I've never had much use for the competitive players who complained that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare went too far in terms of creating a level playing field between hardcore FPS vets and new players. It just seemed like a lot of whiny elitism to me. Even though I came to despise grenade launchers and claymores, I've generally been content to let everyone play the game they bought.
The more I see of MW2, however, the more I think those guys had a point. It seems like all these new assets and game mechanics create a massive handicapping system that allows even the most hapless player to rack up an obscene number of kills. That's great for players new to the franchise, but it leaves little incentive for "skill players" to invest much effort in things like aiming and using cover. There are just too many shortcuts built into the game that make mouse-and-keyboard mastery obsolete.
I've never been good enough to play competitively, but I'd bet that even a top-tier competitive player could get destroyed on a pub by a 12 year-old that has all these new toys unlocked. Granted, the competitive player has the option of using turrets and customized kill streaks and triple health "death streaks," ad nauseam, but when his success depends on perk selection rather than shooting straight, he's going to lose interest quickly.
Thus, I predict: the "old guard" guys that have been playing the Call of Duty franchise since the CoD/UO days are going to be hard to find on MW2 servers. In fact, I expect that the number of player-managed servers is going to be much lower than we had with MW1. The younger generation - so in love with the ranking system - is going to dominate the landscape, and the number of modded/custom maps servers will therefore continue to decline.
That's if IW releases mod tools for MW2, which seems more unlikely as we get closer to release. If Bobby Kotick & Co. can't squeeze a profit out of the tools, there will be no budget for it. It would have to come directly from IW: a company that's been elbow-deep in the 360 since the MW2 marketing campaign began.
Sales of the PC version of MW2 are going to be a fraction of console sales. If the fraction is small enough, and piracy is rampant, MW2 will probably be the last Call of Duty release for the PC.
The more I see of MW2, however, the more I think those guys had a point. It seems like all these new assets and game mechanics create a massive handicapping system that allows even the most hapless player to rack up an obscene number of kills. That's great for players new to the franchise, but it leaves little incentive for "skill players" to invest much effort in things like aiming and using cover. There are just too many shortcuts built into the game that make mouse-and-keyboard mastery obsolete.
I've never been good enough to play competitively, but I'd bet that even a top-tier competitive player could get destroyed on a pub by a 12 year-old that has all these new toys unlocked. Granted, the competitive player has the option of using turrets and customized kill streaks and triple health "death streaks," ad nauseam, but when his success depends on perk selection rather than shooting straight, he's going to lose interest quickly.
Thus, I predict: the "old guard" guys that have been playing the Call of Duty franchise since the CoD/UO days are going to be hard to find on MW2 servers. In fact, I expect that the number of player-managed servers is going to be much lower than we had with MW1. The younger generation - so in love with the ranking system - is going to dominate the landscape, and the number of modded/custom maps servers will therefore continue to decline.
That's if IW releases mod tools for MW2, which seems more unlikely as we get closer to release. If Bobby Kotick & Co. can't squeeze a profit out of the tools, there will be no budget for it. It would have to come directly from IW: a company that's been elbow-deep in the 360 since the MW2 marketing campaign began.
Sales of the PC version of MW2 are going to be a fraction of console sales. If the fraction is small enough, and piracy is rampant, MW2 will probably be the last Call of Duty release for the PC.
Arcade/shooting games may seem violent but actually it enhances strategic concentration. A better way of venting without harming anyone but the computer screen.
ReplyDeleteKilling virtual people is certainly better than killing real ones.
ReplyDeleteWho was that masked man ?
ReplyDeleteThe COD series has been a pile of poop since COD2 in my opinion. Makers have to hope to gain the interest of a tweeked out 12 year old, and keep them in their grasp just long enough to warrant a game purchase from Mom or Dad.
ReplyDeleteMom's and Dad's buy these shitty games so they don't have to deal with their children.
Teenage Boys play these games for a couple months at MOST, and then they are done.
Why bother trying to make a game that requires real skill ? :)
heheh
I found such a game, but it's plagued with bugs.