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Matrix Online Creators Quizzed On MMO Wire-Fu
Thanks to GameSpy for its interview with the lead designer of The Matrix Online, featuring new details regarding the PC MMO which recently parted ways with original co-developer UbiSoft, meaning the newly rejuvenated Warner Bros. Interactive "...is now the sole publisher of the title." According to the article, the developers Monolith are utilizing a combat system called Interlock, where "...players have the opportunity to optimize their fighting technique by managing their move-by-move combat tactics, and performing combos and other special maneuvers. This is definitely not 'click and watch.'" There's more information at the official Matrix Online FAQ.
This had the potential to really harness the mythos surrounding the movies with MMO's real-life / digital-life gameplay style, but with the current market saturation and soon-to-be-waning interest in this genre I don't think it will see a very warm reception, or at least as warm as it could be.
Too bad because having a truly digital alternate reality in the context of a game about a digital alternate reality is a pretty cool concept.
If they manage to get the fighting engine working well, they might set a precedent for 3D beat-em-ups.
From what I've read, the Bullet-Time option will kick in when you've landed the killing blow on your opponent, wasn't it much more cool if you could activate Bullet-Time during battle, like in Max Payne.
I guess it's really hard to do in an online game, who should be moving in bullet time, who should move in realtime, will spectators outside of the Bullet-Time area be viewing a really slow or really fast fight?
Difficult stuff.
This is the sig that says NI (again)
If the machines and humans are at peace, then who will players fight against? Excluding pvp, I can't imagine that there will be very much combat. In a game like Everquest or Asheron's Call, minor enemies like trolls, orcs, and the like can be churned out over and over again to provide fighting fodder. In a Matrix world, where are the snakes and bats to fight?
The way I would do it is set it in a cold war between the humans and the machines. Where the Architect's words at the end of Revolutions are open to inturpritation.
There would for all intents and purposes be two teams. The merovingians minions who would be easier to play for newbies. Being able to run over any surface, like a vampire, or be able to take collosall amounts of damage, like a werewolf sans silver, etc. They wouldn't have a bullet-time ability, but they might be naturally faster etc.
And the humans. Who would start out start out basically as pussies, but should they survive could be superbad ass. But when you die, or after a certain number of times, you gotta make another conscript.
The Agents would for the most part be badass bots. But with a ranking system. The best players could be invited to be agents for limited periods of time. Localize the Agents to have last names generic to the users local.
You could skill up just by escaping fights as you endevour to free souls as it were, or enslave them if you're one of the merovingians henchmen.
Done right, with a seemless transition from gun combat to close combat, and the right uncluttered presentation of your situational awareness, it would simply stomp everything else out there.
"...players have the opportunity to optimize their fighting technique by managing their move-by-move combat tactics, and performing combos and other special maneuvers. This is definitely not 'click and watch.'"
Why is it whenever that phrase gets uttered by a designer, it almost always the opposite of the truth? The fighting system he describes sounds like a RPGesque system of clicking buttons to queue up attacks ALA Xenogears. It also sounds like fights will proceed without user input, allowing avatars whose hosts are lagging out to continue with only a moderate effectiveness penalty. It makes sense for a MMPORPG to do it that way, and it is a cut above other games in terms of click-and-watch, but it still isn't the real time fighting that people want.
Describing the fighting system the way they do, people are going to be expecting Planetside, and will be disappointed to receive SW:KOTOR. It sounds like it could be fun, but they need to manage expectations better.
Despite the hype, most people would consider queuing up attacks a form of "click-and-watch."
The ______ Agenda
"Imagine yourself as Trinity, downloading a new ability and instantly being able to use a new weapon"
Okay, I'll bite...
"Pistol, rifle, and submachine gun are available in the initial launch of Matrix Online. More weapons will probably be added in later game expansions."
So, I have to wait to probably download a way to pretend to download the ability to use a virtual representation of a virtual representation of more than just 3 standard game guns?
Existentialism aside, that blows. I need guns...lots of guns!
I watched a "trailer" for the game, and as expected it had the generic electronicaesque guitar rock in the background, cool camera angles with a green filter, shiny clothes and sunglasses that defy gravity, and then (gasp) . . . People. Running. Around. I know it's early, but the whole thing screamed BORING. The combat looked coerced and campy, like Enter the Matrix but turn based, if you can get crappier than ETM combat.
The only thing this has going for it is that it's produced by Monolith, of Shogo/NOLF/Tron fame. It's licensed (strike one), it's the Matrix (should be worth two strikes after ETM but we'll be fair give it one), and Ubisoft dropped it amidst an ever-crowding market of pointless MMOs. Strike three?
The only way I see this title being any fun at all is if Monolith somehow works in their crisp sense of humor. The machines are developing sheep bombs, say, or the game goes into bullet time whenever someone slips on a banana peel. I, for one, would very much like to see a man-cube perform martial arts while dodging bullets in slow motion.
so, whats going to happen when people start cheating or dupeing or any of the other crap that happens in these games? I mean, it seems sorta odd to start kicking people out for doing that kind of stuff, doesn't it? sorta contrary to the spirit of the world.
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