Where's my A-Team game?

I'm surprised that it's 2011 and no one has attempted to create a video game based on the A-Team. If you're somehow unfamiliar with The A-Team click here. The A-Team was one of my favorite shows growing up, as I'm sure is the case for countless others. After the success of the 2010 movie, I'm sure the franchise is worthy enough for big budget video game attention.

But before I lay my ideas out, I first want to say that I DO NOT want an "A-Team: the movie the game." I really enjoyed the 2010 flick, but we all know the sad fate of any movie based game.

My ideal A-team game at it's core would be a sand box style game that takes place in Los Angeles, much like the majority of the show. The main storyline in a nut shell would involve the team collecting clues and evidence that will hopefully help clear their names of the false war crimes they were accused of. The player would progress by touring the city in the team's van and talking to various pedestrians that would initiate quests.

For example, following the premise of the show, you would talk to someone who would hint that their friends or family need the help of the A-Team, which would then direct you to a certain spot on the map where the mission will take place. From there you would meet the NPC's in need and then do battle with the local thugs, drug cartels, or what have you.

I imagine the battles would function as a 3rd person shooter, but give the player the ability to switch to different team members at will. Before any shooting takes place though, I think it would be neat to include "prep time" to allow you to prepare for the battle to come by completing a series of mini games that would reward you with traps and such to make your fight easier. A simulation of a Hannibal plan if you will. For example, say you want some additional barricades, or perhaps add make shift armor plating to a vehicle, you would assume control of BA and play a sort of welding game to assemble the pieces together. Each character would be given a specialty of some sorts for building a certain type of trap or other prop for the battle field.

If the player can successfully build enough traps and set them along with the characters on the battle field before the enemy arrives they may have more of an advantage instead of just running in with guns blazing.

If the mission is a success then the player is awarded with money for purchasing better weapons and equipment and reputation points which opens up a wider variety of missions in the city, you know, after people hear how awesome you are.

I would have a sort of downside to reputation though, so if you accept too many missions in the same area the military police could learn of your whereabouts and you would have to escape. If you can't get away and have to engage the military police in combat in the city you would take a major hit on your rep.

Of course multiplayer would HAVE to be included in a title like this. Teaming up with your friends to form the A-Team sounds like a great time to me. I would also have a vs battle version for the more competitive players out there. One team could be the A-Team and the other a group of Thugs or one of the gangs from the story mode, or perhaps you could even do A-Team vs an evil A-Team. Heck, you could even do classic television series A-Team vs. 2010 movie A-Team.

On that note, for added cosmetic purposes I'd like to give the player creative control on how their team looks. Maybe you want Bradly Cooper as Face with Mr. T as BA Baracus? Sounds good to me. The more complete the fan service package is the more successful a title like this would be.

So those are my "in a nutshell" ideas on what I would think could be a good attempt at an A-team game. As long as a studio steered away from a Movie-the-game and really dedicated themselves to the franchise I think they could have a chance at a great hit.

What are your thoughts?

Bonus: There was an actual A-Team game at one point for the Atari 2600. I think it would be more appropriately titled "BA's Acid trip" though. You play as BA Baracus' head in the center of a flashing multi-colored stage where you shoot at strange looking creatures. Maybe they're supposed to be people? I dunno, this sort of thing shouldn't have been attempted at the time, at least not in this fashion that's for sure.