The Dynasty Warriors series as we know it today began on the PlayStation 2 in 2000 with the release of Dynasty Warriors 2. At the time, it was a groundbreaking game that featured battles against dozens of antagonists.

Since that time, of course, the series has seen a slew of iterations and has lost credibility with many gamers due to its propensity for incremental upgrades over major changes. However, there's something to be said for this approach.

Another interesting aspect of the series is that, in recent years, the core gameplay template has been applied to new settings and licenses. While the original series is set in Ancient China, Koei has moved the series to Japan (Samurai Warriors) as well as taken on popular anime series Gundam and Fist of the North Star in recent versions of the games.

Even its Canadian studio, Koei Canada, is working on a game in the series based on Western history -- the upcoming Warriors: Legends of Troy.

Now it's your turn. What new Warriors game would you make if you were given the engine and tools which produced those which have come before?

This is not about creating a whole new experience -- but what realistic gameplay improvements would you make? What theme would you choose -- be it original, historical, or licensed -- for your installment of the franchise?

Game Career Guide challenged its readers to create a new entry in Koei's Warriors franchise. What follows are the best and most original entries we received. Here are our top picks.

Best Entries

Ryan George, Game Design Student, Columbia College Chicago, Lego Dynasty Warriors (see page 2)
Ryan George's entry is such a natural fit for the Warriors series that it's surprising that it's not already in production. With the addition of Lego branding, George effectively bridges the gap between the franchise's niche audience and the mainstream appeal of Lego-licensed games.

Joe Plante, Bachelor degree in Computer Science, University of West Florida, American Warriors (see page 3)
American history is filled with legendary figures, and Plante envisions a game in which players can choose to play as an ax-wielding, 7-foot-tall George Washington or a lightning-powered Benjamin Franklin.

Eric Studer, Associate Producer - Cutscenes at Sucker Punch Productions, Flowers for Everyone! (see page 4)
Studer tames the violent Warriors series with Flowers for Everyone!, a concept that replaces the franchise's bloody massacres with flowers and hugs.

Honorable Mentions
Carl D. Killian III, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 (see page 5)
Kris Kamfield, Sr. Ringtone Recorder, Mythological Warriors (see page 6)
Kristopher Velez, Care Bear Warriors: Peace and Love! (see page 7)