May 14, 2008
Time of Multiplayer Shooting Games is coming
by windshell
Although not near as popular as the MMORPG genre, MMOFPS games are making their way through since gamers want more action in their MMO based games. Will shooters prevail?
MMOFPS acronym stands for Massively Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter and is basically the MMO cousin of online shooters like the Call of Duty or Counter Strike franchises.
MMOFPS games focus on intense combat in persistent world.
Some of the MMORPGs, like Star Wars Galaxies and Neocron 2, already had MMOFPS aspect, just like PlanetSide, who was intended to be a real high-profile MMO shooter.
However, game that would lift MMOFPS genre and brought popularity among player base, apparently has not yet arrived.
So why hasn't a game like this been made already? Answer lays in lag problem, i.e. in game servers and how much lag they can avoid.
In other words, MMORPG players may often experience lag without much effect on their gameplay, but lag is literally deadly in a MMOFPS. First person shooters are so intense and offer so little downtime that any type of lag is too disruptive to the game.
With a large number of players online in the same area at the same time, considering that at least half of them have bad or slower connection and that they’re connected on bad server, at least some amount of lag is pretty much expectable and inevitable. That can cause a lot of stress and frustration during gameplay.
Recent game standards are high. It’s expected that every new game has perfect graphics and sound. Also, game shouldn’t have bad performance due to that high expectations. It’s very hard task to combine all demands, like high-end graphics and smooth gameplay, without small glitches and troubles.
But, in MMOFPS, as has been said, these small glitches and troubles could mean catastrophe.
Yet, hope for the MMOFPS genre soon was incarnated in highly anticipated FPS game set into Massive Multiplayer environment. Name of the game was Huxley.
With large scale battles, extensive multiplayer battle modes, high interaction consequences, continually updated quests, and combat style development, this game based on the novel “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, soon found its faithful fans all over the world.
Game is still in Beta, though, and it would be interesting to see will it show its full potential of amazing concept.
Besides Huxley, another new MMO game has traces of FPS. Set in futuristic environment as well, Fallen Earth is one of the popular entries, but which still has to show its full potential. Also, World War II Online is one of the Beta shooters that has yet to come.
Here is the useful list of current MMO shooter entries available for playing in Beta or fully released:
- GunBound - Free massive online shooting game
- Control Monger - Free online FPS where bots go to war
- Endless Ages - One of the first MMORPGs with a first person shooter theme.
- Face of Mankind - MMORPG set in the 24th century where players are allowed to make the missions.
- Gunz The Duel - Live out your fantasy of being an action hero.
- Huxley - Easily the most eagerly awaited MMOFPS.
- Neocron 1 & 2 - One of the most controversial MMOs with such features as a seedy red light district, foul language from NPCs, and extreme violence.
- PlanetSide - First person shooter MMORPG that features vehicles, squads, and hacks
- World War II Online - MMORPG that combines several gaming elements (RPG, action and strategy) into one massive battlefield.
It seems that FPS that are set in Massive Multiplayer worlds can become future of MMO gaming. They have everything is needed: persistent world, much more excitement than the MMORPGs, potential for further development and for crossing and breeding with other types of games.
One thing is sure; a lot of testing will be required in order to bring the full potential of this type of games to the players. Because, players have good nose for what’s good and what’s bad and they will certainly show if they dislike the bad execution of the interesting concept.
Because, I said that many times before, games are made for players.
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