Crytek: FPS Games Need Multiplayer to Succeed

[Favelle]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/PC-...FPS,12013.html

"I think there's plenty of titles that don't have multiplayer that do quite well, but that's more of a genre specific decision," he said. "For an FPS game yeah you really have to have it

[twonunpackmule]

I disagree.

Personally, I think the MP bandwagon is hindering the growth of games as art. But, that's a huge debate that I'm not willing to tackle today.

For as much as I disliked the game, Bioshock, it proved that this idea of MP wasn't needed.

Crytek creates emotionally shallow games. They are company about tech, not about art. They don't create a harmonious atmosphere. So, I would expect them to say something like this. They are like IW. Basically, they create canon fodder for the trigger obsessed.

[gamma626]

Didn't they do Far Cry 2? That game sucked ass.

[twonunpackmule]

Didn't they do Far Cry 2? That game sucked ass.

No. They didn't.

[gamma626]

Good. That way I can't rip into them for making a shitty online mode.

[rm082e]

Comment is very subjective. By multiplayer does he mean competitive multiplayer, co-op, or both? Also, how does he explain the success of Bioshock? How about Borderlands?

People who want competitive FPS games are going to go where the most people are playing. Unless a designer is confident they can hang with Halo, COD, Gears, and Battlefield, I'd rather see them put more time and effort into co-op stuff. L4D, Borderlands, and Gears have shown that co-op sells games too. CMP isn't the only way to make money.

[weasl]

Mario says "Hi"

Sure it's FPS based but the real sell point is quality and a product with an extended life span. FPS just likes to do it with MP instead of say.. The scope of world and side quests in Fallout 3.

[KageMaru]

Unfortunately I think he has a point.

Personally, I don't need MP, Bioshock and Metro 2033 were awesome games that didn't have nor need MP.

However Metro wasn't a huge success (if a success at all) and Bioshock could just be seen as an exception to the rule.

A well crafted campaign may be enough for us here, but for the vast majority of the mindless masses playing CoD now, the inclusion of MP does seem to make a difference.

[Blinx123]

I disagree.

Personally, I think the MP bandwagon is hindering the growth of games as art. But, that's a huge debate that I'm not willing to tackle today.

For as much as I disliked the game, Bioshock, it proved that this idea of MP wasn't needed.

Crytek creates emotionally shallow games. They are company about tech, not about art. They don't create a harmonious atmosphere. So, I would expect them to say something like this. They are like IW. Basically, they create canon fodder for the trigger obsessed.

I couldn't agree more.
Games which heavily rely on multiplayer are often nothing more but a totally shallow experience.

Multiplayer just isn't good for a dramatically story driven experience. Crysis probably wouldn't even sell that well, if it wasn't for the graphics (the sole the reason I bought the first Crysis).

[Actionable Mango]

There are successful SP and MP FPS games. Likewise, there are unsuccessful SP and MP FPS games. I don't see how anyone can prove anything one way or another.

[rm082e]

A well crafted campaign may be enough for us here, but for the vast majority of the mindless masses playing CoD now, the inclusion of MP does seem to make a difference.

Those "mindless masses" aren't really mindless. They're just a segment of people who only play a few games a year. They're playing COD because that's what's popular right now and they want to play with their friends, not because it's the best of the genre or because they think it's superior to other shooters. My point is, including MP in a game like FEAR 2 or Singularity isn't going to increase sales in any significant way. After a few months (or in some cases, weeks) the MP community is a ghost town. The only people left are the achievement whores who probably got the game used, or rented it.

There's a guy I know who's a cop here in Tulsa. He went out and bought a new HDTV, 360, and COD4 when it came out simply because all his cop friends were super excited about it. He still plays COD a lot, but other than that game, he's just a Madden player. He doesn't pay attention to any game that isn't directly advertised during pro sports TV, and he dismisses anything his friends aren't actively playing. Before COD it was Halo and that was all they played. I also have 3 guys at my company who are exactly the same.

I know you weren't shitting on those people per-say, but it's worth pointing out they aren't dumb, they just don't care about games that much. It's an interest level thing. I just don't see how Crytec can claim all developers should be going after that market, especially when they have never come close to capturing that audience...

[Favelle]

Multiplayer just isn't good for a dramatically story driven experience.

But then again, not everyone PLAYS games for a story. Many people who are searching for a story or drama will watch a movie, or read a book. For some, playing a game means actually PLAYING. Like a sport. When I play hockey or baseball or volleyball, do I want a story or dramatic experience? LOL, no. Similar with my gaming. I want to control a pixlated avatar and do crazy things like being immersed in a war setting. Not everyone is hung up on story in medium that is INTERACTIVE.

[Favelle]

Those "mindless masses" aren't really mindless. They're just a segment of people who only play a few games a year. They're playing COD because that's what's popular right now and they want to play with their friends, not because it's the best of the genre or because they think it's superior to other shooters. My point is, including MP in a game like FEAR 2 or Singularity isn't going to increase sales in any significant way. After a few months (or in some cases, weeks) the MP community is a ghost town. The only people left are the achievement whores who probably got the game used, or rented it.

There's a guy I know who's a cop here in Tulsa. He went out and bought a new HDTV, 360, and COD4 when it came out simply because all his cop friends were super excited about it. He still plays COD a lot, but other than that game, he's just a Madden player. He doesn't pay attention to any game that isn't directly advertised during pro sports TV, and he dismisses anything his friends aren't actively playing. Before COD it was Halo and that was all they played. I also have 3 guys at my company who are exactly the same.

I know you weren't shitting on those people per-say, but it's worth pointing out they aren't dumb, they just don't care about games that much. It's an interest level thing. I just don't see how Crytec can claim all developers should be going after that market, especially when they have never come close to capturing that audience...

Exactly. FPS multiplayer games are often the most popular games on the PC. PC gaming itself is quite specialized and niche. If those gamers were "mindless masses", they wouldn't even be ON a PC in the first place! So the statement massively contradicts itself!

[KageMaru]

Those "mindless masses" aren't really mindless. They're just a segment of people who only play a few games a year. They're playing COD because that's what's popular right now and they want to play with their friends, not because it's the best of the genre or because they think it's superior to other shooters. My point is, including MP in a game like FEAR 2 or Singularity isn't going to increase sales in any significant way. After a few months (or in some cases, weeks) the MP community is a ghost town. The only people left are the achievement whores who probably got the game used, or rented it.

There's a guy I know who's a cop here in Tulsa. He went out and bought a new HDTV, 360, and COD4 when it came out simply because all his cop friends were super excited about it. He still plays COD a lot, but other than that game, he's just a Madden player. He doesn't pay attention to any game that isn't directly advertised during pro sports TV, and he dismisses anything his friends aren't actively playing. Before COD it was Halo and that was all they played. I also have 3 guys at my company who are exactly the same.

I know you weren't shitting on those people per-say, but it's worth pointing out they aren't dumb, they just don't care about games that much. It's an interest level thing. I just don't see how Crytec can claim all developers should be going after that market, especially when they have never come close to capturing that audience...

I wasn't trying to shit on anyone, it was just an innocent cheap shot to CoD I used to play the game too, so I would fall into the same category.

To play devil's advocate: Do you think the games your friends play (CoD, Madden, or Halo) would be so popular without MP??

Exactly. FPS multiplayer games are often the most popular games on the PC. PC gaming itself is quite specialized and niche. If those gamers were "mindless masses", they wouldn't even be ON a PC in the first place! So the statement massively contradicts itself!

Don't read too much into one little part to a comment. It wasn't meant to be anything like that.

[rm082e]

To play devil's advocate: Do you think the games your friends play (CoD, Madden, or Halo) would be so popular without MP??

Well that's my point. They are only playing the MP in those games, never the single player. But, they aren't playing those specific games (COD & Madden) because they are the best in class or they like them more than other shooters. They're playing them because that's the standard, and the game is just an excuse to get together with friends and bullshit over the headset while feeling competitive.

But in that situation, only a few games can capture a large enough audience to really make the multiplayer meaningful - typically only one or two per genre. That's why I don't get the Crytec guy's statement. Maybe he's talking PC only? That's an argument I could see being made. Outside of some of the Russian made games from 1C, I can't think of many that are SP only on the PC...