also press L3. Than in the left upper screen corner, you can read the objective. And there also to menu of hints. When you press the triangle on the control you can usually check other hints in what to do next.

What might be a nice in-game is that you can take Mac to the icerink and play some hockey or do a mission in the forest.

I thought that would be kinda fun to take Mac to the ice rink. I thought with the stress meter, that could be one of the ways he could relieve stress, by playing hockey. Or it could just be one of those things you can do for fun. XD

Just like being able to go to his other apartments/lofts, or go to the airport and visit Jack.

So, speaking of this... what kind of story line would you guys like to see? Maybe about Murdoc? Would you want MacGyver to have a love interest in the game?

I think we gotta have Pete involved somehow... be like the player's adviser during the game.

OH! So, I was on the Victorinox website today and they have a SAK that has a USB Flash Drive. I thought to myself that Present Day MacGyver would probably have one of those, right? Here's a LINK to the ones they have. I want to get one for my sister.

A whole new storyline in season 1-style would be great. Doing things for the peoples around Mac and have Pete in it for sure.

I was thinking as a storyline, maybe having a friend of Mac's disappearing, so he has to find him/her. With each assignment, he finds a new clue as to who is responsible, and in the end it turns out to be Murdoc.

I kinda see the game being a bit darker like in Season 4 (like the Challenge or Deadly Dreams).

How do you guys feel about the "dialogue wheel"? For those who don't know, it was used in Mass Effect. Basically, you're given a choice of responses during a conversation. Each choice has a different effect and will effect the game in some way. With Mac, he's always polite, so maybe he can have some sort of "reputation" gauge?

The more polite he is, the better his reputation. He can less polite and get faster results, but it would cost him at the end of the game if he's rude. But, that's kinda not very "MacGyver" is it? XD

what about a game that based in the tv shows

running away from murdoc the would be cool oh and with the options thing maybe we should have 2 settings one you work out MacGyverism your self for people that like a challenge and a option where it shows you what you need that would be pretty cool
i like the idea that jed had but what you guys think how we can pay for the game will use the movie money that we all got so that no problem the problem is how do get people inspired to watch the movie and make the game based on the tv shows witch im expecting will triple re-boot MacGyver and we can play the old seasons or while make a new seasons and call it MacGyver next generation but i don't think RDA would like that if the world needs MacGyver I recon the MacGyver fans will make history and the original one every generation we could make one it was a much loved film it would make history and make the world peaceful and there would be less killing in the world and it will become The Legend Of MacGyver who would love to see that happen i would

I think the best thing we can do is notify Lee David Zlotoff and propose him the idea of a game. But he has to be interested as well. I don't think he would let any one else do something with MacGyver now that he has taken the reigns back. Now it's fun to speculate and come up with ideas but I think in the end we have to wait and see the results of the movie.