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Apr 07, 2009 2:54 pm
Apr 07, 2009 2:54 pm
Subject: Re: Single Player / Funny story
I think of MAX as first and foremost a Multiplayer game. While it can be enjoyable in Singleplayer for a time, the depth that Multiplayer mode adds to the game is staggering.
Apart from the obvious difference of having human opponents instead of an AI (however well designed it may be) there are two main points:
- Multiplayer on a higher level imposes harsh time limitations on you - and therefore the necessity to think, act and response quickly as well as control your units efficiently and plan ahead. This aspect is missing in single player where you can think and finetune everything as long as you want to.
- Simultaneous movements adds a fascinating realtime strategy aspect to the game. When you control your units at the same time, the whole concept of "Micromanagement" comes into play, a realtime contest of actions and reactions - as well as Multitasking when you have to keep eyes on several things at once.
Singleplayer and Multiplayer in MAX are worlds apart. Not everybody instantly likes the core aspects of multiplayer gameplay, but once you find yourself in control of them it's hard to imagine going back to playing an AI for anything else than practice reasons. Even if you're a Newbie I think it best to just start playing Multiplayer and not get used to playing an anti-AI-style of bunkering up above everything else which won't get you very far against a good human opponent.
I don't want to persuade you *not* to give it a try - programming an AI can be a very rewarding challenge by itself, i imagine - but I still think that Singleplayer MAX is nothing more than a "bonus" to a game that really shines in Multiplayer by combining the best aspects of turn based strategy and RTS games.
I think of MAX as first and foremost a Multiplayer game. While it can be enjoyable in Singleplayer for a time, the depth that Multiplayer mode adds to the game is staggering.
Apart from the obvious difference of having human opponents instead of an AI (however well designed it may be) there are two main points:
- Multiplayer on a higher level imposes harsh time limitations on you - and therefore the necessity to think, act and response quickly as well as control your units efficiently and plan ahead. This aspect is missing in single player where you can think and finetune everything as long as you want to.
- Simultaneous movements adds a fascinating realtime strategy aspect to the game. When you control your units at the same time, the whole concept of "Micromanagement" comes into play, a realtime contest of actions and reactions - as well as Multitasking when you have to keep eyes on several things at once.
Singleplayer and Multiplayer in MAX are worlds apart. Not everybody instantly likes the core aspects of multiplayer gameplay, but once you find yourself in control of them it's hard to imagine going back to playing an AI for anything else than practice reasons. Even if you're a Newbie I think it best to just start playing Multiplayer and not get used to playing an anti-AI-style of bunkering up above everything else which won't get you very far against a good human opponent.
I don't want to persuade you *not* to give it a try - programming an AI can be a very rewarding challenge by itself, i imagine - but I still think that Singleplayer MAX is nothing more than a "bonus" to a game that really shines in Multiplayer by combining the best aspects of turn based strategy and RTS games.
This post has been edited 1
times. Last edit on Apr 07, 2009 2:55 pm by Nager.