Stop whining about multiplayer

Alright guys, I have seen a trend over the last few months that is really starting to bother me: Whining about the lack of multiplayer in games, mostly FPS's

Now, I agree that multiplayer can add to the experience in certaingames (like Halo, Rainbow Six, Gears of Waretc.), but some games simply do not need it.

I just read a post in the Metroid Prime 3 hype thread stating that MP3 will score AA because of its lack of online multiplayer.

That, to me, is insane.

What does it matter about the multiplayer if the core adventure is extremely good huh? Really, have we become so used to playing games, more specifically shooters, online that we have lost our ability to enjoy a good single player game?

Not every FPS needs multiplayer; look at The Darkness. Pretty damn fun game. It could have been more fun if the devs hadn't felt so pressured by the gaming community to put multiplayer in it. And guess what? The multiplayer sucked, and, in many cases, brought down the score. The devs could have used the wasted multiplayer dev time to add more content to the single player portion and further refine the experience.

Now there is an FPS coming out next month called Bioshock, which, despite looking amazing, has been bashed for its lack of multiplayer.

Stop it! How many damn multiplayer FPS's do we need? Oh like all the UT's and Halo, and the upcoming TF2, and all the other hundreds of online FPS's aren't enough, you have to come begging to studios like Irrational Games and Starbreeze to "please put in multiplayer".

Here's a question: Why?

Why are you so desperate for MP?

Why does it really matter?

Why can't we have both?

Why don't you stop criticizing games for lack of MP, and enjoy them for what they are?

I think there is plenty of room for great singleplayer only FPS's andgreat FPS's with multiplayer, but as long as we keep going nuts on MP, devs will keep ****ing their games up by taking time away from the core game to tack-on some multiplayer to please the masses.

Just shut up and play what the devs offer.

If you don't like it, then vote with your wallet.

A game that can have online and doesn't gets lower value.NobuoMusicMaker

That needs to change. Now.

I agree completely. I actually find multiplayer in FPS to be LESS fun than the single player. I think the reason is because other humans are so competitive that they try to abuse gameplay mechanics for an edge, which just cuts out the realism (bunny-hopping for example).

If developers really flesh out the singleplayer with high-quality AI and good level design, I'll play single-player 10x as much as I would multiplayer. The only kind of multiplayer I'd like to see FPS make a real move twoards is co-op, since working with somebody is just a lot more fun.

I think all shooters should have multiplayer. After i've done the single player whats next? Another time? I'm a big fan of ebox live and too me the single player gets me ready for the multiplayer. Games like Res Evil 4 and Half Life 2 had great single players but would have been so much better with online. One reason Halo is so popular is because of how easy and great it is to play online.xXHackettXx

Hey man, guess what? There is something called REPLAYING THE GAME.

It's something we old timers usedto do back in the old school, and you know what? It still works today!

Not every shooter needs MP, and the devs don't have unlimited time to make it.

RE4 was fine as it was.

I think all shooters should have multiplayer. After i've done the single player whats next? Another time? I'm a big fan of xbox live and too me the single player gets me ready for the multiplayer. Games like Res Evil 4 and Half Life 2 had great single players but would have been so much better with online. One reason Halo is so popular is because of how easy and great it is to play online. But I agree multiplayer shouldnt be added if it doesnt bring anything to the game. The Darkness is a good example of just adding multiplayer to sell more copys.xXHackettXx

The real question is...How many FPS do we really need!?

A game that can have online and doesn't gets lower value.NobuoMusicMaker

I think all shooters should have multiplayer. After i've done the single player whats next? Another time? I'm a big fan of xbox live and too me the single player gets me ready for the multiplayer. Games like Res Evil 4 and Half Life 2 had great single players but would have been so much better with online. One reason Halo is so popular is because of how easy and great it is to play online. But I agree multiplayer shouldnt be added if it doesnt bring anything to the game. The Darkness is a good example of just adding multiplayer to sell more copys.xXHackettXx

You do know that Half Life has multiplayer. One of them is called Half Life 2: Deathmatch.

I'm with you, and multiplayer, especially online, doesn't matter to me. I don't give a damn about online quality in console games, I really don't. It didn't influence my judgement in choosing a console, and I bought a PS3.

[QUOTE="xXHackettXx"]I think all shooters should have multiplayer. After i've done the single player whats next? Another time? I'm a big fan of xbox live and too me the single player gets me ready for the multiplayer. Games like Res Evil 4 and Half Life 2 had great single players but would have been so much better with online. One reason Halo is so popular is because of how easy and great it is to play online. But I agree multiplayer shouldnt be added if it doesnt bring anything to the game. The Darkness is a good example of just adding multiplayer to sell more copys.Magical_Guy

You do know that Half Life has multiplayer. One of them is called Half Life 2: Deathmatch.

Is he thinking of the Orange box? But that has TF:2.

[QUOTE="xXHackettXx"]I think all shooters should have multiplayer. After i've done the single player whats next? Another time? I'm a big fan of ebox live and too me the single player gets me ready for the multiplayer. Games like Res Evil 4 and Half Life 2 had great single players but would have been so much better with online. One reason Halo is so popular is because of how easy and great it is to play online.jethrovegas

Hey man, guess what? There is something called REPLAYING THE GAME.

It's something we old timers usedto do back in the old school, and you know what? It still works today!

Not every shooter needs MP, and the devs don't have unlimited time to make it.

RE4 was fine as it was.

FACT: Most, as in more than half, as in a minimum 50%+1 of all gamers do not play on-line multiplayer. This is easily borne out by a simple comparison of on-line members vs install base.

FACT: Value is determined by the consumer. Some people want/expect MP to increase their perception of value. I respect that. However, as Inever play MP, I can make the equal case that the MP fans are causing me to have to pay too much for games, becauseI am paying for MP development costs when I don't need that. See how that works?

Hypothesis: For every MP fan wanting/demanding/expecting on-line MP action as part of their value equation there is another person+ that might be more satisfied if there was no MP at all, but the price $5 or $10 lower.

Conclusion: You can't please everyone. Until such time as the base single player game costs $X and the MP is downloadable for $Y extra, this debate will go on. It was interesting to see the opposing value comments regarding Shadowrun.

A game that can have online and doesn't gets lower value.NobuoMusicMaker

i'm so glad MP3 won't have multiplayerakif22

[QUOTE="NobuoMusicMaker"]A game that can have online and doesn't gets lower value.taikthebate

Why?

Why is crappy multiplayer better than none at all?

Adding crappy multiplayer (ie The Darkness) takes away from the true, core dev time!

Why add crappy multiplayer if the single player game would be better without it???

[QUOTE="taikthebate"][QUOTE="NobuoMusicMaker"]A game that can have online and doesn't gets lower value.jethrovegas

Why?

Why is crappy multiplayer better than none at all?

Adding crappy multiplayer (ie The Darkness) takes away from the true, core dev time!

Why add crappy multiplayer if the single player game would be better without it???

I think all shooters should have multiplayer. After i've done the single player whats next? Another time? I'm a big fan of xbox live and too me the single player gets me ready for the multiplayer. Games like Res Evil 4 and Half Life 2 had great single players but would have been so much better with online. xXHackettXx

You have to explain to me how online RE4 would work, because I just don't see it.

I think it's mostly 360 people trying to justify the $50 a year they spend on Live. I could be wrong, though.Jandurin

[QUOTE="jethrovegas"]

[QUOTE="taikthebate"][QUOTE="NobuoMusicMaker"]A game that can have online and doesn't gets lower value.taikthebate

Why?

Why is crappy multiplayer better than none at all?

Adding crappy multiplayer (ie The Darkness) takes away from the true, core dev time!

Why add crappy multiplayer if the single player game would be better without it???

It's quite simple really, and this doesn't just apply to the Darkness.

Let us say the dev has 4x amount of time, and 4x amount of single player content.

He has enough time to create a wonderful single player game, but the gaming community keeps clamoring for multiplayer and the publisher puts pressure on him.

So the dev takes 1x amount of time away from the core single player development, leaving only 3x for SP, and effectively cutting 1x of single player gameplay.

Anyways, the MP ends up sucking, and the game loses review points because of its crappy MP (ie, the Gamespy Darkness review) and therefore gets less sales, and the dev only gets to create 3x/4x of what he originally wanted to.

Comprende'?

I think the reason is because other humans are so competitive that they try to abuse gameplay mechanics for an edge, which just cuts out the realism (bunny-hopping for example).

Vampyronight

Alright guys, I have seen a trend over the last few months that is really starting to bother me: Whining about the lack of multiplayer in games, mostly FPS's

Now, I agree that multiplayer can add to the experience in certaingames (like Halo, Rainbow Six, Gears of Waretc.), but some games simply do not need it.

I just read a post in the Metroid Prime 3 hype thread stating that MP3 will score AA because of its lack of online multiplayer.

That, to me, is insane.

What does it matter about the multiplayer if the core adventure is extremely good huh? Really, have we become so used to playing games, more specifically shooters, online that we have lost our ability to enjoy a good single player game?

Not every FPS needs multiplayer; look at The Darkness. Pretty damn fun game. It could have been more fun if the devs hadn't felt so pressured by the gaming community to put multiplayer in it. And guess what? The multiplayer sucked, and, in many cases, brought down the score. The devs could have used the wasted multiplayer dev time to add more content to the single player portion and further refine the experience.

Now there is an FPS coming out next month called Bioshock, which, despite looking amazing, has been bashed for its lack of multiplayer.

Stop it! How many damn multiplayer FPS's do we need? Oh like all the UT's and Halo, and the upcoming TF2, and all the other hundreds of online FPS's aren't enough, you have to come begging to studios like Irrational Games and Starbreeze to "please put in multiplayer".

Here's a question: Why?

Why are you so desperate for MP?

Why does it really matter?

Why can't we have both?

Why don't you stop criticizing games for lack of MP, and enjoy them for what they are?

I think there is plenty of room for great singleplayer only FPS's andgreat FPS's with multiplayer, but as long as we keep going nuts on MP, devs will keep ****ing their games up by taking time away from the core game to tack-on some multiplayer to please the masses.

Just shut up and play what the devs offer.

If you don't like it, then vote with your wallet.

jethrovegas

I used to think a lot different of you. Nice post I agree 100%

[QUOTE="Vampyronight"]

I think the reason is because other humans are so competitive that they try to abuse gameplay mechanics for an edge, which just cuts out the realism (bunny-hopping for example).

project343

Bunny hopping is EVIL.

Ever play TFC?

Good grief...

i agree

[QUOTE="taikthebate"][QUOTE="jethrovegas"]

[QUOTE="taikthebate"][QUOTE="NobuoMusicMaker"]A game that can have online and doesn't gets lower value.jethrovegas

Why?

Why is crappy multiplayer better than none at all?

Adding crappy multiplayer (ie The Darkness) takes away from the true, core dev time!

Why add crappy multiplayer if the single player game would be better without it???

It's quite simple really, and this doesn't just apply to the Darkness.

Let us say the dev has 4x amount of time, and 4x amount of single player content.

He has enough time to create a wonderful single player game, but the gaming community keeps clamoring for multiplayer and the publisher puts pressure on him.

So the dev takes 1x amount of time away from the core single player development, leaving only 3x for SP, and effectively cutting 1x of single player gameplay.

Anyways, the MP ends up sucking, and the game loses review points because of its crappy MP (ie, the Gamespy Darkness review) and therefore gets less sales, and the dev only gets to create 3x/4x of what he originally wanted to.

Comprende'?

Just shut up and play what the devs offer.

If you don't like it, then vote with your wallet.

Ever heard of expressing your opinion?

Just shut up and play what the devs offer.

If you don't like it, then vote with your wallet.

Ever heard of expressing your opinion?

manningbowl135

Expressing your opinion is well and good, but it is incredibly annoying and uncessary to yell and scream that games like Bioshock and Metroid Prime 3 "need teh multiplayer!!11 :cry:"

Seriously, if you are so bent on playing MP that you won't buy a game that doesn't have it, then please, stop whining and just vote with your wallet.