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When I say ‘multiplayer madness’ what comes into your head? Personally, I think shooting my mates in the head during four player Goldeneye or bashing friends against the walls in eight player Daytona. I doubt that even one of you thought about co-operative mode in a first person shooter or teaming up online for a game of Phantasy Star Online. It’s not surprising really- co-op modes are found on so few of games, and even then can be implemented quite poorly.
But why must multiplayer modes always be so competitive? Obviously game developers are still under the impression that all game players are blood-lusting testosterone-pumping men. But nothing could be farther from the truth! Sure, SOME of the time I just want to beat the hell out of a friend in a game, but not ALL the time. By making only competitive multiplayer modes, developers are alienating what could be a huge audience of potential gamers. But that’s not all that’s being missed...
It seems that the potential in co-op modes in games really could go a lot further. Two player co-op in FPS games- why not four player? Why not make FPS games where there was a whole mode where you needed a group of people, all working together, to meet certain objectives? A couple of you would have to storm a compound form the front after the other two players took the power out. Then you’d all have to battle your way to the centre of the compound (each having objectives to complete on the way), before three of you had to protect the forth while he completed the final objective. Now THAT’S a co-op mode!
The idea could be extended to so many other genres too. With the launch of mass market online gaming soon (allegedly) you could completely rethink some genres. Driving games could have a team mode where you, and some friends, took part in online events as a racing team- competing against other teams around the world. You could have Le Mans style 24 hour races where you swap driver every so often.
Real-time Strategy games could be completely overhauled. No longer would it just be about you attacking other people on one front at a time. Instead multiple players could take control of one army and simultaneously fight wars on different fronts against different people. You’d have to work together in deploying men to where they were needed, and to build up defences. Now imagine all this done in a hugh virtual world with hundreds of armies each with several players in control. That’s the way that gaming should be going!
So, if any of you budding coders out there want to do something truly original take note: Co-op modes can be worth a lot more than people think.
Sonic
But why must multiplayer modes always be so competitive? Obviously game developers are still under the impression that all game players are blood-lusting testosterone-pumping men. But nothing could be farther from the truth! Sure, SOME of the time I just want to beat the hell out of a friend in a game, but not ALL the time. By making only competitive multiplayer modes, developers are alienating what could be a huge audience of potential gamers. But that’s not all that’s being missed...
It seems that the potential in co-op modes in games really could go a lot further. Two player co-op in FPS games- why not four player? Why not make FPS games where there was a whole mode where you needed a group of people, all working together, to meet certain objectives? A couple of you would have to storm a compound form the front after the other two players took the power out. Then you’d all have to battle your way to the centre of the compound (each having objectives to complete on the way), before three of you had to protect the forth while he completed the final objective. Now THAT’S a co-op mode!
The idea could be extended to so many other genres too. With the launch of mass market online gaming soon (allegedly) you could completely rethink some genres. Driving games could have a team mode where you, and some friends, took part in online events as a racing team- competing against other teams around the world. You could have Le Mans style 24 hour races where you swap driver every so often.
Real-time Strategy games could be completely overhauled. No longer would it just be about you attacking other people on one front at a time. Instead multiple players could take control of one army and simultaneously fight wars on different fronts against different people. You’d have to work together in deploying men to where they were needed, and to build up defences. Now imagine all this done in a hugh virtual world with hundreds of armies each with several players in control. That’s the way that gaming should be going!
So, if any of you budding coders out there want to do something truly original take note: Co-op modes can be worth a lot more than people think.
Sonic
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The thing I like best about multplayer is human opponents.
Ai is often very predictable and robotic. Playing against human players (especially ones you can communicate with) makes the experience much more fun and enjoyable.
Like you said, there's also a lot of scope for four player co-op modes.
I reckon games based around this are being develloped as we speak.
As Perfect Dark showed, a 2 player co-op mode with all the CPU characters and AI is tough on a processor. This caused slowdown on the N64.
This new generation of consoles are more than powerful enough for the task and I expect that four player co-operative will become much more use in future games.
Also, I'd like to play co-operative games online.
4 players around your TV, using all their wits to fight against another 4 players on the other side of the country.
Team work, working with friends, communication...
Basically, imagine a four player Perfect Dark co-op match with no slowdown and where the AI "sims" are actually controlled by people (so they're players instead of "kill robots").
That's a scenario I'm looking forward to.
Hopefully, Rare will make good use of the Gamecube's internet/broadband (hopefully it'll eventually materialise) when the new Perfect Dark comes around.
Ai is often very predictable and robotic. Playing against human players (especially ones you can communicate with) makes the experience much more fun and enjoyable.
Like you said, there's also a lot of scope for four player co-op modes.
I reckon games based around this are being develloped as we speak.
As Perfect Dark showed, a 2 player co-op mode with all the CPU characters and AI is tough on a processor. This caused slowdown on the N64.
This new generation of consoles are more than powerful enough for the task and I expect that four player co-operative will become much more use in future games.
Also, I'd like to play co-operative games online.
4 players around your TV, using all their wits to fight against another 4 players on the other side of the country.
Team work, working with friends, communication...
Basically, imagine a four player Perfect Dark co-op match with no slowdown and where the AI "sims" are actually controlled by people (so they're players instead of "kill robots").
That's a scenario I'm looking forward to.
Hopefully, Rare will make good use of the Gamecube's internet/broadband (hopefully it'll eventually materialise) when the new Perfect Dark comes around.
RM, I'm suprised that no one has made a game like the film-esque sceens you mention on the PC. Surely someone has thought of making something like that seen in Mission Impossible whereby your team each has a different objective?
Sonic
Sonic
Co-op modes - I can envision that definitely being a feature that developers will increasingly use. If anything, a co-op feature has beeen something of a 'bonus' feature, thrown in at the end (with the exception of a few games) to make an attractive feature. But with proper investment (in time and money) it could become a more prominent feature, especially (as you say) with online gaming becoming a greater possibility.
If it was to be introduced, I would always like to see players attacking a level in different ways. You know in films when groups split up, you could recreate something similar, such as one person going to a specific building to mneet one objective, one person going off for something else with someone else as back up - with designated jobs for each person a game could really come alive. Imagine if the mission failed because one person (perhaps you?) didn't do their job properly, how tense and exciting would that be?
If it was to be introduced, I would always like to see players attacking a level in different ways. You know in films when groups split up, you could recreate something similar, such as one person going to a specific building to mneet one objective, one person going off for something else with someone else as back up - with designated jobs for each person a game could really come alive. Imagine if the mission failed because one person (perhaps you?) didn't do their job properly, how tense and exciting would that be?
Four friends would mean 5 players!
;)
;)
I want to play GC PSO2 with three friends against other teams on the net NOW!
I want to play GC PSO2 with four friends against other teams on the net NOW!
Playing against each other over the internet is the best .
I think the reason that FPS games are the most played online is simply because you can only play online gaming through consoles (properly) at the moment- and FPS games are the most popular PC game genre.
Hopefully we'll see a change when consoles get online- already we've had puzzle games like Chu Chu, Sports games (although they've been American Football) and RPGs like PSO... I predict a wider rnage of online games appearing very soon...
Hopefully we'll see a change when consoles get online- already we've had puzzle games like Chu Chu, Sports games (although they've been American Football) and RPGs like PSO... I predict a wider rnage of online games appearing very soon...
Halo's co-op is its best feature.
I personally think of a 4-player Battle Mode game on Mario Kart 64!!! :D
I like the idea of having more than 2 players in a co-op FPS, and I think that co-op modes will become a regular feature on all FPS's one day, and I really think that multi-player co-ops could really take-off due to that little thing known as the Internet and On-line Gaming. After all, First Person Shooter are one of the most popular genres played on-line in servers with 2 teams of around 8-players going head-to-head.
I think this would really work well in a War-time game like Medal of Honour. I haven't played it myself, but i've seen enough to know that you lead an army of soldiers through the towns against others, and instead of CPU sims supporting you, it could be your mates!
I'm sure it'll all kick-off one day. But when....
I like the idea of having more than 2 players in a co-op FPS, and I think that co-op modes will become a regular feature on all FPS's one day, and I really think that multi-player co-ops could really take-off due to that little thing known as the Internet and On-line Gaming. After all, First Person Shooter are one of the most popular genres played on-line in servers with 2 teams of around 8-players going head-to-head.
I think this would really work well in a War-time game like Medal of Honour. I haven't played it myself, but i've seen enough to know that you lead an army of soldiers through the towns against others, and instead of CPU sims supporting you, it could be your mates!
I'm sure it'll all kick-off one day. But when....
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