One issue that irks me as a gamer is when the developers of your favorite titles don’t take into consideration the opinions and suggestions of their fanbase. That’s why I have nothing but respect for companies who DO listen and who WANT to take it to that next level so their fans feel like they are getting much more than just some pretty graphics on a disk. Epic Games pretty much promises this and more with their next installment of the Gears of War series: Gears of War 2.
I, personally, am a huge Gears fan. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, and I’ve gained a odd girl-who-likes-game-character crush on Carmine. I’ve been known to throw controllers in fits of rage when things didn’t go my way. When new tidbits about the game are released, I silently squeal with joy like a little girl on Christmas morning. I’ve spent more than my fair share of time indulging myself in the games multiplayer feature, but there were big issues and some bugs that almost made the online experience unbearable at times. Host advantage was one of my main peeves. When you have teams who are competing on a game that clearly has this problem, it’s difficult to really know whether or not the other person actually has some type of skill with the game…or if they just got lucky with that headshot. However, aside from the glicthy-ness, the advantages, the falling through walls…Gears of War’s multiplayer was and is, hands down, one of the best that I have ever played.
In a recent interview with GamePro.com, Cliff Bleszinski put my concerns for Gears 2 Multiplayer at ease. One of my biggest fears was that we would still see the glitches and the bugs with the next game; however, they listened to the fans complaints when thinking about the issues that plagued the first Gears and addressed them accordingly. Host advantage, shotgun randomness and the issue with that pesky chainsaw (you know what I’m talking about if you’ve played it) will all be fixed and reworked to give everyone a better playing experience. Here’s another cool little fact about the multiplayer…instead of having the games be 4-on-4 like they were in the first Gears, they’ve up’d the ante and are now making it 5-on-5 which I think is a fantastic idea. Simply adding those two extra players intensifies the matches and allows more people to join in on the chainsawin’, face snipin’ fun! . Also in the interview, Cliff gives some insight about a couple new modes as well: Guardian and Wingman.
I have high hopes for the new Gears and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. I’m sure with new features comes new issues, but I’m pretty positive the guys and gals over at Epic are working hard to make sure that fans of their game won’t be disappointed.
You can actually check out the full interview here. It’s a great read!
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 am
Oh I’m so glad you wrote this article Moe! I loooooove Gears of War!!! I love whoever loves Gears of War. Heck I just love talking about Gears of War! It’s the first game I got with my 360 back in Nov 06 and despite all the 360 games I’ve bought since. It’s still the game I play the most. It’s the first MP game I’ve ever gotten into it.
The third person view is my favorite way to play a shooter. Maybe it comes from so much Tomb Raider, but I’ve just always liked being able to see your character. That style of play let’s you be more aware of your surroundings. Unlike FPS games. Where you get killed from who knows where. I also like the cover system in GOW. It let’s you take a breather and setup attacks. Rather than all that chaotic game play from FPS games.
So here’s the main reason why GOW MP works. SPECTATOR MODE! SPECTATOR MODE! SPECTATOR MODE! You have smack talk before a match. Then you’re watching two players play as you and buddies wait on the side lines. Making fun of them or cheering them on. Watching a bad ass kill. Watching an amazing snipe. Laughing at what players do to downed players or at the final outcome. The funny comments made in the Lobby. So yes It’s the game, but it’s also the comradery among players.
But here is the best example. A situation that happened to me in Canals and why I love this game. I was left alone and killed the entire team myself. When you return to the lobby. Everyone is patting you on the back. Calling you awesome or saying, how did you do that? That feeling you get of impressing everyone. The compliments. You feel so awesome. That my fellow gamers is the magic of GOW MP! It’s what games like Halo and COD4 lack! At least for me anyway.
Ironically enough. GOW2 is coming out in November. My birthday month. Woot! I’m also glad Cliffy listened to fans. I’m also tired of a host advantage. A host player acting all cool, like he’s some amazing player. He may have some skill, but being host helped and they almost never acknowledge it. I’m tired of getting stuck to walls and my hands getting stuck to the sides. I hate how almost no one takes Annex mode seriously anymore. It’s usually used for glitches and snipers to showoff. I just want matches to be fair. Everyone will have more fun that way.
The newest feature in GOW2 that got me the most excited. Now when you get downed. You can crawl around and try to get to a fellow player. So they can pick you up. That is going to setup some funny situations online hehe.
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Eh… I do have to give my two cents on the whole “what players want” issue.
As a developer myself (though sadly not on anything of the consequence of a triple A title) there’s quite a bit the players don’t know and understand about the development process that interferes with their ability to make informed development decisions.
Don’t get me wrong- there’s nothing wrong with a game’s fans putting forth POLITE and CIVIL ideas from their perspective, and when done so, the developers always become aware of them- just because they don’t give a page response on the reasons they’re not going to take action on “awesomedude1″’s suggestions doesn’t mean they never considered it.
The problem lies in knowing the design beyond the level of the user, including the vision of the company for the product. Yet you load up any game message forums (which I never do when I can help it) and there is a level of vitriol that is unwarranted. No matter how large your capital letters are calling for them to be fired or their family to be massacred- YES, the developers HAVE in fact played the game they made and HAVE in fact balanced it using metrics and other data sets far beyond the awareness levels of the 19 year old whining about them “nerfing” (I hate that word) a class or unit.
Anyhow, I’m all for going on a forum, telling the developer you’re enjoying the game, then making a few “I wish” lists. No demands, no insults, no vitriol. Because no matter WHAT your own personal experience is- I don’t care if you’re Will Wright- you don’t have enough knowledge to attack the developers of a game you didn’t have your own hands on in the development process. There’s far too much of this on the internet- no one gives opinions anymore… they try to force their expertise upon others- particularly when they don’t have any expertise relevant to the topic on hand.
Ignoring my above rant, I would REALLY love to be able to try Gears of War- it looks great… (but of course, I don’t have a 360 and my PC can’t run the PC version because it’s powered by hamsters.)
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
OOOH….24 Hampster power. At least you went Green!
June 22nd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
DruidBlue- I totally understand where you are coming from. Trust me…as a graphic designer I run into issues where people say “I want this” or “I demand this” and don’t understand the background work that is involved with it. For gamers who actually take it too far and actually insult the developers and the people behind the games…I have no respect for. Those people are nothing but trolls on internet forums.
And powered by hamsters!?
That’s gotta be one stinky computer!
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Yes, my computer is very eco-friendly with the hamster power… but on the other hand it’s less “Intel Inside” and more “Poo Inside”.
=P