Key Features Devs Should Consider Remembering For Multiplayer Games

 

The most recent Killzone3 and Socom4 are in my possession and i have logged quite a few hours on both. Although they are both enjoyable and have solid gameplay they both are missing key aspects that are needed in Multiplayer games. They both don’t have a lobby system for their custom games or just don’t allow the players to make custom games. In SC4 you can make customs but who is on each team is not in anyone’s control. Killzone3 just left out custom games as a whole( at launch).SC4 also has no party system ( at launch ). After playing both of these i figure i would put the list of features i think are very much need in multiplayer games.

 

 

Here are key features every online shooter( and other online games) should have

Party System: Gamers like to play with their friends. If this option isn’t in your game some just won’t buy it.

Clan System: Competitive gaming is a big thing in multiplayer games, so don’t forget about them.

Custom Games with a Lobby System: Don’t forget about the competitive gamers out there. Websites like gamebattles can’t add your game if you don’t. No competitive tournaments will happen if you don’t have customizable game rooms.

4 player splitscreen: for shoulder to shoulder gaming and overnight gaming sessions with friends like back in the N64 Goldeneye days..

Mic support: Let the whoel team talk to each other. Have party chat only, and a way to instantly mute players with a press of a button. Proximity chat is always fun too.

Leaderboards: Even though they get hacked this is an appealing feature for some competitive players. Even more so if you have a friend only leaderboard and lobby leaderboard.

In-Depth stat tracking: Players like to look at their own and other players stats.

Challenges/achievements to complete for special aesthetic rewards: Players will want to keep playing the game if they have a goal to reach and even more so if there is a reward for completing them.

Customization if not for personalized gameplay then just for aesthetics: It will never hurt your game to have this feature id it does not affect the gameplay.

When a player gets a headshot let them KNOW they got a headshot: getting feedback for a headshot is always rewarding.  Will make the player satisfied when they hear and or see a head go SPLAT!

Separate game modes for the casual online gamers and the hardcore gamer: Casual players will enjoy the games much more if they play with people just like them.

Multiple Game Modes for the LoneWolf and the TeamPlayer: Sometimes people want to play alone, sometimes they want to work together with fellow gamers. Feed their urges by having both types of modes.

Player/Community rating system: Might help tone down those nasty gamer egos in fear of being shunned by the community

COOP game mode against AI: Having any form of COOP gameplay will most likely always result in positive way. A great example is Call of Duty’s zombie mode, most people buy the DLC just for new zombie maps.

 

I’m only talking features here not gameplay, that is an entirely different subject. These are in my thoughts all additions a multiplayer should have if they want to appeal to a wide audience. Of course time is always a issue and getting these features in the game just cannot happen sometimes.

Thank you for your time!

Sean out