Online Racing Game? or Third Person shooter? Which would I make? I do not know. While both are very fun, the TPS is more of a popular kind. Most people would rather play a TPS than a Online "racing" game.

My Idea however, was to take the 3d Racing Kit, and Fix it up. Add multi-player online, and a Parts shop. Using the parts shop Users can customize their Car down to the battery inside of it, the wheels underneath it, etc. So everyone will have their own, created car that fits their driving style. Also paint can be bought, etc.

It could be cool, but I think a TPS would... Do better. Which should I go for?

Have you finished a game at all before?

If not, I would suggest that the simpler, the better. If you want to fix up the racing kit, instead of creating an entirely new game, that's certainly simpler.

Also, do you know where all the new art (car images, parts models, sounds, etc) are coming from yet? Will you make them yourself? Do you know how?

If the answer to any of those questions is "no," then I suggest you cilck the "Education" tab at the top of the forum, and start with "For Beginners," and take it from there.

Epicsolo:

Online Racing Game? or Third Person shooter? Which would I make? I do not know. While both are very fun, the TPS is more of a popular kind. Most people would rather play a TPS than a Online "racing" game.

My Idea however, was to take the 3d Racing Kit, and Fix it up. Add multi-player online, and a Parts shop. Using the parts shop Users can customize their Car down to the battery inside of it, the wheels underneath it, etc. So everyone will have their own, created car that fits their driving style. Also paint can be bought, etc.

It could be cool, but I think a TPS would... Do better. Which should I go for?

Whatever you choose actually. They both work in different ways. I imagine the 3d racing kit would be a huge success though with the CG crowd.

Like jwatte said, if it's your first game you should go for the simplest option. Having said that, both TPS fans and racing game fans are very discerning when it comes to design, mechanics and "realism".

Dumb question alert... What is the difference between a FPS and a TPS? I assume it is camera/player view? Are there 2ndPSs?

I agree that a TPS would probably do better, but I personally am aiming for an ORG... I think there is more room to be innovative therein.

Pretty much, the main difference is that in a First person game the game is viewed from the avatar's viewpoint. Wheras in a third person shooter the camera is external, and focused on the player.

Fans of either will argue at great length about the gameplay merits of each though as it's a fairly non-trivial difference.

Also, there is no "second person". The terms first and third person are derived from the linguistic concept.

Second-person-shooter... I believe that refers to when your view is that of an NPC, and you watch the protagonist shoot enemies. :P

Why choose one or the other? Why not start with the racing game kit, then add weapons? Instead of tracks, design the levels to be open. If you don't want it to be about cars shooting each other, just use different models, tons of things work. Robots, for example, or maybe tanks. If you tweak the controls a bit, you could make it more like a platformer, but with acceleration and traction as part of the gameplay.

What I'm trying to say is, just because it's called a "racing game" starter kit doesn't mean that's what you have to end up with.

Lost C1tY:

Pretty much, the main difference is that in a First person game the game is viewed from the avatar's viewpoint. Wheras in a third person shooter the camera is external, and focused on the player.

Fans of either will argue at great length about the gameplay merits of each though as it's a fairly non-trivial difference.

Also, there is no "second person". The terms first and third person are derived from the linguistic concept.

I know there is no officially recognized "second person" style, but, arguably, if there are two external camera views to play from, then the closer one might be considered the "second person" view. Or, when an internal or external view are both optional in a game, and either way, there are radars and meters splashed up on the player's screen... Can't it be argued that the player is the "second person"?

Anyway, back on topic... Definitely go for the Racing genre. There are fewer games there, and therefore more opportunity to shine.