Has The MMOFPS Lost Its Touch?
The MMOFPS. A classic gaming genre, loved by many and arguably the biggest genre there is in the gaming world. But has it lost its originality? After a quick glance at the many online titles on offer, I can’t help but feel it has.
Now, this segment may be a bit miserable for my first editorial (and I promise I’m a very happy person) but the lack of new, innovative MMOFPS shooters on offer is beginning to dampen my desire to play them. The gaming in titles like ‘Sudden Attack’ and ‘Cross fire’ are one in the same, and if you have played either there is no real reason to play the other. Now, that’s not to say either are a bad game, I have played both and they are enough fun to keep you coming back for a few weeks afterward. But the lack of new ideas in many titles recently leaves me very bored.
This is the scene: You’ve just finished playing ‘Counter-Strike’ after downloading it again from steam for some nostalgic gaming. But you soon tire of the same old sandy map and basic black rifle, so you take the time to download ‘Soldier Front’, only to jump into a game where the map is a sandy color and you are decked out with your old black rifle. You decide to persevere, hoping that the character designs are something fresh and hopefully give a different feel to the game. Unfortunately, the same old blue and black swat skin is being used, along with a cliched terrorist skin for your opponents. All the same bullet sounds are used, with a familiar HUD and control set up. To be honest, I could have picked four or five games which would have resulted in the same scenario.
Cross Fire Gameplay
Am I alone in wanting, fresh, new ideas pumped into this genre? Games like Wolfteam and Battlefield Heroes have shown that a little innovation and a fresh, easily accessible control set up that you can create a totally original game which is played by thousands. How many times will I have to download a brand new FPS, only to find the same weapons, generic maps, effect and voice clips? I demand a change! Someone at one of these publishers has to sit down and throw all the old ideas away, and start afresh on a new fps. Something new, and exciting. Perhaps a take on the whole Vampire/Werewolf brand that is quite successful at film level, with the
Battlefield Heroes
‘Underworld’ series and the ‘Twighlight’ films raking in millions at the box office. Or perhaps a take on the whole era a century or so after gunpowder was involved in missile weapons? Blunderbuss’ and Napoleonic rifles being used?
I don’t know if those ideas would work, but something new would be great. There are only so many ‘Counter-Strike’ clones that I can take. What new ideas would you like to see in the genre? New eras? Weapons? Perhaps in the future a ‘WoW’ style world with NPC and PvP areas?
Please feel free to leave your ideas and opinions in the comments section.
By, Alexander Webber
March 3, 2010
#
They have. Lost there touch it seems when one is created its for the top of the line pc’s and the ones like me cant play it with a low ram drive they really should make ones like old rp style or the users will dissaper and then what will they do.
March 3, 2010
#1
I completely agree.
This is why I haven’t touched FPS, after I played Halo CE, I felt like I had the gist of every FPS out there.
March 30, 2010
#2
I don’t think they’ve lost their touch yet. two years ago you should have checked out Cross Fire china or japan versions, they have a new mode which just got released recently on U.S. called “zombie mode”. it’s a fun game were the infection is randomized among the 2-16 players. the zombie’s hp is 6000 and can infect other players to help him. You are given a 20 second grace to hide or find a tactical spot before the infection starts. problem is anyone of you could turn into zombies so watch each others back! Also since we will indefinitely run out of ammo, crates are dropped at certain periods of time on open places. Either you stay in place or risk being exposed for a cooler gun like a Gatling gun. besides, Cross Fire features a Ghost Mode which is very original if your asking for originality. To interest other FPS-forsaken players, Ghost mode is a mode where Global Risk( good guys) are to defend two bomb sites. But there is a twist. the Black List( bad guys) are cloaked in invisible gear, but they could only use knives to defend themselves. Global Risk’s tactic is to listen for steps and loud breathing. Also, Black list becomes slightly visible when they move. so if you ask me, I don’t think FPS gaming has lost it’s touch, I say that FPS gaming has yet to reach it all time high!
March 4, 2010
#3
Well as i said before the only FPS -MMOFPS- i would like to see is one with open world. No NPCs only players. The story will be player driven (if there is one). Timeline for me best WWII (i know there are many games) cause it would be awesome to have Axis & Allies as the two factions on which you can choose from. Character customazation ofc very important and some RPG elements which would fit the open worlded MMOFPS. That’s some of the features i’d like to see in a MMOFPS, i could write 30 pages on this cause i’ve thought the subject very much but i’m also bored (and right now boredom beats my interest of telling you my ideas xD )
March 4, 2010
#4
Yes, But your not understanding the point most users dont buy good computers so when they see a game that looks good and seesthe system requirments they frown cuase they want it so they can play.
March 5, 2010
#5
I agree with you there mate on that one. I’ve played loads and looking back they are all pretty much the same. lol
March 5, 2010
#6
that’s because people do not like games with large learning curves. if you play http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2 you will understand FPS still rock. maybe not MMOFPS.
NS2 is not yet released.
March 5, 2010
#7
The only FPSes that are somewhat more futuristic so far from what I’ve played are VitalSign(I miss this old, old game) and the Unreal Tournament Series.
Most FPSes I see nowadays are filled with current time warfare, if not older times. It’s good for some history knowledge but it gets boring real quick.
In short, I’d love to see more FPSes with the “futuristic” touch other than simply focusing on modern warfare.
March 6, 2010
#8
David – I know there are alot of WW2 games and such, but if you think about it the fps genres best titles are all ‘Futuristic’: Gears of War, Halo, Bioshock, Alien v Predator to name a few. I realise they aren’t mmofps games, but still, the futuristic setting is alive and well.
It just seems that alot of online gamers like the modern setting. Obviously COD is doing well for itself, and now we have MAG out too. I think it’s just easier for MMOFPS decelopers to do the modern setting, hence why there are so many counter strike clones.
I was thinking about how good a Cowboy and Indians Online Shooter would be if done well, there are alot of ideas out there. It just takes someone to sit down and go for originality.
I am a big fan of Wolfteam, as that’s got a different edge to it. And that’s got a large fan base now. The only problem with Wolfteam is that now alot of people are using money to buy better guns, and anyone who doesn’t (i.e. me lol) has an immediate disadvantage.
March 6, 2010
#9
That could be said about ever game genre (Driving, MMO’s in general, FPS, Action/Adventure) but its not going to change or if it does it will talk a long time then there will be clones of the change. The big question is which dev/pub will take that leap out of the “comfort zone” I mean why fix something that isn’t broken. The COD franchise is a prime example of this statement. Whereas NFS nearly ruined the series from changing the game play even slightly. It’s the money making the decisions not the game developers. However that all said there needs to be a huge mention about the community and keeping the games alive and fresh, CS 1.6 is still going strong, granted not as popular as it once was, but the ability to still find a game within 5 seconds has to say something about it. I remember playing CS 1.6 about 10 years ago and it still has that gripping feeling it did back then. With all the mod’s available it can also feel like a new game.
*Yesterday the new SOCOM game was announced* Just goes to show that even with MAG, BBC2, COD and many others there is still a demand for the repetition of these military shooters.
March 6, 2010
#10
Alexander – Yea, I get where you’re comin from. However, my point is that even if there are successful FPSes with the whole modern concept such as CoD, there are probably more than a handful of the same FPSes in the same genre that do not do as well as CoD. IMO, CoD managed to win over so many players due to their interesting storyline and objective oriented missions. Most FPSes nowadays just focus on mindless killing. THAT is what makes most of those FPSes clones of one another.
Then again, even with a futuristic concept or even some new different and unique concept put into play, if the gameplay itself doesn’t shift from the old Kill everything you see to something more viable, it’s all gonna go back to square one.
Another problem with MMOFPSes nowadays is how badly the Cash Items can affect the game itself. Other genres have this problem as well but FPSes take the biggest blow from this problem. Most successful FPSes are those that are not MMO because of the element of “fairness”. In those games, you can actually use your skills that you accumulated through hours and hours of playing and familiarizing the game. That, however cannot be said for MMOFPSes. Lets say the game starts you off with an SMG coupled with the good ol’ Pistol. Then, someone comes in with his shiny new cash purchased Sniper rifle that can finish you off in 1 hit. Doesn’t seem that fair to me, nor fun for that matter.
March 6, 2010
#11
yes, mmofps of this day and age have lost their originality. I tried Cross Fire, then i quit, i tried Sudden Attack, then i quit, i tried Combat Arms, then i quit again. No mmofps has it’s original flavor cept well wolfteam. But we seriously need mmofps’s with it’s own thing like futuristic orcs vs. humans, or human rebels fighting alien overlords, machines against humans, zombies against human mutants. Just something it’s tiresome to to dl a game and still be having a similar 2 factions shooting each other with modern weaponry.
March 7, 2010
#12
Well, all i know is that if the mmorpg games dont do something quick. they will die
March 9, 2010
#13
I agree most MMOFPS lost their touch, I’ve played sudden attack, Battlefield Heroes, KOS, Combat arms, all of them the only one that stood out to me was A.V.A it seems like a great game with diffrent features
March 13, 2010
#14
I Agree with you, an i have the same feelings, not only for the mmofps, but also with the mmorpgs, clones of wow or really boring games. I believe the Koreans are starting to be the best inovation. The new generation of korean games are really good. Try to see the yotube videos of “dragon Nest”. A game thats not korean and I loved was Savage 2. These games are not really first person, they’re third person shooter, but i think these are very good. Im waiting for Dragon NEst to come to south america. And for the final, I myself and a bunch of friends are working to build a project of a game, motivated by this feeling of boring we feel now from the lack of good ideas. We ceated ablog o work on this, but it is still on portuguese language only. We want to cross de adrenaline real time of MMOFPS with the adventure and roleplay of mmorpg, in a interative narrative where anyone can play just as a casual online multiplayer fight game, if desired.
I hope we can do what we want, but it is hard work.
I still have much faith in korean developers…
March 13, 2010
#15
I think that S4 league (korean too) is the most fun deathmatch shooter game i really played, even if its sportish like game. If that angine and dinamic were used for a Fantasy mmo mulplayer shooter, it would be a great game…
March 13, 2010
#16
S4 league is a really shooter game, its ambientation is sportish like, some hichtech, it has a good melee fight combat without interfering with the shooter aspect, the touchdown game type is awesomwe, becouse it deal with the atention of all players, and direct it to the ball, and the item mall isnt a great disadvantage for the other players. Thats my rate
March 18, 2010
#17
If you want an awesome MMOFPS/RPG sandbox mode.
Go and look for Darkfall Online. Medival mmorpg with fps while fighting (if you use range attacks)
March 19, 2010
#18
Its true how they all seem the same.
If your getting bored of that stuff then try out a different type of FPS like Face of Manking its a FPS but very original and alot of fun and never has the same repitive battles with the same weapons fought the same way with the same people. I personally think that just about all FPS are the same and sooner or later most will die out loseing to the RPG/FPS.
March 19, 2010
#19
Face of Mankind*
April 6, 2010
#20
haha for real.
RECOMMENDED
random games:
try Earth Eternal for runescape ppl(mmo): i didnt like it after a day, graphics suk, doesnt grab yur attention at first.
or try Arcuz(like Fable): its awsome. not mmo yet but maple story graphics with 3d. not much of a story line. gameplay is good. RECOMMENDED.
KOS and A. V. A. look good (FPS): never played em. modern combat. guns. storyline is good with gameplay
NS 2 looks very promising. (fps): 1st one thumbs up. new ideas. gameplay offers more.
StarCraft2 wont ever come out (PC?): dunno but RECOMMENDED
enuaonline is 2d w/ 3d graphics. (turn based): like evony, but better. swift turnbased game. many possibilities. idk how it starts off. intro may be lagging.
Lineage4u is like WoW; looks like it will burn your drive. *****graphics. ****gameplay.
i play Battle Field Heroes and its pretty fun (fps): RECOMMENDED
A. V. A. IS WHAT I WOULD CHOSE
dont play Gladiator.
June 29, 2010
#21
@ Bruno Cunha s4 league is indeed an awesome shooter, but its not a FPS which this article is talking about.
Also, I totally agree with the article. They should throw out all the old ideas and not compare it to any old games to try and make their own unique version. But thats not gunna happen since money has too great of an influence on games.
I think the cash shop is totally fine with changing appearance of the character and the gun, but not making them OP.
November 15, 2010
#22
Genesis A.d > FPS
April 3, 2011
#23
Games like Combat Arms, Wolfteam, Battlefield Heros and also A.V.A (Alliance of Valiant Arms) Are probaly the only FPS out there that isnt shown as a “Counter-Strike” Clone”
-Combat Arms
Combat Arms is very original, the graphics are pretty good too, Counter Strike is probally considered as an “Old School Game” Due to its graphics and lack of characters, Combat arms show a little varity of characters and even has a lot of weapons to choose from too, though… this game has the biggest weakness, its hackers, theres always atleast 1 hacker in EVERY room in Combat arms, and i am not lieing. its true
-Wolfteam
You would probaly have to be a big idiot to think that Wolfteam is a Counter-Strike clone, IT IS NO WHERE NEAR what Counter-Strike offers! it is so original, heck it even lets you play as mutan werewolves for gods sake! This game is one of my faviourts! its very good, and the graphics arnt half-bad Either
-Battlefield Heros
Heck, This game isnt even an FPS. its a TPS (Third Person Shooter). So basically this isnt considered as a “Counter-Strike Clone”, its also a bit Kid Friendly too. very very cartonny graphics. which have no problem for me. and basically like i stated. Counter-Strike Graphics are waaay out of hands for the New-Age Gamers who prefer Call of Duty like- Graphics
-Alliance of Valiant Arms (A.V.A)
And this game… oh my god! I Still play this one! omg! this is not a Counter-Strike clone, you’ve got to be a real retarded idiot to think this is very close to Counter-Strike, OMG! The Graphics are top notch! Better then all the other games stated above plus together! A.V.A Shows so much varity, you probaly could last atleast more than 1 month playing the game! and Leveling up in this game isnt so hard either!
So Basically, Not all FPS games are getting way out of hands, not to mention the TPS ones. So we might have some hope. Cause a lot of FPS will be heading foward. So The “Counter-Strike Clone” Games might not worry us this much anymore.