Multiplayer FPS unlockables

[Rogue of Hearts]

They've become a trend among new multiplayer FPS games these days. I love unlockable content. But why restrict class by your rank?

For example, Killzone 2. Why can't you be a scout until you have played several dozen games?

I can understand if it takes a lot of playing to figure out how something works so you don't end up screwing your team over or teamkilling someone by accident (like Caboose killing Church using Sheila). Is using a sniper rifle in Killzone 2 really that much more different than in other first person shooter games?

I always thought of ranking systems as great ways to find players that are of an "equal skill level" for you to play with. Tieing that in with unlockable content (especially things like the primary badges, or essentially the different classes) seems unnecessary.

Whenever there are unlockables in a multiplayer game, people are going to find a way to "earn" them in less than "fair" ways so why keep that tied with ranking?

 

[bue519]

Well, I like the whole unlockable aspect. Mostly because it makes me feel like my time spent is more rewarding. I hate being denied some awesome guns though and having to reach multiple levels to get some guns. (I'm looking at you COD5)

 

[Rogue of Hearts]

I don't mind unlockables, but a sniper that's ridiculous. I like how in tf2 you work to prove that your good with that class and you get things that alter how you might use that character, its not overpowered because each has its own pros and cons. But it can go horribly wrong if the weapon is a fundamental game play element restricted to better players. Also if the unlockables are overpowered then it just leads to people with the unlock launching up the rank higher than they really are and then finding quiet a bit of trouble.

agreed, in Killzone 2 we have something like that in the secondary badges where you earn them by earning ribbons for doing specific things within a match (i.e. reviving five teammates) which then can be used to enhance a particular class and "alter how you might use" that class. I like that but restricting classes by rank (when "classes" implies each "class" has a critical role to play within a team) feels unnecessary and even a little backwards.

 

[Joeshie]

I hate it. I think it's ridiculously stupid.

Even though I'm a huge fan of TF2, I hate the unlockable weapons portion of it. It's not a fucking MMO, keep the grinding out of it.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

I generally don't care for unlockables (of really any sort) since it's a bit ridiculous that a game would promote features that are unavailable upon purchase.

However, I did really enjoy COD4's unlock system. I liked that there were at least basic guns of every basic type at the beginning, and the unlocking never felt like a pointless grind. Unlike the grinding that TF2's unlock system can occasionally exhibit...