...Gears of War Multiplayer Design

Me and a bunch of people have been playing a bunch of GOW multiplayer lately and it's been a blast - props to everyone at Epic. For the most part the maps and gameplay are very well done. There are definitely favorites and some with issues...we exclusively play annex so keep in mind a bunch of the maps weren't built with this mode in mind.

1. Recognizable level landmarks
For me this is one of the big things that makes it easier for me to learn (and therefore enjoy a map). I think too many of the gears maps fail to do this well enough. Take Garden. At least 2 or 3 times in a match I find myself running 2 or staying at the wrong greenhouse. Even a map that's generally good at this could use a little more clarification (the upper left and right mirrored spots - it would be better to be able to say "the balcony with the statue", or "red building" balcony. Some other levels that could use a little more clarity are Canals, and Mausoleum. In general while looking around, I should be able to tell my teammates where I am in a small sentence - sometimes I can use weapon spawns, but ideally this should be conveyed by the level architecture and texturing.

2. Level lighting
Perhaps this problem is exacerbated by my 27" standard TV (there are a lot of us out there still!), but on a few levels I have a very hard time telling the teams apart. In general this is an issue due to generally similar body sizes and next-gen-style lighting, but it really sticks out in a level like process which I like in every other way...on the grenade capture point (by the 2 long bridges) the 2 teams look pretty much dark black. I have similar issues in Bullet Marsh.

3. Running paths
Good paths to run (holding A) make playing in a GOW level much more fun. Ideally I should be able to traverse large distances in the map without unintentionally getting stuck too often and without having to come out of run too often. One thing I learned from Counter-strike design that applies to GOW is that having 2 ways -no more, no less- to go from start (and all spawn points if possible) is ideal...it allows your team to break up into a couple groups. Finally, there should be enough running room for 4 team members to run around. A good example of all these is Gridlock. Coming from start there is a large curved section which splits off on two sides of the railing. Running from here to any section of the map is a treat. Rooftops is a bad example of this and one of the reasons we don't play it much. The start has you running towards a linear section of thin L-shaped corridors. These sections would be better served if the were not 90 degrees (curved or sectional) and/or larger in size. As they are, you often bump into your comrades or get sucked into the walls. Additionally it takes 7 or 8 seconds before it branches off to a sectional area of hard turns and stairs that is very hard to run through...

4. Arg!- Dropoffs
Sometimes ledges and stairs don't let you walk off of them from certain angles. I also have issues rolling off them and running down them. This is not a level-only issue but it sure seems worse in some spots than others. In general, too many short stairs and ledges in close proximity and mixed in with short 90 degree turns make traversal less fun (see Rooftops). Certain geometry placed too nearby can make the problem even worse - like the pillars placed near the stairs in Canals.

5. Respawn spots
In general, most respawn points are well thought out and well-done. There are a couple instances where they aren't as good. In Raven Down, enemies can spawn directly behind you . When you have the jeep control point under control with a short dead end behind you..this feel extremely cheap. Also related is some of the points above. I want to know where I am (landmarks) and have a nice path(s) to run to where I need to go to. Finally, there is at least one occasion where a capture spot is near enough to a spawn point...in Fuel Depot, there is a capture right near the spawn point in the hangars which encourages spawn camping...

6. Long linear routes = bad
For multiplayer games, oftentimes it's often best to have a short to medium path to every other spot in the map. GOW does this particularly well. Most of the better levels are built like a series of interconnected Os that allow good meeting spots, and flanking enemies who don't watch there backs. There are a couple that don't feel as good. Bullet Marsh deserves some criticism for how long it takes to get from place to place. It takes extremely long to get from the top middle to the bottom. A couple extra routes or shortened lead up routes would've made this map more playable. Escalation has similar issues due to its extremely linear climb. Perhaps this level could have worked better half the height stacked next to each other with a couple paths between.

7. Variety in capture points
It's nice to have variety within a level's capture points. Most of Garden capture points give you different feeling, from the close combat of the middle spot, to the stairways leading to the boom, to the uneasy surroundings of the greenhouse. Process is really good in this regard as well. You have a wide open spot with massive death counts, a small round spot that's easy to flank and chainsaw, a long sniper friendly corridor that also has stairs to the side, a raised platform that is exposed on the sides and back, and the area behind it which is lower and exposed on the sides...each spot feels hard to defend in unique ways.

That's it for now....More thoughts as they come. I would love to try my hand at making a GOW multiplayer map, but currently there is no way...let's hope more maps are coming in the future :)

...new cd reviews

Got a bunch of new cds to review...I think I may wait to do new reviews until I switch over to the new blogger....and I can't switch to the new blogger until the have 3 column teplates...

decisions, decisions...

...one thing

One thing that is annoying me right now. That baseball game commercial with "Breed" playing. I really think the songwriter would be pissed if he was alive.

... went to GDC this week

GDC is the Game Developers Conference. I find it both inspiring and informative at its best...Some highlights are hanging with people I haven't seen a while, meeting new peoplem a couple of the talks I went to (Gears of War, Agile game design, Kenji Inafune...though I think I missed the best one, from talking to my friend Nat by this man) and seeing one of my idols Mr. Miyamoto talk. Shigeru Miyamoto is basically to games what John Lennon was to rock....it existed before him, but noone before or since has perfected it as much.

Didn't buy any new game design books but that's ok...I just finished reading a couple (here and here) so I need a little break....

Besides that, still very busy finishing Lair at work and currently learning XSI so I can convert my CS brushes into props....fun fun...

...killing in the name of...all that which does suck

Man these are some of the worst live vocals I've ever heard:





I can't find the solo black hole sun, but you get the point...

...Mike Judge's new movie...denied

Clikc title...

...one of a kind

...some more cs_campus pics

Edit: more pics posted here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28404638@N00/tags/cscampus/












...the end.

...this is my halloween costume next year

I know it's early but this is a strong candidate

...I'm in florida

Yay...relaxing as much as possible...

...I've been busy

Work has picked up a bunch so I haven't had much time to update lately. Aside from work I've been spending some time working on a counterstrike level. Here's some pics of the work in progress:



















... the end.

...nerd alert

One of the greatest games ever.

...My vote for the worst band ever

Nickleback

...tis the season

Games, Games, Games...unfotunately always coincides with much work. Gears of War, Guitar Hero 2, Wii...not enough time!

...longer life from calorie restricted diets?

...currently playing

Bully on PS2
Splinter Cell on 360 (mercs vs. spies mostly)

...sorry

Haven't posted in awhile...been busy

...Bill Clinton

FTW!

...and now I can finally buy an ipod

"iLounge: iPod is getting enhanced today. 60% brighter with brighness control, 3.5 hours video playback (up from 2 hrs... big version goes to 6.5 hours), new headphones, gapless playback"

...Cache

See this dvd! An awesome thriller comparable to Hitchcock with a little David Lynch thrown in. You may hate the ending as it's left to you to decide what happened but otherwise it's a must see.

Cache on dvd

update: link fixed

...video of some of the video games I worked on

Check it out:

Youtube!

...I can listen to Jimi, but I can't hear him

I'm playing Dead Rising right now on my 360. Fanatastic game, with the worst saving system ever. I can see in theory why the structured the system as they did, but in practice it's terrible. I garuntee you will get screwed early and often...it's probably not a good thing when your game welcomes a new player with the first time he dies by making him lose hours of work...

In spite of this the game is phenominal! Can't wait for DR 2...

...dam pics

Trip was great...thanks to family and friends - and to the few poker books I've read :)


dad doesn;t look happy here, but he is


mom brought her most recent 20 or so paintings


ahh relaxing in the park


behind us english students (on vacation? school trip?) were drawing the trees...there were so many younger european high-school age people - a lot were unsupervised...what a cool place to go at a young age

mmm...this is the "creamy"...delicious fresh, raw, new herring


there's other seafoods there and drinks - but I come for one thing!


my room was small...and hot! damn mom and dad brought florida with them


yonce (sp?)...so cute


Henk and family with mom and dad...always show us a great time...thanks so much


Yonce eats well...


I'm not sure what this is


this is the shirt Anna-Sophie wants from the outlet stores in Florida


"the only english store in the village"


most stuff is so expensive after the switch to the Euro, but some stuff is really cheap...take for instance simple broodjes (sandwiches)...1.50!


more park...taught mom and Anna-Sophie how to play poker


under the bridge...riding the self-powered boats in the canals


my last night we had a nice dinner with friends

...Fun in the sun (amsterdam pt 1 and 2)

I'm a little more than halfway done with my trip to amsterdam...having a good time so far relaxing though I wish my sis or Tamsen was here to hand out with at night :)

The trip started off not so great as the plane I was on detoured to Las Vegas right away as some women was sick. 1 hour and 45 minutes later we took off with a landing time that was after my amsterdam flight was suppossed to take off! I landed at Houston's "George Bush" airport with apprehension not wanting to spend a whole night in Houston! (withing 2 minutes of landing I saw some girl wearing a we love george w. bush shirt - yuck). Anyhwo to my luck the amsterdam flight was delayed 3 hours :)

The trip has been good so far...chilling in the park with mom and dad...eating well, walking around, seeing paintings, eating delicious "new herring".

But the highlight so far was last night. Me and Dad entered a 80 person, 60 Euro (plus 1 hour rebuy) tournament. 6 hours later at 2 AM I was on the last table and won the entire thing! (wiht a pair of 2's). There were some good player from all over and I made some silly plays (folded out of turn once, string-bet once), but I am really happy with my play...

more later...

...Amsterdamage!

So I'm going to Amsterdam in a few days. I look forward to resting and NOT staring at a screen for 10 hours a day :)

...saturday

Went to yoga, party, and a concert last night...The concert was pretty decent (The Bronx, Wires on Fire, Priestess, and Riverboat Gamblers. The guys in the bands kept reassuring us that we had good taste in music - well duh!

...pics again finally (Scotts Wedding in NY, E3 2006)

Scott and Dana got married in N.Y.


Believe it or not,


Dance Dance Revolution was played at the reception,


which was part of Scott's perfect wedding dream...


Scott friends past and present argue who goes *last*


To be expected :)


Their immediate family gets together behind the fine Firaxis folks


The best I've ever seen Scott dance...though I don't approve of the song :P



Yes, Scott brought his Pac-man bag...but it's ok because I got it for him


Don't try and hide it!


:x


The statue of justice!


We were only in NYC for like 15 hours...



Now onto the long delayed E3 pics (in reverse chronological order)...first the obligitary Tamsen with many drink shot


No comment


Game of the show...LAME of the show...get it!?


Finally got in to see the Wii...oh boy 30-40 more minutes waiting in line...contrary to most reports this pissed me off at Nintendo and made me hate the Wii...for a couple days


Ok I'm finally in...


Suprisingly chipper even after waiting a couple hours...



This wall lady wanted me...I wasn't able to ask if she wanted to see my "wii" with Tamsen there


Oh wait this is GDC...crappy pic sorry...but I heart Iwata!


Girls butt in dickie pants...

...the end