'Camping in CoD is for winners'

In our last Mailbox Patrick McCaul gave his views on narrative in modern shooters.

This week Ben Meikle makes the case for campers in issue 98 of Xbox World 360:

I would just like to defend my case on camping in multiplayer FPS, particularly CoD: MW2. I hear far too many people complaining about it and would like to openly admit I'm one of those campers!

It adds a sense of realism - camping is another way of survival and to complete your goal. In real warfare you don't see soldiers running around in front of enemy fire like a raving lunatic spraying bullets in all directions - if you did that in single-player campaign and especially on Veteran, you wouldn't last 30 seconds.

I play Hardcore Search & Destroy mainly and, as you're aware, it's one life per round and one or two shot kills.

I will sit and be patient and wait for them to come to me so I have a better chance of thinning the numbers. This way I'm more likely to survive the last 30 seconds, making my way to the target to plant the bomb or to help defend a planted bomb.

Why do people whinge? By now you should know where people camp so why not take them out by surprise? It's not as if I'm shielded by impenetrable cover and impossible to kill.

So quit complaining and get 'real'. I play to survive, and to survive is to win.

Xbox World 360 says: Strong argument for the 'art' of camping. We say camp away, but be prepared to have to deal with the whining because you'll never convince anyone else online that you do it for reality's sake. Anyone else care to defend/slag off Ben?

CVG says: We agree that playing online with a group of mates who take a more tactical approach makes for an infinitely better multiplayer experience, but camping is a little too reserved for our liking.

This is a game, after all, so to sacrifice virtual safety for some actual fun is always the route we'll take.

Besides, if everyone were to take to camping, we wouldn't be playing a first-person shooter at all; we'd all be sitting in shady corners of little rooms. That's how we spend our evenings in real-life - games should be about escapism.

Got something you want to get off your chest? Email CVG with your name (or CVG forum handle) and your passionate, opinionated words.

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