The problem I have with modern Multiplayer-games
By Balls_of_steel 29 Comments
They all try to be RPGs, by having a leveling system.
Maybe this trend started with Call of Duty 4 or the tremendous success with World of Warcraft, I don't know, but it is getting annoying.
In the FPS-genre it's almost a given, that you start with a basic pistol and some machine guns and have to unlock everything else by playing the game. There are so many things wrong with it, it's almost scary how the devs can't see it.
First of all: You're giving the people who already have an advantage by having the game played for longer another one. I could understand the concept, if the rewards were given out for special actions, as a reward for being a good player, but it's not even that. You get a reward for simply playing the game a long time, because you never ever lose points or experience, you can only win. Almost like a role-playing-game, isn't it? (dur hur)
Another problem with the system is, that it doesn't add anything. I've already established that it only costs you time to get the extra-weapons or whatever and that everyone can get them, so all this pointless leveling up is doing is hindering me from enjoying the game. It's like the Developers are holding a carrot in front of my face, saying: Oh, you want to have access to all the content in the game? Yeah, you'll have to invest a week of playtime for that, maybe you'll have fun than. Are the devs really that afraid that the core gameplay isn't enough to keep us satisfied? Do they really think that our generation's attention span is so low, that we get bored with the game if there's not the next level to get or the next perk to unlock? Well...that might actually be true, but it's still sad that the developers have to cater towards that group.
Awesome, only 2 more levels and I can get the medipack. Yes, I am playing a medic without any way to revive my team-mates or even heal them. That's advancement!
One of the weirdest and absolutely gamebreaking examples of a leveling system I can give is command and conquer 4. Yes, a Real time strategy-game, that starts you off as a lvl 1 general with only 2 types of units. 2 types. The normal marine and something else. It actually hinders you at developing strategies, you can't react to anything the enemy throws at you. The only way this system worked (well, it still didnt), was because the only game-modus that was available was 5vs5. Your team-mates had to win the game for you, so you could get Xp and someday actually get units that can compete with those of the enemy or actually counter them out. We will never find out, what the devs were thinking about it, because they got fired before the game came out and rightfully so for treating the last game of a saga with such less respect.
Strangely enough, one of the games that does the leveling-system right is halo 3. The achieve a high level there, you
have to consistently be good playing, otherwise you'll lose levels (oh no, my precious levels). The only rewards you get for having a high-level are of cosmetic nature, like new armors or new helmets. This way people can still see that you are totally super awesome rad dude, but you're not stopping them from having fun, like those akimbo shotgun-abusers in modern warfare 2.
What's your take on the matter? Am I overexaggerating with the impact these systems have on the games? Do you mind a leveling system or not? let me know in the comments, I'll sure read them (even though there's no achievement for that!)
Maybe this trend started with Call of Duty 4 or the tremendous success with World of Warcraft, I don't know, but it is getting annoying.
In the FPS-genre it's almost a given, that you start with a basic pistol and some machine guns and have to unlock everything else by playing the game. There are so many things wrong with it, it's almost scary how the devs can't see it.
First of all: You're giving the people who already have an advantage by having the game played for longer another one. I could understand the concept, if the rewards were given out for special actions, as a reward for being a good player, but it's not even that. You get a reward for simply playing the game a long time, because you never ever lose points or experience, you can only win. Almost like a role-playing-game, isn't it? (dur hur)
Another problem with the system is, that it doesn't add anything. I've already established that it only costs you time to get the extra-weapons or whatever and that everyone can get them, so all this pointless leveling up is doing is hindering me from enjoying the game. It's like the Developers are holding a carrot in front of my face, saying: Oh, you want to have access to all the content in the game? Yeah, you'll have to invest a week of playtime for that, maybe you'll have fun than. Are the devs really that afraid that the core gameplay isn't enough to keep us satisfied? Do they really think that our generation's attention span is so low, that we get bored with the game if there's not the next level to get or the next perk to unlock? Well...that might actually be true, but it's still sad that the developers have to cater towards that group.
Awesome, only 2 more levels and I can get the medipack. Yes, I am playing a medic without any way to revive my team-mates or even heal them. That's advancement!
One of the weirdest and absolutely gamebreaking examples of a leveling system I can give is command and conquer 4. Yes, a Real time strategy-game, that starts you off as a lvl 1 general with only 2 types of units. 2 types. The normal marine and something else. It actually hinders you at developing strategies, you can't react to anything the enemy throws at you. The only way this system worked (well, it still didnt), was because the only game-modus that was available was 5vs5. Your team-mates had to win the game for you, so you could get Xp and someday actually get units that can compete with those of the enemy or actually counter them out. We will never find out, what the devs were thinking about it, because they got fired before the game came out and rightfully so for treating the last game of a saga with such less respect.
Strangely enough, one of the games that does the leveling-system right is halo 3. The achieve a high level there, you
have to consistently be good playing, otherwise you'll lose levels (oh no, my precious levels). The only rewards you get for having a high-level are of cosmetic nature, like new armors or new helmets. This way people can still see that you are totally super awesome rad dude, but you're not stopping them from having fun, like those akimbo shotgun-abusers in modern warfare 2.
What's your take on the matter? Am I overexaggerating with the impact these systems have on the games? Do you mind a leveling system or not? let me know in the comments, I'll sure read them (even though there's no achievement for that!)
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