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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
Page:
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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
Page: