Why FPS Online Multiplayer is Ruining the Industry...(and Warping the Minds of Young Gamers)

Due to "online gaming", gamers have stuck to the most over-saturated genre for their multiplayer needs, First-Person Shooters. Find out why it's ruining the gaming industry in our latest article!

[2fk]

it's CODs fault a lot of games copying it and no more innovation...lets just wait for BF3 then online FPS will come back to life.

[claterz]

BF3 doesn't exactly seem that innovative either. Just another military shooter, I'm not saying it won't be a great game but you just really contradicted yourself.
And how is it CoDs fault that other game developers are too lazy to innovate themselves. IW bought multiplayer into the mainstream this gen with CoD4, since then developers have been putting multiplayer in their games because they want to please the CoD fans.

[2fk]

Im just saying battlefield feels like a war game...u know cuz of destructible buildings and all.....the only way i will start liking COD again if they bring in some destruction and plz no more kill streaks

[WhiteNoise]

Yes...because 1 military online focused game will destroy the cycle of miltary shooters focuses on online :S

/s

[reynod]

The real reason why we arent seeing any innovation is because freedom from the gamers has been taken away.

You still do see innovation however this is in games where the modder & gamers work together to create new ways to game. This can be seen in TF2, L4D2 where the developer has given the community the MOD tools and freedom to do as they like. For example a recent game mod i am enjoying in TF2 is the baloon race. Basically involves 2 teams standing on platforms which moves depending on the number of players on it. The basic objective is to ensure the other team doesnt get a chance to stand on their platform and your team wins by reaching the end asap.

These sort of things have stopped happening in games released by EA and Activision, because such user created mods would undermine EA's or activisions effort to sell DLCs. Also it would extend the life of the game by giving it new maps etc hence people wouldnt buy a rehashed COD every year with just new maps and a 4 hour campaign. They are able to control gamers this way due to consolization which are closed platforms and allow developers to control gamers as they will.

Many of the creative games out today, were originally designed by the modding community, a prime example being Portal, or Left 4 dead which were originally just mods.

As long as Developers keep rehasing old stuff and not allow freedom we wont get too far in terms of creativity.

[SuperStrokey1123]

But then what would jounalists write about?

forget the kids, THINK OF THE JOURNALISTS!

[NeloAnjelo]

COD = Mainstream = Auto Aim = Kids...

Make the game more hardcore so the kids will cry the next time they pick it up.

[Corrwin]

Simple, repetitive gameplay. It works. It worked for Tetris, it's working for Call of Duty and Halo, and it will continue to work for all who use it.

[jrbeerman11]

I will mention that halo and Cod play very differently.

sequels aren't going to completely change gameplay otherwise it would be a new game.

COD however is the Madden Football of shooters with very small updates year to year with 1 big year every 6 to 7 years.

Also look at the backlash behind dragon age 2 and mass effect 2, they give us the innovation that this article calls for and all you see is whining that it isnt just a rehash like COD.

[Cajun Chicken]

I hate the over focus of everyone trying to be the next best thing, when all they're doing is copying the same damn formula.

[jrbeerman11]

I would like to add that battlefield 1942 came out a year before first Call of Duty.

Battlefield 2 "modern setting came a few years before Modern Warfare.

So while there is a ton of copying, Call of Duty borrowed a ton itself.

Lots of games borrow from others, if an idea is good I don't mind devs using it and building on it (uncharted was masterpiece using perfect blend of other games while adding popcorn movie flair). Problem lately is we aren't seeing enough innovation so its become very repetitive.

[Ravenor]

This has nothing to do with console limitations and all console fps playing like the same critical path, heavily scripted roller coaster.

The Modern Military theme, just like any other theme for an FPS isn't dead. Just shake up what I think an fps could be: Bigger SP battlefields, developing a battle plan, executing the plan and maybe actually making us feel like we're in a war. War doesn't wait for you, but it does in KZ3 and CoD.

[jrbeerman11]

Well said bubbles for you.

We haven't seen a single player campaign for "base" battlefield series yet. I do hope the game really utilizes team co-ordination and large open areas.

I already know the multi on this game will be good, I hope they use the same premise for single. (secretly hope they use mechanics from ghost recon or something similar)

just don't give me call of duty campaign with buildings that can fall down.

[The_Zeitgeist]

I can't believe what I am reading on the comments section here. People saying there is no innovation this gen. Little Big Planet, Heavy Rain, Mario Galaxy, Modern Warfare (don't forget how innovative the first one was). Hell people, just look at the consoles themselves. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have been innovating out their yin yangs.

[MaverickStar7]

This writers argument is terrible. Wether or not a person wants to focus on single player or multiplayer is up to the person. There is no right or wrong. What keeps the game in the public eye longer and brings in more sales is the multiplayer.

There is also nothing wrong with spending months on one game. If other games are not good enough to draw someones attention, its not the problem of the people who make the more popular game. People who write blogs like this should realize that the majority of consumers are not the hardcore gamer who try to play as many different games as possible. They usually have a few games they play until sequels come out. Replay value is a good thing.

Clearly this person is just not in favor of FPS multiplayer games, and he is entitled to that. Game sales decide where the industry goes. If people are buying certain types of games then they don't get the same attention that the more successful genres get. Someone has to be in the minority. I love the FPS genre and I see gaming as being better than ever. But thats based on what I like, and my view on things.

[tommyth3cat]

Online has nothing to do with it, if I could play coop on RPGs and many other games I'd be a happy gamer. Playing games with friends is half the fun for a lot of people. It just so happens CoD is the easiest to coax friends in with.