Crytek: FPS Games Need Multiplayer to Succeed
Have gamers merely come to expect multiplayer in FPS games?
Monday Crysis 2 executive producer Nathan Camarillo told CVG that generally first-person shooters actually need multiplayer features in order to succeed on the market today. Other gaming genres typically don't require that particular component to have longevity.
"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 unless you're a very unique kind of FPS depending on what you're delivery platform is and what market you're going into."
Naturally he goes on to describe the multiplayer aspect of Crytek's upcoming shooter, Crysis 2. After all, the game hits shelves in two months.
"It's different from other FPS games in that you are this ultimate super solider that has the ability to cloak at any point in time, so it's different than modern military shooters, it's different to Halo," he said. "You have the maneuverability, you're in an urban environment, you can jump, you can slide, you can climb. There's so much you can do in that first-person experience that the other multiplayer games don't offer."
But why is the multiplayer component such a necessity for FPS titles? As pointed out, other genres don't rely on pitting players against players online and/or offline. That said, it's quite possible that multiplayer is merely expected from shooters because the feature dates back to the early days of the genre itself thanks to id Software, Epic Games, Bungie and other developers. Gamers may have simply grown accustomed to testing virtual weapons and vehicles against friends. Besides, no challenge is the same when facing human opponents.
"Generally yes for FPS games you have to have awesome multiplayer and that's what we're making with Crysis 2," Camarillo said.
Camarillo also added that FPS titles require high review scores in order to stay afloat, admitting that Crysis 2 will struggle against other FPS titles if it doesn't receive a score in the 90s.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Crysis 2 lands on Microsoft Windows, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on March 22, 2011.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
-
amk09 Crysis 2 lands on Microsoft Windows, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3Reply
I know I have seen this 50 times before but I now just put two and two together, Microsoft = Xbox.
They have managed to account for two massive gaming platforms, thats insane. -
iam2thecrowe I have been playing FPS since the beginning, wolfenstein and doom. And I have to say the last FPS's i have actually enjoyed enough to play through were half-life 2 and Unreal Tournament 2003 (also fallout3, but its more of an RPG than FPS). Everything else is just a clone and far too linear and predictable. I havn't played Crysis yet, but i hope there is more from Crysis 2 that makes me go, "OOOOh, AAAAhh, this is not just the same old thing"Reply -
someguynamedmatt iam2thecroweI have been playing FPS since the beginning, wolfenstein and doom. And I have to say the last FPS's i have actually enjoyed enough to play through were half-life 2 and Unreal Tournament 2003 (also fallout3, but its more of an RPG than FPS). Everything else is just a clone and far too linear and predictable. I havn't played Crysis yet, but i hope there is more from Crysis 2 that makes me go, "OOOOh, AAAAhh, this is not just the same old thing"Reply
In that case you should be as pumped as I am for Deus Ex: Human Revolution, despite the fact that it's not entirely an FPS...
/Off-Topic
Anyway, Can't wait for Crysis 2, either... Man, this is going to be an awesome year. We've got TES:V coming out, We've got Crysis 2, Deus Ex, DN:F (Maybe...), and I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting to list...
-
lradunovic77 Number one reason Crysis 2 is failed is xbox 360 and PS3 cause two platforms are just technical crap compared to high end or mid end PCReply -
tacoslave someguynamedmatt DN:F (Maybe...), and I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting to list...Reply
If DNF comes out this year i will cry and ask my wife if i can name our son (if its a boy) Duke.
-
For me this is because most FPS games are 5-10 hours in length. I don't think that's worth 50 USD. Civilization and Total War can entertain me for month's on end; the average FPS's single player is a long weekend at best. Maybe if we had more Half-Lifes or STALKERs and less Call of Dutys the multiplayer could be optional.Reply
-
Von Death Reply9267975 said:...i will cry and ask my wife...
Well there's your two problems right there.
-
proxy711 This is really only true when the developer is lazy and only includes a 8 hour single player experience.Reply