Narrative-driven shooters such as Deus Ex: Human Revolution can include online multiplayer modes that "work", reckons narrative designer Mary DeMarle.
Speaking to CVG in a recent phone interview, the writer conceded that it was possible for the Deus Ex series to follow in the footsteps of other plot-heavy action series such as BioShock and Assassin's Creed, by adopting a successful online mode.
"The requirements of a multiplayer are different from single-player and the requirements of story layered onto both of those are different according to the medium you're playing."
She added: "You have to design a story that works with the mechanics of playing a multiplayer game, it's something that you have to identify really early on and put attention on developing.
"I do think it is possible but it is incredibly difficult and even more so to do them simultaneously."
Human Revolution of course doesn't feature a multiplayer mode, but it does look proper wicked. Have a look at our hands-on impressions for more.
Comments
14 comments so far...
runadumb on 10 Feb '11 said:
I hope they make using the aug's much easier. Using the F3-F12 keys was bloody awful. I ended up setting up different micros for combat, healing, speed etc which was hardly ideal itself. A dial wheel like crysis might work quite well.
freds1 on 10 Feb '11 said:
If trying to make excuses why there's no multiplayer, no need. I guess you could make a multiplayer out of most games but the likes of Deus Ex IMO won't benefit hugely from it if at all, and I'm glad there isn't one....(at the moment anyway, we'll see how long that lasts
) I generally prefer a well crafted and long single player campaign over multiplayer any day.
Moorpheus on 10 Feb '11 said:
Srsly? I thought they were alright but then I was never paying much attention to them.
And don't put in MP devs, the game doesn't need it.
double tap on 10 Feb '11 said:
Can not wait for this title. I'm with freds1 on this and prefer a well crafted and long single player to multi-player any day of the week. It's a shame developer's and publisher's feel the need to shoe horn in a multi-player mode just to be relevant. I am 65 hour's into Fallout New Vegas so far and loving every second of it, one of the best game's ever imo and guess what, no multi-player in sight.
ingy on 10 Feb '11 said:
Dead space 2 benefitted hugely from the inclusion of a multiplayer game, isn't that why it's sold so well.
infernoxXx on 10 Feb '11 said:
+1
anyway the original game had a multiplayer mode. i didnt play it and neither did most people im guessing, the single player was all you needed.
runadumb on 10 Feb '11 said:
Yeah I'm just after playing through the game again and found it very awkward. Considering in combat I wanted to activate Bullet protection, battery improving thingy, heal and explode rockets in attackers face augs I basically had to stop, look down at my keyboard and hit 4 F keys. Micro helped but it still wasn't great.
I did get a new desk in December which is glass and my mouse won't work on it so, for once, I'm actually using the pullout keyboard/mouse tray so that made it worse as I have my F keys hidden from view under my desk. I still can't see it being very easy to use if i wasn't played in this more awkward way though.
TheCrimsonFenix on 10 Feb '11 said:
Could work. If it was some sort of MMO, which I've no interest in. It couldn't work if all they hope to achieve would be deathmatches, which I've even less interest in. The more developers feel it's needed to defend the lack of multiplayer, or even feel it's needed to put in multiplayer into a single player focussed game, the more single player dies in my opinion.
double tap on 10 Feb '11 said:
I do not believe it is the multi-player that sold Dead Space2. IMO the reason Dead Space 2 is doing so well is the first game was great and built a loyal following and the second built on that plus a very good marketing strategy and the fact it is an awesome game and very little to do with the multi-player. A better example to use would be Assassins Creed Brotherhood, whose multi-player was truly exceptional and a great surprise,but again that would have sold anyway because it is a great series.
DavrosJ on 10 Feb '11 said:
There are 2 Dues Ex games... one has Multiplayer, one does not. Assuming MP would degrade the Dues Ex expereince is clearly not true. Though the MP was a bit s**t.
kimoak on 10 Feb '11 said:
This should not even come up in discussion with this game... End of...
Very_Silver_Ownz on 10 Feb '11 said:
I've been looking for a good RPG game for a few years now but most weren't my taste FO3, Demons Soul. hope Deus Ex is the 1 I was waiting for.
FAUNA on 10 Feb '11 said:
I'm anti-multiplayer. It's all about a STRONG SINGLE-PLAYER CINEMATIC STORY FOCUS...
TheCrimsonFenix on 10 Feb '11 said:
Yeah didn't they try the multiplayer approach with one of the old Deus Ex games which turned into Project Snowblind? All I remember of that game was glitches and sheer disappointment a long with a seriously dodgy design flaw in the analog stick movement. Every time I pushed the stick to look up, it would veer to the left too. Could have beent eh controller but I don't remember any of my other games suffering with the stick at the time.
Like everyone has been saying though, the game doesn't need multiplayer in it in any shape or form. It shouldn't have even been in the discussion. If the devs thought it necessary to defend the lack of multiplayer, shame on them. They can be better than that. If some interviewer came in and asked quite stupidly if there was going to be multiplayer... twice the shame on them.
When I play a Deus Ex game, I'm playing for the story, much like every other fan of the series. We want to take in the story, the games vast array of personalities, and feel involved even more when we are connected to important decisions in the progress of the story. We want to feel rewarded for exploration. We want to come back to it and try out many different possibilities even when we've finished the long story. We do not want to be running around shooting each other in the face no matter how well it's implemented into the story.
End of the day, multiplayer ends up with people shooting, dying, and then respawning to just repeat the process. If the only way they're thinking multiplayer will work in Deus Ex is by simply connecting one or two points to the main game then that is in no way unique or original. I could just imagine them thinking, "hey we had an idea about one side would play as augmented agents, and the others would play as non-augmented agents" and then them having the thought it was a great idea. It's the same no matter what lick of paint it has on. Soldiers vs terrorists. Elites vs Spartans. Necromorphs vs humans. Undead vs Uninfected. All. The. Same.
I'll just end with one plea. Developers. Why must multiplayer always revolve around killing in the name of ranks and ratings? Can there not be anything none killing, and more co-operative based multiplayer? To quote JC Denton...
"What a shame"