My suggestion is to implement 3 modes of gameplay in order to satisfy a much wider range of players. One mistake I think most developers of FPS's make is to only have one mode of gameplay, which appeals only to a fraction of the market. With more modes of play, you satisfy a larger number of players (hardcore fans and mainstream players), which equals more people buying your game.
Easy, Novice or Mainstream Mode: Kill/Death Messages on, Friendly Fire off, increase player "hit points", weapon "balance", informative HUD/overview map etc. Basically, all the unrealistic features that appeal to the mainstream and novice player market.
Veteran or Realism Mode: Kill/Death Messages on, Friendly Fire on, realistic damage, slight weapon balancing, moderate HUD/overview map. This would probably be similar to standard RO: Ostfront-style of play.
Expert or Hardcore Realism Mode: No Kill/Death Messages, Friendly Fire on, realistic ballistics - no weapon "balancing", realistic damage, little or no HUD, etc. This mode would be similar to the HL2 mod Resistance and Liberation.
Another reason this system works well, is because it gives Mainstream or Novice players the ability to quickly and easily get into the game, and allows them to evolve to the more difficult modes of play. I've read somewhere that TI has acknowledged that a problem with RO was that new players get frustrated easily and quit because of the level of difficulty realistic play brings. Implementing multiple modes of play will not only increase the number of players in general, but also increase the numbers of hardcore realism players by way of the Mainstream Mode serving as a gateway to more expert/realistic modes of play.
I think COD: MW1 was on to something when they implemented Hardcore mode, but unfortunately I don't think they did enough. I had this idea before MW1 came out, and it amazes me that no other FPS developer has implemented this before. The biggest reasons I see as to why people don't buy a certain FPS game is because it is either too realistic, or not realistic enough for them. This system I am suggesting may be the one ring to rule them all.
Easy, Novice or Mainstream Mode: Kill/Death Messages on, Friendly Fire off, increase player "hit points", weapon "balance", informative HUD/overview map etc. Basically, all the unrealistic features that appeal to the mainstream and novice player market.
Veteran or Realism Mode: Kill/Death Messages on, Friendly Fire on, realistic damage, slight weapon balancing, moderate HUD/overview map. This would probably be similar to standard RO: Ostfront-style of play.
Expert or Hardcore Realism Mode: No Kill/Death Messages, Friendly Fire on, realistic ballistics - no weapon "balancing", realistic damage, little or no HUD, etc. This mode would be similar to the HL2 mod Resistance and Liberation.
Another reason this system works well, is because it gives Mainstream or Novice players the ability to quickly and easily get into the game, and allows them to evolve to the more difficult modes of play. I've read somewhere that TI has acknowledged that a problem with RO was that new players get frustrated easily and quit because of the level of difficulty realistic play brings. Implementing multiple modes of play will not only increase the number of players in general, but also increase the numbers of hardcore realism players by way of the Mainstream Mode serving as a gateway to more expert/realistic modes of play.
I think COD: MW1 was on to something when they implemented Hardcore mode, but unfortunately I don't think they did enough. I had this idea before MW1 came out, and it amazes me that no other FPS developer has implemented this before. The biggest reasons I see as to why people don't buy a certain FPS game is because it is either too realistic, or not realistic enough for them. This system I am suggesting may be the one ring to rule them all.
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