- Lord Visvas
- |
- Exalted Member
You. Me. Now.
Speider@gmail.com
A big problem for me with MMO's is that i like to play with my friends.
MMORPG systems place restrictions on that desire.
If a friend has played a game for months and months, then he either has to make a new character to be able to play with me, or he must walk along, helping me out with things that are no challenge for him at all.
Bungie recently stated that they are NOT working on an MMO, but rather an online multiplayer game which is massive. Kinda like what Halo is.
In Halo, you have a sort of a progression system similar to MMO's, where you get new ranks and equipment, but the big difference is that the equipment you gain from progression is for show! It has no gameplay specific value whatsoever.
That means that I can join a match with a friend, and even though he can show off his awesomely cool armour, we are on a level playing field.
In competitive multiplayer titles, a level playing field is important.
I think that the reason i prefer Halo to Call Of Duty is based on that. I love COD, but to go in as a new player, and experience that veteran players are not only more familiar with tactics, they have access to gear and abilities that are distinctly better than yours.
If veteran players on the other hand were given the option to equip that sweet bazooka with lock-on capabilities AND more rockets than the starting player has, BUT was forced to unequip lethal grenades as a payoff, this would drastically change the situation. Experienced players could use this new toy that gives an advantage in certain areas, but forego something else, thus levelling the playing field.
If the next Bungie game has gear upgrades and item customization, i wouldn't be surprised if they did something like this or something else to level the playing field.
I'd only be surprised if they did something like what cod does. It's a good way for players to feel rewarded, but again counter-intuitive against level playing fields and competition.