Defining Awesome — Design changes FAQ
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  • Design changes FAQ

    Written by . Posted at 7:16 am on October 25th, 2009

    With a team, you would implement strategy, imagine having a sniper to scout ahead while you creep across the level, sticking to the shadows, silently knifing your enemies, while a hacker works hard opening doors and keeping robots from molesting you. You can’t achieve that in a 1 vs 1 match.

    The problem with this is that it’s only your imagination. It isn’t a big deal to invent a super bombastic game with 30 classes, 200 weapons with all sorts of funky game modes and possibilities. The question is – is it possible for people to play it like it was designed? I’ve come to a point where I don’t believe this is possible in reality, simply because of the human factor. From the hundreds of hours of online team game playing I’ve had maybe 2 or 3 moments where I was really proud of my team members. Most of the time its some random douche bags. The problem with multiplayer games is that you put the entire gameplay experience into the hands of random douche bags and a normal player like you and me can’t really experience the game fully. The only solution for this is hand the entire experience or at least 50% of it to you. So you can define your own gameplay. If your style is sniping with one guy and sending a hacker out into the field with a scout, go ahead do it. Don’t wait for your retarded team mate.

    this does sound like Cortex Command/Worms.

    Worms is turn-based. In CC you control a body. In Link-Dead there will be a team. I would compare it more to Hidden & Dangerous 2 or to Jagged Alliance in real-time. CC doesn’t have the simple RTS feel that I am aiming for.

    Ffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccck…I hate RTS

    To cheer you up, let me say that I hate them too. I don’t play them and have no interest in them. That’s why LD will probably be something very different but I had to describe it somehow. That said I do have respect for a game like Starcraft. There is something in it. There is potential. I want to take that potential and explore it in a side-view game. LD won’t be about gathering resources and building bases. I don’t want that. I am rather thinking about the simplicity of the interface. Where you point your mouse somewhere and the soldier goes and does that. It makes you feel powerful, like a commander, not like a peasant with a stick.

    The user gets to choose if he wants to play “soldat mode”, “link dead person control mode” or “link dead strategy mode”. And all other modes, created by users.

    This of course will be possible. Actually I’m not planning for the first release to be in strategy mode. It will be deathmatch, but later on I want to develop into that what I described.

    Just write Soldat 2 and everyone would play it.

    After Link-Dead I will be refreshed so why not.

    ——

    Praise to Tyr. Let him help me fulfill my promise.

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    46 comments.

    1. Holy shit man, you just made my day!! 😀

      Props 4 MM!!


    2. Actually, I’ve always wanted to play Jagged Alliance in real time mode… I think I would even like L-D if it was turn based. So go for it, Michal. Wish you best =)


    3. Anonymous

      So what about the clan support? I dont need a clan when i play 1(player)vs1(player)… Im sure when every teammember is played by one player the team can work better when its a clan. It should be possible but not needed because you are right, for causal players it sux.


    4. Are you aware that if you fail in your promise, in which you called upon Tyr to guide you and look after you, something bad will happen ?
      Good to see some Pagan-thinking out there. If you want something to be done right you gotta do it with a axe in your hand and metal in your ears.

      Also… what weapons do we get ?


    5. Oh, you did it now -.- Soldat 2!


    6. Kosa, it’s sci-fi, so expect plasma rifles, laser guns, EMP grenades etc. :)


    7. Good luck.


    8. Post apocalyptic sci-fi, though; expect various hobo guns, lasers held together with duct tape, and AK-47s made out of cardboard.


    9. Anonymous

      Replace red with a darker color, my eyes hurt!


    10. Kosa: I can’t fail cause Tyr will help me, right?

      Kosa, it’s sci-fi, so expect plasma rifles, laser guns, EMP grenades etc

      Yeah but I still like the look and feel of good old machine guns. So expect a lot of gun powder and lead.


    11. So what about the clan support?

      Are there clans for Starcraft, Command and Conquer and other 1 person games, virtua fighter, tekken, final night? Of course.


    12. Mmmm… well Starcraft and C&C aren’t good examples for 1 person games, there’s teamplay in both, and honestly, that’s the part that is most fun.


    13. @nusparty

      OK its time for me to move on, I followed your blog since you announced LD but it just isn’t interesting for me any more. Ill think i will follow Minecraft for now. Cya


    14. Makron666

      So are you trying to say that 1v1 RTSish control will only be a game mod, like COD4’s cage matches? If so, then do we still get the old ideology (hackers/soldiers)?
      @MM: From the hundreds of hours of online team game playing I’ve had maybe 2 or 3 moments where I was really proud of my team members.
      What about if you made a game parameter for a couple games where you can only play if you have a headset? That would give proper co-ordinated team play, not just hopes and expectation.


    15. @Makron666’s headset

      That doesn’t really change anything when you are playing with retards hell it’s worse they can annoy you in a whole new way until you find the mute button.


    16. “The problem with this is that it’s only your imagination. […] The question is – is it possible for people to play it like it was designed? I’ve come to a point where I don’t believe this is possible in reality, simply because of the human factor. From the hundreds of hours of online team game playing I’ve had maybe 2 or 3 moments where I was really proud of my team members.”

      Tribes. Teamwork on an epic scale.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anxi8Hvx8MI

      The game is ALL about Teamwork; unlike say Counter-Strike or other ‘team’ games where you’re just on the same team, this really is teamwork and helping each other out.

      It’s possible.


    17. Anonymous

      this is going to rock unfathomable amounts of asses


    18. Anonymous

      What about 2v2s and 4v4s? Would they be a possibility?


    19. Anonymous

      I love you MM I truely do.


    20. will the game still be released by the end of this year?


    21. Play TF2. There is a strong sense of teamwork in that game, even with random douchbags. It’s designed in a way that you play as a good team or get slaughtered.
      Good characters too, much entertainment value in good characters.

      (Yeah I’m a bit of a Valve fanboy…)


    22. Makron666

      People will not tend use teamwork unless they have certain objectives to complete, for example if you told a team to capture the flag, they will all try to capture it, if you tell the other team to defend the flag, that means they will all defend it. Take a note from Soldat, the whole team will try to complete said objectives each on their own, like Andrew said they are just on the same team. If you add goals for the team, they become occupied and will have their own roles. for example, if the hackers would have to extend a bridge, open doors, move elevators, and jam cameras to help the soldiers, they won’t be trying to do the hackers job. If soldiers had to then do their jobs such as grab the flag, protect the hackers and destroy machines, they would then rely on the hackers to keep then alive and vice versa. These elements create team work. Just like in a TF2 match at 2fort, engineers, don’t try to actively get the intel, they protect it by placing turrets, and scouts don’t protect intel, they are quick and agile, made to retrieve intel, if each member of a team has a good role, they rely on each other skills to succeed, that creates teamplay, and a great game.

      @curious, Thats why they invented the “KICK” feature.


    23. SpiltCoffee

      Rayza: I would’ve said L4D worked a bit better in terms of team mechanics than TF2 (despite TF2’s name). Simply put, if you’re playing with a bunch of plebs, you’re probably not going to survive. 😀


    24. Good Job Michal.


    25. @MM: it depends on your worth in his eyes. Gods are not your toys, they will do as they please 😉 Nice to hear about this gunpowder. What we need is chaingun-action shotgun.


    26. So we no longer have WASD control over the soldiers? something like Full Spectrum Warrior?


    27. Also, minigun with bayonet.


    28. We will be able to control shooting right?


    29. HexanValaris

      Hey:) game type you want now, is Side-View Strategy, check this:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibVxifAeX4s – Cortex Command

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcGFd0CX2pY&feature=related – Clonk (RAGE)

      I hope this will help.


    30. There will be WASD controls, but they will be an addition not the purpose of the game.
      Say your whole team got slaughtered and there is 1 soldier left. You take control of that 1 surviving soldier and take things in your own hands.


    31. HexanValaris: CC and Clonk involve pixel physics and building stuff. Not what LD is about.


    32. CC is about squad based gameplay, building bases, exploring, gathering resources. All at once.
      However, at its current state, its still far from it.
      As a content developer for Cortex Command, I’m telling you this.
      We’re still busy getting the engine work properly to support campaign construction and missions and other mechanics after what will be going more deeper into the content stuff which will then bring out the real gameplay what was originally planned.
      What you see now in CC is just placeholder. Wait a X amount of time until we finish the game and you’ll see the difference.

      The aim is to make that squad based gameplay that you’re planning to do(you build your own teams and then execute your missions while managing resources (gold) and exploring the area, but in any case, its going to be way different than what you’re after.

      Anyways.

      I can see what you’re aiming for and its bloody good.
      Its for that clean and rocksolid squad based action, without the extra hassle about resources and enviromental exploration.
      Its an excellent idea and I support it and HELL YES I will play it. The gameplay value is massively high. Just like soldat’s if not way much more.

      Keep it up MM, I’m watching this closely.


    33. So how many squad members do we get to control ?
      do we get to deploy new ones after a period of time ?
      do we get to equip each of them before spawning ?
      will most of the climbing gameplay elements ( ninja ropes, climbing, grapling ) all still be included ??

      sooo many questions, so less answers.

      Give us some more details MM,

      btw : Love the entire concept, i was working on something exactly the same some time ago, but never got to finish it.

      Good luck : )


    34. All I’m hoping for is that the ability to play a tactical 8vs8 game will be possible. I love multiplayer over bots. I always have. I don’t care if some are douchebags. I get a good laugh at jokes. I love it when I watch someone constantly pwn and embarrass a pissy noob that deserves it. I love getting praise when I make an impossible shot or knife throw. I love it when there are random chats about stupid things while I’m playing. I love it when I’m on a server with a bunch of friends and then we really have some fun teaming up and owning the other team.


    35. Will LD be available also on Linux (my case) and Mac OS X? You know, we also love to play games and when you’re programming all by yourself you could easily do it multiplatform.
      BTW, will the game be free/OSS or commercial? I would buy it, but I don’t want to play it on Win.


    36. I demand a Linux native client to be released at the same time as windows one.


    37. Makron666

      For all of you linux fans, wine might be your best bet.


    38. Wine sux. Native is better and it’s not really that hard.


    39. Makron666

      If you want native, buy Windows.


    40. Numgun thanks a lot for your support! Wish you the best with CC.

      So how many squad members do we get to control ?
      do we get to deploy new ones after a period of time ?
      do we get to equip each of them before spawning ?
      will most of the climbing gameplay elements ( ninja ropes, climbing, grapling ) all still be included ??

      4-12
      Will depend on gamemode.
      That will be part of the fun.
      Climbing yes. I’m considering grapling hooks, cause they are very team oriented. A well placed grapling hool can save a lot of time for the entire team.

      Snow: I love those things too. But I just came to the conclusion that LD is not the kind of game. Soldat is perfect for that.

      A linux port is possible and I will be working on it.


    41. Thx a lot.
      If you would need a help with it, feel free to contact me on Jabber (rivon@isgeek.info) or ICQ (336415299).


    42. Hm… Futuristic Brothers In Arms 2D?
      ;D


    43. Q: How many grapling hooks does it take to make a gamer happy ?
      A: None. The knowledge of its existence is sufficient to achieve that.


    44. Rivon: thx

      FLX24: please dont compare to that piece of crap

      Tenshi: It’s like this post: http://news.quelsolaar.com/#post13


    45. Ok, MM I will try ;D


    46. DAMN!!! SOLDAT 2!!!!!!! I CAN’T WAIIIITTTT!!!! now THAT will be the best freakin game everrrr!!!! updated graphics and gameplay and i hope moving platforms (imagine the bridge in ctf_Maya2 swinging!)!! im soo syched!!! not about link-dead but about SOLDAT TWOOOOO, BABY!!!

      about L-D: i had a VERY similar idea and im not quite sure you haven’t hacked into my brain and stole the idea!!! i actually thought this is what Soldat was when i first heard about it (from a very in-descriptive source). i was thinking about a game where you can control everything a soldier does. like an rts, but from a 2D stand-point. hopefully the greatest game creator ever can pull it off, but nothing can beat SOLDAT TWOO!!!!


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