DOOM 3 @ QuakeCon

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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

From The Chatty
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    August 17, 2002 9:56 AM

    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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      August 17, 2002 10:02 AM

      there will be no co-op

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        August 17, 2002 10:04 AM

        so... four player DM only? 4 player DM died a deserved death in 1996.

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          August 17, 2002 10:06 AM

          Actually, for those who played DOOM ][ in its peek, those 4 player matches were a blast. You have countless games that can support countless players at once.. this game will just be a different flavor.

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            August 17, 2002 10:13 AM

            I was one of those who played doom2 in its peak and yes at the time 4 player DM was a blast. however we are now in 2002 and 4 player DM is merely a unrequired and unneeded throwback to a classic game. 4 player is better than no player but not by much...

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              August 17, 2002 12:06 PM

              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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      August 17, 2002 10:06 AM

      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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        August 17, 2002 10:15 AM

        I know there's been no mention of coop but not being able to join a game in progress and being limited to four players made me think: coop! Sadly you are correct...

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        August 17, 2002 10:15 AM

        the game's focus is singleplayer. they have been saying this since before it was officially announced.

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          August 17, 2002 10:18 AM

          yeah, but if the focus is single player, why not make the game a bit longer, rather than a "weekend's length" game. haven't we had enough of that with elite force, et al.

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            August 17, 2002 10:19 AM

            Elite Force was shorter than a weekend.

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              August 17, 2002 10:27 AM

              HAH! i have a friend who can beat EF in under 2 hours

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                August 17, 2002 11:09 AM

                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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            August 17, 2002 10:21 AM

            The impression I got was that if you spent the entire weekend obsessively playing it, you could finish it. But I read that as being in the 20 hour neighbourhood. Which is, imo, fine.

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              August 17, 2002 10:22 AM

              very true. i've just been playing system shock 2 and it's hard to play for long periods of time, as it is very freaky

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            August 17, 2002 10:21 AM

            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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            August 17, 2002 10:24 AM

            "we'd rather have an extremely detailed non-epic title" - loosely paraphrased

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        August 17, 2002 10:26 AM

        yes, not joining game in progress = ABSOLUTE SHIT. Fucking hate games that do this, ala rogue spear, Opflash, etc. goddamnit

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          August 17, 2002 10:28 AM

          calm down. people will modify the game.

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      August 17, 2002 10:32 AM

      sounds pretty cool, it reminds me of AVP multiplayer which was great. Small numbers in scary dark enviorment = scary!

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      August 17, 2002 10:33 AM

      If it's done well, this wouldn't really bother me. Also, I heard that the figures were more like 8 people at max, not 4. Can anyone confirm that?

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        August 17, 2002 10:36 AM

        If anyone was expecting intense multiplayer in the form of DM or COOP from doom3 they were kidding themselves.

        Why would Id give one of their best selling multiplayer franchises to raven, and also help co produce a COOP multiplayer game with Nerve if they were intending to do both with doom3?

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        August 17, 2002 10:37 AM

        they haven't given a definite number yet.

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