What’s The Bloody Point? Multiplayer Console FPS Games
What’s The Bloody Point is my bi-weekly ranting article where I investigate various things in the gaming industry that really annoy me, today I’m having a rant about Multiplayer Console FPS games, mainly Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3. Arguably the most nerd-rage filled genre in all of gaming, the FPS genre has come leaps and bounds since the earlier titles such as Doom, but what can multiplayer really offer?
In short? Nothing. This doesn’t go for all forms of multiplayer FPS action, cooperative and LAN play can work great, I’m talking about internet play specifically. Being quite the Call of Duty fan, despite the fact I think they rehash the same title and pump it out year after year, I’ve played and enjoyed all of the multiplayer titles since it first became available but the majority were on PC. Since picking up Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3, I have totally gone off any form of online play with my Playstation 3. The lag is so ridiculous it removes any realistic skill from the game, instead forcing players to rely on aiming where the person was a few seconds ago, not where they are now.
In order to be decent at online FPS play for consoles you have to learn to ignore one of your most vital senses, your sight, that and totally removing any knowledge of common sense and physics. I’m not talking about the infamously bad lag on the Wii, which was never intended as a serious multiplayer console, but the PS3 is almost as painful. When I aim my reticule and someone and shoot, I expect my bullets to hit them, but they won’t as the player hasn’t registered as being in the same place as the character model. This video below demonstrates my point perfectly, and is one of the most annoying aspects of Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer on the PS3, being killed after you have already turned and corner.
This happens to me at least 5-6 times per match and I know it’s not my internet as my ping is registered as solid on the tab screen and I have a 50mb connection. Put exactly the same situation on the PC versions of Modern Warfare and it wouldn’t happen. So what’s the point in developing multiplayer FPS titles for consoles when the current generation of technology is obviously falling short of requirements.
Another annoying aspect, albeit less common, is the supernatural ability for players to shoot directly behind them without turning round. I only have this happen a few times over the course of a days play, but from my 25 years on this planet, I’ve learned that it’s pretty much impossible to shoot someone directly behind you, with your gun facing the opposite direction. The video below explains my point further.
I really fear for this generation. There are people that spend practically all day playing Modern Warfare 3 on consoles, and in effect, are teaching their body to ignore vital senses the entire time. What happens when these kids try to cross the road? “That bus isn’t really there, it’s 10ft further back, I can make it if I bunny hop”. Probably a less than realistic scenario, but still something that comes to mind.
Overall, What’s the Bloody Point in multiplayer console FPS titles? I have no idea. The PC version is quite obviously superior, the communities are better and there’s practically zero lag if you play in the right regional zone. What are your thoughts on the situations I’ve described above? Something you encounter on a regular basis? Leave a comment below.
Checkout issue 1 of What’s the Bloody Point, discussing browser-based MMORTS games, here.
In that video there is already somebody shooting in that direction. If you look at the 8 second mark you can clearly see people shooting through the walls.
I’m guessing you’re referring to the second video?
If you look at roughly the 9 second mark, the muzzle flash on the guys silencer goes off. Straight after, Smffy dies.
Also, if you check the names in the lower left, it confirms it. You may need to change to HD quality to be able to notice
Smffy —> [60ML] Marah Pxnda
Just after Marah respawns and fires
[60ML] Marah Pxnda —> Smffy
Judging from the title of the video, and the name of the uploader, I’m pretty certain the guy is Smffy
Why single out the entire FPS genre though? It really is only COD and MW3 is particularly bad. Other FPS titles are usually pretty smooth to play. Games such as Killzone and Resistance don’t lag as much.
To call out all FPS multiplayer console games in the title of this article but then only use the dreadful MW3 as your examples is unfair. I stopped playing MW3 months ago as I quickly realised how bad it is.
I totally intended to spread into other FPS titles but my COD ranting got a bit carried away. COD is not the only PS3 title that suffers from that corner shooting stuff, so although I focus on MW3, many of the FPS multiplayer games on PS3 do the same. BF etc