SP unlocking MP stuff

[Adagio]

At some other board I'm having a huge conversation about a feature in a game, so now I decided to see what you guys think about it


The game is Worms (Mayhem to be exact, but fits to most Worms games AFAIK)
For those who don't know the game has both MP and SP. Some people play the game just for the SP, some just for the MP and some for both. I'm among the players who only play the game for the MP, and don't touch the SP part
The feature they have in the game is unlockables. When playing the story mode and the tutorials (and what other SP parts there is) you can unlock some stuff (new art/skins, levels, probably* some sounds, etc). Those unlockables can be used in MP, but can't be unlocked by playing MP**
The worst part of it all is that the SP missions are not just boring, but extremely boring. Doing those missions feels more like work than entertainment for me

My problem with this is that I want to play MP only. I have no reason to play the story mode except to get those unlockables, but unlocking them manually is just not worth it (because it feels like work instead of fun, and because I don't want to spend that much time with the game)

I just don't see why a game that for many people is a MP only game requires the player to play SP to unlock stuff that can be used in MP games! What is the point of doing it this way? I thought games was ment to entertain people? So far I can only see the negative parts in this, it has split people up in two groups; those who like the story mode, and those who doesn't. The first group is tired of hearing the people of the second group complain about this and tells everybody to finish the story mode themself... of course, since they like it they can't get into their head that we don't like it. The second group is tired that only those who like the story mode can get all the stuff in the game

Why didn't they just make it so that everything can be unlocked both in SP and in MP? That would be much easier and make less people mad at it.




* I don't have the game, so I might be mistaking about the sounds, but that's not the point

** Most of them anyway, I've heard that a few skins can be unlocked only during MP





What's your oppinion on this?

[ZargonX]

Well, if all that is being unlocked in SP is bonus skins and such, I don't think it effects the MP game at all. Hence, I don't see it as much of a problem; you get what you want out of the game. Now, if it were weapons or somesuch that would actually effect MP gameplay, that'd be a whole different story.

[Adagio]

I know that it doesn't actually effect gameplay directly, but IMO a great part of Worms is the comedy graphics



But the point I'm trying to make is that it doesn't make the game any better by having a rule like that, it only hurts the game, so why include it?

[DrSpike]

Sounds analogous to the PvE PvP debate in GW. I like the unlocking through PvE (though in GW you can unlock through PvP also) but it helps that the PvE is fun.

[Skanky Burns]

The GW way is good, as these unlockable things are gainable through both styles of play. Restricting the unlocking to just one style of play is stupid and (for want of a better word) restricting.

[Urban Ranger]

I see these "unlockable" things in SP mode as bonuses for SP players. Incentive for them to press ahead. Easter eggs, as it were. If you want something special, at least work for it, man.

[Skanky Burns]

Why should players be rewarded for something they have done in another game? If you consider MP and SP as seperate, why should those who play SP get things in their MP game that people who only play MP don't get. They both can play MP equally as hard, but one will have more options than the other.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
I see these "unlockable" things in SP mode as bonuses for SP players. Incentive for them to press ahead. Easter eggs, as it were. If you want something special, at least work for it, man.

QFT.

[Skanky Burns]

How is winning in MP not working for it while winning in SP is?

[duke o' york]

What, did you never have all your mates round at your house because you'd been the first to unlock all the extra Streetfighter II characters? It made 2 player much more varied, and fun.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by duke o' york
What, did you never have all your mates round at your house because you'd been the first to unlock all the extra Streetfighter II characters? It made 2 player much more varied, and fun.

I didn't hate it in fighting games because I mostly just played SP anyway. Games like Street Fighter is more a SP game than a MP game, it all depends on what the main point of the game is.
If Worms was mostly just a SP game I wouldn't have hated the option that much, but because it's just as much MP as SP I don't see why they have to do it this way


[q="UR"]
I see these "unlockable" things in SP mode as bonuses for SP players. Incentive for them to press ahead. Easter eggs, as it were. If you want something special, at least work for it, man.[/q]

But why force the player to do things he doesn't like to do? I paid for the game, I want everything that is included in the game. I don't like to pay to be allowed to work
If the main reason to play the game was to play the story mode then fine, but from my point of view the main reasons to play Worms is to have fun while beating the c*** out of the other players worms and the laugh in their face

Why can a player who only plays MP not also earn these easter eggs?
I don't hate unlockables, they can sometimes make the game interesting, but at least make them unlockable several ways, like if I could unlock a certain map if I kill 100 worms by using handgranades

[DrSpike]

Well the point seems to be that in this case the SP game sucks (in your opinion) rather than unlocking being bad per se.

[Skanky Burns]

Unlocking by only one method be sucky. There will always be people who like SP only. There will always be people who like MP only.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Adagio
But why force the player to do things he doesn't like to do? I paid for the game, I want everything that is included in the game.

You are not forced to do anything. As you said, these extras are just skins and stuff that are nice to have but not necessary for gamplay.

Stuff like this happens in games all the time. RPG games have different endings depending on your actions. Some have secret side quests. Others have "Easter Eggs" you can stumble upon.

Originally posted by Adagio
Why can a player who only plays MP not also earn these easter eggs?
I don't hate unlockables, they can sometimes make the game interesting, but at least make them unlockable several ways, like if I could unlock a certain map if I kill 100 worms by using handgranades

Don't ask me, it is a design decision. It's an understandable decsion IMO.

For example, in Starcraft, you don't get to see how the story unfolds if you don't play SP. It's the same thing.

[Bkeela]

I don't understand why anyone would want to play multiplayer games.