Why Metroid Prime 3 should have online

I made a comment about this quite a while ago, and people mistook my entire post. They thought I was only thinking of myself when I said the game would need online. I said what I said based around Nintendo's comments and what THEY wanted out of the game. So here's my listing about why MP3 would benefit from online play. Keep in mind, I AM NOT SAYING MP3 WILL SUCK OR WON'T BE A MASTERPIECE. And let me assure you, the SP of MP3 is the most important part of the game. But here goes:

1. Demand: Nintendo gamers love online. They want it, they rattle on about it and how Nintendo does bugger all when it comes to online play. MP3 has the gameplay that suits online. 

2. Controls: Now I know hardcore MP fans know that MP games are all about exploration and 'taking your time' more than running around and shooting everything, but the wii controls have nailed the speed, turning and aiming much like the PC mouse. That means, MP3 could have the quick reflexes and rapid firing just like most online deathmatch shooters.

3. Single Player: The SP wouldn't be affected in any way. Like I said, SP is the most important feature, and Retro aren't dumb - they know that, so they'll focus their attention on the SP. But they could easily hire extra staff and staff specifed in online gaming for the multiplayer. The SP would have been almost finished around Q1 2007 if they stated they wanted a 25 hour adventure and had been working on the game since the start of 2005. Guys, you can still have your 'FPA' termonology for the SP!

4. Sales: Let's face it - adding online would inevitably increase sales. I'm not sure by how much, but I know myself and friends who have never been into the MP series but would turn their heads if the game did feature online. Reggie said that they were dissapointed with MP2 sales - barely 500,000 compared to well over 1,000,000 for the original. They wanted Prime 3 to be 'perfect' when its released, and it's heavily suggested that Prime 3 will be the last in the Prime series.

5. Nintendo: Nintendo and Retro themselves went from 'no mutliplayer' to 'we can't comment on multiplayer just yet'. Why? Reggie always tried to be vague or ignore the question of online in Metroid. Why couldn't Nintendo state that there was NO online or multiplayer? It frustrates me they deliver this unofficial false hype like this. OK, so this isn't a clear reason, but Nintendo acted like Prime 3 would have online.

I'd much rather they continued the Hunters series on the Wii than add multiplayer to MP3. Echoes suffered from a very boring multiplayer mode, which probably reduced the quality of the single player mode due to time constraints. Hunters for the DS also had a pretty unoriginal single player mode, which probably reduced the quality of the multiplayer mode for the same reasons. I'd rather they make two separate games that are both likely to be good quality, than risk ruining a potential masterpiece.

Nintendo is thinking about the online playing...

There is a huge article in GameInformer (the one with Call of Duty 4).

The owner probably is realeasing online beta for Wii Sports in 08. 

online for me is an important factor

... i just feel like losing less money, because the online part makes the game content last longer
and when you are good in single player, you might want to show it to other person and kick butts online

Could care less if it's online.

If it doesn't have online, will I buy it? Yes.

If it does have online, will I buy it? Most definitely. 

k heres my question why do YOU want online

its always Oh it SHOULD be in, not  I want it in because  im to lazy to pick up an online PC shooter to satiate my hunger for a multiplayer game

 please tell me why YOU want Multiplayer in Prime 3. Not why it should be in there

Nintendo is thinking about the online playing...

There is a huge article in GameInformer (the one with Call of Duty 4).

The owner probably is realeasing online beta for Wii Sports in 08. 

pieisgoodman

What the heck are you talking about?

I made a comment about this quite a while ago, and people mistook my entire post. They thought I was only thinking of myself when I said the game would need online. I said what I said based around Nintendo's comments and what THEY wanted out of the game. So here's my listing about why MP3 would benefit from online play. Keep in mind, I AM NOT SAYING MP3 WILL SUCK OR WON'T BE A MASTERPIECE. And let me assure you, the SP of MP3 is the most important part of the game. But here goes:

1. Demand: Nintendo gamers love online. They want it, they rattle on about it and how Nintendo does bugger all when it comes to online play. MP3 has the gameplay that suits online.

2. Controls: Now I know hardcore MP fans know that MP games are all about exploration and 'taking your time' more than running around and shooting everything, but the wii controls have nailed the speed, turning and aiming much like the PC mouse. That means, MP3 could have the quick reflexes and rapid firing just like most online deathmatch shooters.

3. Single Player: The SP wouldn't be affected in any way. Like I said, SP is the most important feature, and Retro aren't dumb - they know that, so they'll focus their attention on the SP. But they could easily hire extra staff and staff specifed in online gaming for the multiplayer. The SP would have been almost finished around Q1 2007 if they stated they wanted a 25 hour adventure and had been working on the game since the start of 2005. Guys, you can still have your 'FPA' termonology for the SP!

4. Sales: Let's face it - adding online would inevitably increase sales. I'm not sure by how much, but I know myself and friends who have never been into the MP series but would turn their heads if the game did feature online. Reggie said that they were dissapointed with MP2 sales - barely 500,000 compared to well over 1,000,000 for the original. They wanted Prime 3 to be 'perfect' when its released, and it's heavily suggested that Prime 3 will be the last in the Prime series.

5. Nintendo: Nintendo and Retro themselves went from 'no mutliplayer' to 'we can't comment on multiplayer just yet'. Why? Reggie always tried to be vague or ignore the question of online in Metroid. Why couldn't Nintendo state that there was NO online or multiplayer? It frustrates me they deliver this unofficial false hype like this. OK, so this isn't a clear reason, but Nintendo acted like Prime 3 would have online.

Optusnet

I agree 100%.  I've really been thinking the same thing for some time....maybe..just maybe Nintendo will surprise us. 

online is important.....in certain games, not all of them. Metroid Prime 3 isn't one of them imo, something like SSBB, Mario Party, Mario Sports games...etc are.

Metroid is a single player game before anything else while the others I mention are party games meant to be played in multiplayer which is why those should have online. I mean I wouldn't mind if you were able to download extra scenarios for it that would enrich the single player experience, but multiplayer online!? No thanks and even moreso if it's only gonna be 4 players max, that just isn't enough for FPS so again what's the point.

online for me is an important factor

... i just feel like losing less money, because the online part makes the game content last longer
and when you are good in single player, you might want to show it to other person and kick butts online

[/QUOTYeah if a game has online play you can play over and over again, and not only play in single player mode.

Metroid on Consoles Have always been about the Solo gamer, sure MP2 had Multi-player, but it wa snot really that good.

Online would be a bonus, but it's just not what you look for in a Metroid game. Raiko101

Right!
Besides, i hate online play so i don't care!! 

Yes.

Continue Prime Hunters on the Wii and have that one multiplayer, but don't mess up MP3 with a multiplayer mode. But i agree that thay would have to add some stuff to the online mode like beam and missile pickups, but take out the lock-on, even for single player. Come on! It's so stinkin easy to aim a wii-mote, so you don't even need a lock-on.

Long Live Leon!!

MP3 will have Wiiconnect 24 with regular updates.....New missions suits and weapons regularly via Wiiconnect24

....but if no online....I wouldn't go near it

We don't even know for sure whether or not MP3 has multiplayer.  And if it's tacked on multiplayer like MP2 who's going to want that online?  You guys thumping your chest saying you won't buy this game if it doesn't have online multiplayer are funny.  I'd rather have all the development focus on making a better single player game. 

Online would be a bonus, but it's just not what you look for in a Metroid game. Raiko101

I agree, MPH had too much online for example. It was a great game but the single player was way short. I hope Metroid Prime 3 has a balance between online and single player.

online would really be a great thing. hope they put it onfluffers623

But I hope it does not destroy the rest of the game... If they put online in the game. 

Online would be a bonus, but it's just not what you look for in a Metroid game. Raiko101

Word! 

Some of you still think the SP would be ruined or would suddenly be 'worse' if online was in. This wouldn't be the case at all. But a few extra months of development could add years of lifespan to the game. Again, Retro could've easily got online staff on board to work on the online WHILE the SP was in the works. Why do you think Retro would SHIFT attention from the SP to MP?

Also, Prime 2 multiplayer wasn't great for these reasons:
- It lacked so many options/modes and it didn't have bots
- It was splitscreen
- The controls were made for a single player experience.

Prime 3 and Wii now have the technology to scrap all that and make a fleshed out, long-lasting, online experience.

Some of you still think the SP would be ruined or would suddenly be 'worse' if online was in. This wouldn't be the case at all. But a few extra months of development could add years of lifespan to the game. Again, Retro could've easily got online staff on board to work on the online WHILE the SP was in the works. Why do you think Retro would SHIFT attention from the SP to MP?

Also, Prime 2 multiplayer wasn't great for these reasons:
- It lacked so many options/modes and it didn't have bots
- It was splitscreen
- The controls were made for a single player experience.

Prime 3 and Wii now have the technology to scrap all that and make a fleshed out, long-lasting, online experience.

Optusnet

You keep talking about how easy it is to simply get more people on to program certain things.  Care to share your personal experience managing teams of software development that leads you to believe this?  Because hiring people (the right people), getting them to work as a team, and getting projects done on time isn't quite as easy as you make it out to be.

You also keep arguing that online multi wouldn't affect the single player at all, but your last post you clearly state  "- The controls were made for a single player experience."  Goccha.  So there are things that in the making of the game make it more friendly to single player.  Like controls for example.  And when you try and use those controls in multi it doesn't work?  Guess what, the same is true the other way.  Tune the controls for multi, and the single plaver won't work as well as it does.  

If you (and everyone else who keeps yelling how they won't buy it without MP online) want the game you keep clamoring for, buy it on the other systems it's already out for.  It just has a different name, and not Samus as the main character.  But don't say that a franchise that has always been about something else should be changed because you want it to be a different game. 

[QUOTE="Optusnet"]

Some of you still think the SP would be ruined or would suddenly be 'worse' if online was in. This wouldn't be the case at all. But a few extra months of development could add years of lifespan to the game. Again, Retro could've easily got online staff on board to work on the online WHILE the SP was in the works. Why do you think Retro would SHIFT attention from the SP to MP?

Also, Prime 2 multiplayer wasn't great for these reasons:
- It lacked so many options/modes and it didn't have bots
- It was splitscreen
- The controls were made for a single player experience.

Prime 3 and Wii now have the technology to scrap all that and make a fleshed out, long-lasting, online experience.

kokopelli76

You keep talking about how easy it is to simply get more people on to program certain things.  Care to share your personal experience managing teams of software development that leads you to believe this?  Because hiring people (the right people), getting them to work as a team, and getting projects done on time isn't quite as easy as you make it out to be.

You also keep arguing that online multi wouldn't affect the single player at all, but your last post you clearly state  "- The controls were made for a single player experience."  Goccha.  So there are things that in the making of the game make it more friendly to single player.  Like controls for example.  And when you try and use those controls in multi it doesn't work?  Guess what, the same is true the other way.  Tune the controls for multi, and the single plaver won't work as well as it does.  

If you (and everyone else who keeps yelling how they won't buy it without MP online) want the game you keep clamoring for, buy it on the other systems it's already out for.  It just has a different name, and not Samus as the main character.  But don't say that a franchise that has always been about something else should be changed because you want it to be a different game. 

Couldn't agree with you more.

Why do most of you hate online play so much?

I agree 1337% with the TC

i agree basically in everyway, except for your #3 point

it would definately take away some of the perfecting time they could do on the single player, and im not calling you stupid but i dont think you know all there is about hiring staff members for a project like this, its not like there are developers just hanging around somwhere waiting for a call. id love to see MP online one day but if it takes away anything form teh experience for which i bougth the game i, along with many other people, will be highly dissapointed.

Why do most of you hate online play so much?

I agree 1337% with the TC

movin_target

I don't hate online play.  I like online play in games it works in.  I DO hate taking something and making it into something it's not not just so it can be online.  There is a difference.  

the single player mode was ready along time ago (this was supposed to be a launch release. They could have easily developed a online multiplayer by now without taking away from the single player at all

According to vgcharts.org, Metroid Prime sold over 2 million world wide, and MP2 sold over a million.  However, Reggie said that MP2 sold poorly,.. but really.  Iwata also complained about US Brain Age sales when the game already sold over 1.5 million in America and contintues to sell 15k plus a week over a year after its initial release, so who knows what bad sales mean to them.

But this could maybe turn out to be a good thing.  This will give a 3rd party the opportunity to create an awesome online FPS.