FPS Grinding for Unlocks

[charlesr]

Do you find you play a FPS more than you would have otherwise because there's a bunch of stuff to unlock? Call of Duty style I mean.

For me, it either a good game and I'll play it for a long time, or it's not quite good enough and I'll avoid getting sucked into the grind.

Battlefield 4 is sucking me in, but I've been using the same gun and loadout for weeks.

Also, If they had the option to unlock everything from the start for free, or follow the normal grind would you take the shortcut? I would.

[Mr Ono]

I never play a game for loadouts but it is nice when the "kerching!" comes up. I actually think BF4 has the formula right. It's not too difficult to unlock the powerful weapons and any of the tougher ones - are not really game changers or provide unfair advantage.

Shortcuts? I would have taken them probably but that's because I am impatient. I did take the DMR and Pistol unlock freebies this month. Had already unlocked all the grenades and shotguns so no need to do them.

[Neon Ignition]

I tend to use the same loadouts, it's more the ranking xp that gets me. If I'm playing a game over months I like some sense of measurable progression even if its a neglible one.

[Brad]

I'm with Charles. An online fps should be an even playing field at all times.

[speedlolita]

No. Unlocks put me off BF2 and even in CoD4 I stopped caring when I got the M4 at level 16 or something.

My most played FPS title is CS(S) where your load out is based on your performance overall roughly.

[EvilBoris]

I don't mind it so much, it gives me something to work towards. It's a fine balance between grinding and gradually earning though

[H-Man]

The problem is unlockables are masking a lack of depth in gameplay. When I play CoD and BF it's the unlocks that keep me going - once everything is available there's little reason to play. Now take Quake, RTCW, ET, CS, Unreal etc etc - I played these games for years. In particular RTCW and ET, which essentially had only 2 guns! Yet the depth and gameplay was there and was leagues ahead of what we have now. This isn't a case of rose tinted glasses - the skill ceiling has been lowered to almost crawling height in pretty much every modern fps. But there's lots to unlock! woohoo.

[dataDave]

Indeed. Games ask very little from the player these days. You can see it across most genres.

[speedlolita]

I invested a ton of time in CoD1 and 2 on PC too. There were machine gun specialists and rifle specialists and different ways of playing too that always kept it interesting. Scoped rifle or iron sights too. Not to mention the fantastic campaign of CoD1.. I love that game.

Totally agree with H-Man though. I can still fire up CSS, grab an AWP and feel something that no modern FPS will ever produce again - not even CS:GO. That thing has some wicked fun mechanics behind it. Same can be said of all the guns really, they require different approaches entirely.

[charlesr]

I miss the old rocket jump days. True 3D movement skills seems to have been lost. Although bit tough without mouse and keyboard and macro keys.

[Mayhem]

I've never liked it. It's partly why I enjoy playing the Gears of War series, all the unlocks and perks have no impact on the gameplay, and everyone starts the matches on a level. Skill, and teamwork, decide the match more often (and the occasional lag heh)...

[kryss]

I like grinding to unlock weapons, but I also agree that the playing field should be even...

[eastyy]

the recent tribes game was pretty addictive in that regards but i never thought any load out was unfair as getting kills in tribes was a lot more skill based then in most games

[Golgo]

I find weapon unlocks a little self-defeating. Looking at the stats across the weapons in BF4 (and even recent CoDs) there's not a massive gain, rarely even a small gain, in unlocking the top-tier weapons. I guess this is to avoid danger that time-rich grinders get the best stuff and dominate. But still, it means (with my now maxxed-out engineer) that I've contented myself with the very first carbine available.

[jim g]

I am a Gold Gun whore, COD MW started the lust for Gold, have always chased as many as I can, have 9 in Ghosts right now...