Poll: Multiplayer without leveling up. Would it work?

[Yokillernick]

Multiplayer games without "Leveling up" Although this concept seems strange in days that even FIFA 13 needs to have a levelling up systems do you think that a game could pull off interesting multiplayer without having to force you to level up or even worse have you buy you way to top level like its the case with the Battlefield 3 Shortcut Packs.

I for one believe that if the multiplayer was to be executed well and allowing players to either craft or find weapons while playing in-game rather than get them by ranking up would make for a much better and fairer online gaming scene. This would eliminate the bias towards players who are higher level since if everyone can craft/find the same guns then you cannot say that someone is overpowered and unfair because of their higher level.

Well that's my opinion, so what do the res t of you think?

EDIT: Allow me to clarify. Of course multiplayer without leveling up will work whether I want it to or not but what I was wondering more or less is that would replacing all the level up multiplayer of today with the one of old where there was no level up work? Would people even be interested in multiplayer games? I mean people bring up TF2 and UT a lot but you have to admit that these games did get rather dull after sometime of playing the same thing. What if every single multiplayer game like CoD or BF decided not to have level up multiplayer and just give players the weapons. Would they still want to play ? Can the mass of players, once they experienced the leveling up system and how 'addictive' it gets, come back and play something with no leveling up?

 

[hoboman29]

The obvious answer is yes. Unless the game itself is about level grinding then the entire experience is not about leveling up. While yes it adds another layer this isn't always for the better with high level players wiping the floor with new players.

 

[tippy2k2]

Well, it would technically work because we've seen it work.

Unreal Tournament, Halo 2, Call of Duty 1-3, and so on. Before this console generation, multi-player without leveling up was the norm.

With that said, I think that going back to that system would not be a good idea. I like to have a goal in my game. I like to have a reason to continue playing the game. I like to watch progress. A (good) leveling system gives me all of those things and more.

Bad leveling systems are what people complain about (or bad players who want something to blame). In Black Ops II, I use the....third(?) assault rifle unlocked. The point is that a good leveling system will allow you to take on high level players without being at a handicap. Higher levels will give you more options but a good leveling system let's everyone have something to play for.

*I voted OTHER as my vote. Yes it does work but I think multi-player gaming would suffer to go back to non-leveling systems.

 

[skywolfblue]

Remember an old game series called Unreal Tournament? Those games were built around their multiplayer. (there are many others but I'm just providing this as an example)


...And they DIDN'T HAVE LEVELS! The Newbies went into battle with the same weapons as the Pros. And the game was better for it.

 

[DazZ.]

Of course it can work, in a lot of cases it's superior.

Why wouldn't it work? Why is this even a question?

 

[Yokillernick]

Of course it can work, in a lot of cases it's superior.

Why wouldn't it work? Why is this even a question?

The reason some people think it wouldn't work would be the same as tippy here that they like to have a goal or something. Furthermore this is a question because I am seeking an answer and I felt like it.

 

[DazZ.]

Furthermore this is a question because I am seeking an answer and I felt like it.

But there are loads, and loads of multiplayer games that work without levelling. It's proven already it's fine and works wonderfully.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Can they work? Absolutely. There's no question about that. Fighting games, for example, are bigger now than they've been in over a decade and pretty much none of them include any sort of progression system beyond a visible point tally meant to signify a mix of experience and skill level. The problem is that, to some players, just getting better and enjoying the game is no longer enough of a reason to play (or, more precisely, to keep playing). Progression systems provide a hook to keep that sort of player playing.

 

[FinalDream]

Battlefield 1942 was always my favourite, when all you had was your designated class weapon and your wits, and the occasional access to a tank/plane/boat.

Thinking about the good old days of PC gaming makes me teary eyed with nostalgia, before the dark times... before the Empire (of Call of Duty).

 

[aguspal]

Its obvious than yes, it would work....


No need to remove the exp leveling sistem thougt. In most games it works, people just whine about everything.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

Voted yes because of...

Before this console generation, multi-player without leveling up was the norm.

...that.

Man, back when I was in high school, I played sooo much Counter-Strike, it's not even funny. Screw manipulative leveling systems that get people "hooked" into playing, I miss the days when people played because the game was actually fun to play.

 

[R4ptur3]

Of course it would work. If I recall call of duty 2 had no level up, you just started and picked from a few guns, but everyone had the same choice. I personally like the leveling up aspect, It just gives multiplayer that little bit more to aim for in my opinion.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Wait...Fifa 13 has a level up system? What the Hell happened to multiplayer since the last time I've been able to play online!? The obvious answer is yes, multiplayer can be and indeed has been great without a leveling system but I'm afraid to name any examples because of how out of date I know I'm going to sound...(that being said I don't recall there being levels or ranking in TF2)

 

[ShinyCharizard]

It worked for a hell of a long time before this trend started, and continues to work to this day. So yes it would work.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

I'm pretty sure Team Fortress 2 doesn't have multiplayer, and it's thriving!

I can see the draw in adding a leveling system, and I'd say that it does encourage people to play the game more because of the draw of grinding to the next level, but the most important factor is the flow and balance of the gameplay itself. Levels won't save a rubbish multiplayer that's awful to play, and lack of leveling won't kill a good multiplayer that's fun to play.

 

[LetalisK]

...And they DIDN'T HAVE LEVELS! The Newbies went into battle with the same weapons as the Pros. And the game was better for it.

And I daresay they were newb-friendlier because they didn't have levels. The pros already have an advantage over the newb, I never say the sense in giving them even more of an advantage via a levelling system.

 

[AD-Stu]

It'd work just fine, if the gaming experience was fun/challenging/rewarding enough to keep people coming back on its own merits.

The problem is that most studios and publishers don't want to leave that kind of stuff to chance these days, especially since multiplayer is so often monetised with passes and microtransactions and stuff. You're unlikely to pay for that stuff if there's no levelling and regular players are on an even playing field with the noobs. But if it gets you a leg up or helps extend your e-peen in some way, shows that you're BETTER than all those filthy stinking noobs, then you're more likely to pay. Or grind the game to get to that higher level, and give others a reason to pay so they can catch up to you

So yeah, it'd work just fine for us as players. The question is to what extent it works for developers...

 

[TehCookie]

Multiplayer games require you to level up now? Doesn't that make it completely unfair to the newbies?

Seeing how the only multiplayer games I played are Quake, L4D and fighting games none of them have a leveling system and they all worked perfectly.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

What do you mean, "would it work"? It has worked. It's arguably the only kind of online multiplayer that has ever worked properly. All the way back to the likes of Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament, we've seen that interest in an online game comes from hitting a skill ceiling, not just because you've unlocked so many items and you want to keep using them and getting more items. No - everyone on the same page, everyone with the same tools, the only ones who come out victorious are the skilled players, and the only reason to want to keep playing is to get better so one day you can reach the ranks of those who once kicked your arse so easily.

Yes. A game in which the key focus of your consistent playing is that you get to play the game and get better at it? That works. Of fucking course that works. As far as I'm concerned it's the only true online multiplayer that works at all (though I don't mind visual trinkets like outfits or icons and titles that show off how good you are; I'm talking specifically about the leveling-up that includes level-specific in-game unlocks). I also don't mind game balancing out for newbies or mismatched teams. That's reasonable. Gotta make sure everyone is having a reasonably good time.

Multiplayer games require you to level up now? Doesn't that make it completely unfair to the newbies?

That's arguably the point. They make sure you're an early adopter, and once they have you - you see your Prestige and whatnot go up - it's like, oh, well, I can't leave this now. And then when all that amazing mappack DLC comes out (eurgh) you'll buy it because you have a vested interest in continuing to use the character and all the stuff you've unlocked. Very rarely is persistence in online multiplayer just not a way to make sure you don't go anywhere, to keep you playing. Instead of... you know... the game being what keeps you playing.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Given that online multi player is still around is cause it was popular with a tacked on level up system, yes, silly question, there's proof it did.

Would it work now? probably, I don't see why it wouldn't. As some one who sunk enough time in to the online frag a thons that are online multiplayer (40K Space Marine and War for Cybertron BTW) I can safely say that the level up aren't the main focus, its killing the other guy, all a level up system is a 'game play lengthening' device. that's it. it doesn't really add anything cept 'a reason to play online more'. Back when these modes were still a new thing I can see them being needed, but now? There's no reason for them, the big 'online multi player' community's have large pools of devoted players who don't need this motivation to keep playing, though probably don't care the system is there in all honesty.