Is coming up with more interesting game modes a must for online shooters?
GREEN: Depends on your game. Halo is a really good sandbox at its core, and you can play a lot of good games with those solid fundamentals. Other games might be more driven by a fictional setting, or the nature of their gameplay. A rough and tumble game like Oddball might not work so well with a lethal game like Gears of War. Maybe some people will demand more options, but if a game doesn’t work and isn’t fun, there’s no point including it. Those same people will complain that it’s not fun. And you need to be careful, too. Deathmatch is popular because it’s simple, and if your game fundamentals are sound, it’s instantly rewarding too. If you feel forced into creating some grand game with complex rules, you risk frustrating those people who just want to compete mano-a-mano and enjoy the finer details of your game. And heaven help you, as a designer, if you simply turn your nose up at those brutish louts.
