ys wrote: Besides online racing maybe some kind of leaderboards for mini games? I don't care much but some do of course. Even if those boards often get hacked ;)
But yesterday I was thinking of an online market like in Shenmue I. It makes it easier to collect capsule toys, scrolls or other collectables and could maybe create a bit of a community feeling? Maybe some people could be more invested in the world instead of playing the game once and putting it aside?
Some features were really ahead of their time : http://guidesarchive.ign.com/guides/14499/passport.html
Yes! Passport! I was thinking about this the other day: I'd really like to see a return of the Passport feature. The tutorial explanations were a little throwaway and more just tech demos, and the movie and sound tests are obligatory, but the Passport spot itself? Unlocking VMU icons, checking the weather, trading cans for toys, leaderboards for the games, being able to read bios on EVERY character (loved that, so glad the physical guides preserved it), tips from Nozomi if your'e stuck, all sorts of stats on your gameplay... it was great!
Really hoping for a Passport for III.