DOOM 3 @ QuakeCon
Steve is still MIA but several sites have already reported on what John Carmack had to say at QuakeCon and what id Software showed from DOOM 3. You can read articles on GameSpy (and here), GameSpot, HomeLAN Fed and Dingbat's Domain. Probably the most surprising part is John Carmack expressing hope that the game would be out before next year's E3 (in May), so sooner, rather than later in 2003. The limited multiplayer options are that, limited. Four players maximum most likely and no option to join matches that are in progress. Also mentioned was the length of the game. DOOM 3 won't be as short as some recent FPS games, but hardcore fanatics will probably finish it in a weekend.
Doom III won't have objectives as simple as the original Doom game, which featured repeated quests for colored keycards, but there will be door puzzles. The computer consoles that control various parts of the base are actually quite sophisticated. As the player approaches a console, the weapon drops out of view and a cursor pops up on the console screen that can be controlled with the mouse. The animated console interface looks much like a Web page and an id developer mentioned that putting together the interface content is like working in Web HTML. There's a mission interface that pops up in the upper right part of the screen to show objectives that players have yet to accomplish
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Ok, what does this mean?
The limited multiplayer options are that, limited. Four players maximum most likely and no option to join matches that are in progress. Also mentioned was the length of the game. DOOM 3 won't be as short as some recent FPS games, but hardcore fanatics will probably finish it in a weekend.
Does that mean DM matches will be no more than four player or co-op games will be no more than four players? 4 player DM will suck badly but four player coop... well, I might just fap to that.
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I think you bring up some valid points. 4 player DM does seem like a uneeded throwback to a classic game... however, have you considered this possibility.
Doom]|[ will break new ground in terms of single player experience. The engine will be such a departure from what we've seen before, that it'll take time for the multiplayer functionality to catch up?
There are so many games out right now (as well as games being developed right now) that support the multiplayer type experience we're used to.. Doom]|[ isn't currently targetting that market.
Pete
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What a kick to the bag that news is. Sure, we will be getting it sooner than we had thought but the flipside to that good news it that we will be getting neutered multiplay. This really is a downer, no one saw this coming (limited to 4 players, and no joining games in progress). Now, I have to ask...if id software cannot (will not?) implement more than 4 players and being able to connect to games in progress well how does this bode for future doom3-engine based games. John does seem to imply that this is an engine limitation....I am really deflated =(.
Also, I don't know how us twitch boys will adjust to the slow (read: molasses) pace in this game. Sure, it is all about atmosphere but I will be thinking my marine is treading in peanut butter....somewhat analogous to going to friend's place and using his 'dial-up' internet connection instead of your broadband....painful! I wonder if this pace will carry over to the doom 3 multiplay? Also, can you imagine how *yawn* it will be playing multiplayer running around the maps looking for each other....boring....
Btw, there has NEVER been any mention of CO-OP so don't get your hopes up. I say go for the original doom weapons but can the rail gun already...it's tired....we want BERSERKER! and EXPLODING BARRELS (sweet shapnel).
I am extremely curious as to Raven's progress w/ Q4 especially after John's latest information...what hAx0ring has been done to the engine for Q4? Also, what if any other companies have been allowed to license the engine yet? I'm sure there are co's lining up! More Ferrari (er rocketry) coinage....John can build his rocket and finally return to his home planet of binary =).
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The sad thing about it being mainly a single player experience is that the replay value will be nil. Sure it'll be really pretty and all that but do you want to play the same single player game over and over? I don't care if instead of demons they hot chicks flashin' their t*ts and all in my face, I still wouldn't want to play the same single player game over and over again once I've finished it....well that depends, would the chicks jump my rocket launcher? =) Seriously though, I really hope they up the single player to atleast 8 players and enable jumping into games in progress...I hope it ain't peer2peer....guh!
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I want a good SP fps too but at the cost of stupidity in MP? Hopefully the tools will allow people to quickly crank out mods that will be a normal MP with joins/parts and more than four people. If the mod community has the ability to make Doom3 into a full featured MP experience then I'll shut up about this inane idea about MP from id.
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