Profile Leveling in FPS Multiplayer

***Cosmonautical*** · 08-12-2011, 07:47 AM

I can't possibly understand why I would want this. It doesn't reward me for playing, it just makes it impossible for new players to jump in and play on level ground.

***Marilink*** · 08-12-2011, 08:14 AM

I'm feeling the same way about a lot of online multiplayers and MMO's recently, whether the leveling is in-game or just experience of playing. I feel like I can't jump into a new game like TF2, because instead of being helped out and coached on how to be better, everyone with a hat is going to be telling me how much I suck and should gtfo.

Blake · 08-12-2011, 10:38 AM

Lol, essentially it seems everything has degraded into an MMO leveling experience unfortunately. The simple principle of having the greatest number simply works.

Robotazy · 08-12-2011, 03:24 PM

Yeah.

Dux is not you · 08-12-2011, 09:00 PM

Well, it makes money.

***Ace Mercury*** · 08-12-2011, 10:49 PM

The leveling up mechanic plays into our deep-seated desire for progression and mastery. We love it when things build up and we're good at doing what we do. The RPG-like leveling up is a thin veneer though; starting over from scratch is so depressing because you used to be able to do awesome things in other FPS games, but you can't because you haven't spent enough time buffing up this imaginary number inside of your save file?

It's why I've taken a bit of a shine to sh'mup games (and difficult games in general). Time also translates to power, but that's because you've practiced and are actually better at the game, not because of an XP meter inside of the game. The sort of skill which survives deletion of the saved game and is transferable to other games. Now that I'm pretty good at some sh'mup games means that I can pick up another and leverage my skills.

I also play games for other reasons (every now and then, I love steamrolling an easy AI), but I shy away from games which intentionally try to waste my time with a leveling mechanic.

08-12-2011, 07:47 AM	#1
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,102 Thanks: 2,157 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Profile Leveling in FPS Multiplayer I can't possibly understand why I would want this. It doesn't reward me for playing, it just makes it impossible for new players to jump in and play on level ground.

08-12-2011, 10:49 PM	#6
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Me and my million words agree. The leveling up mechanic plays into our deep-seated desire for progression and mastery. We love it when things build up and we're good at doing what we do. The RPG-like leveling up is a thin veneer though; starting over from scratch is so depressing because you used to be able to do awesome things in other FPS games, but you can't because you haven't spent enough time buffing up this imaginary number inside of your save file? It's why I've taken a bit of a shine to sh'mup games (and difficult games in general). Time also translates to power, but that's because you've practiced and are actually better at the game, not because of an XP meter inside of the game. The sort of skill which survives deletion of the saved game and is transferable to other games. Now that I'm pretty good at some sh'mup games means that I can pick up another and leverage my skills. I also play games for other reasons (every now and then, I love steamrolling an easy AI), but I shy away from games which intentionally try to waste my time with a leveling mechanic.

08-12-2011, 08:14 AM	#2
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	I'm feeling the same way about a lot of online multiplayers and MMO's recently, whether the leveling is in-game or just experience of playing. I feel like I can't jump into a new game like TF2, because instead of being helped out and coached on how to be better, everyone with a hat is going to be telling me how much I suck and should gtfo.

08-12-2011, 10:38 AM	#3
Blake Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: A generic place such as a house Gender: Posts: 4,628 Thanks: 1,489 Thanked 206 Times in 148 Posts	Lol, essentially it seems everything has degraded into an MMO leveling experience unfortunately. The simple principle of having the greatest number simply works.

08-12-2011, 03:24 PM	#4
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	Yeah.

08-12-2011, 09:00 PM	#5
Dux is not you Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Not Columbia Gender: Posts: 1,976 Thanks: 92 Thanked 113 Times in 74 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Well, it makes money.