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Part 3.5 of our "1943 Reactions" series is a bit nonstandard. After taking a little hiatus, we (read: troybob) are back with yet more thoughts about DICE's 1943 direction. Part 2 of this essay discusses why the varied combat styles found in Battlefield made the franchise an instant hit among FPS gamers.
Diversification is the name of the game.
You know what made Battlefield great? Diversification. The sheer variety of play styles, vehicle types, soldier classes, and tactics meant that the Battlefield series appealed to a broad spectrum of players.
Some aviators out there liked the idea of being able to fly a plane or jet or helicopter while shooting and bombing real people. Some tankers liked the idea of being able to drive a tank in huge tank battles across Aberdeen and blowing people out of windows of buildings. Some first person shooter fans liked the idea of running around in gunfights while having the surreal notion that at any time they could come up against a tank. Sailors even got a kick out of navigating the treacherous waters of Midway in a destroyer and hunting submarines and other warships (especially the prized carrier)...
The Swiss Army Knife soldier classes
But DICE took gameplay diversification one step further. Beyond the broad player-type target audience, diversification was also found in the soldier class system. Some folks enjoyed playing sniper and sitting in a hidey-hole for the entire round while generally making a pest of themselves. They could sit at their computers and watch the action through a scope while drinking a beer and every once in a while get a chance to shoot someone with their rifle. Others were hard charging, ground pounding, chest thumping assault types who enjoyed running into a battle screaming “Leroy Jenkins” and shooting anything that moved. Still others enjoyed the tactical aspect of a support class like engineer or medic, providing support to the frontline grunts on the field...
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Expect part 2, "Strategy, Tactics, and a Fluid Battlefield," to be posted on Wednesday March 22. After the Troybob essay has been posted in its entirety, we will resume the "1943 Reactions" series with Elxx's notes about the community's reaction to 1943.
Be sure to check out this and other Editorials, posted straight From the Editors' Desks. Also, make sure to leave your thoughts and comments on this editorial.
Diversification is the name of the game.
You know what made Battlefield great? Diversification. The sheer variety of play styles, vehicle types, soldier classes, and tactics meant that the Battlefield series appealed to a broad spectrum of players.
Some aviators out there liked the idea of being able to fly a plane or jet or helicopter while shooting and bombing real people. Some tankers liked the idea of being able to drive a tank in huge tank battles across Aberdeen and blowing people out of windows of buildings. Some first person shooter fans liked the idea of running around in gunfights while having the surreal notion that at any time they could come up against a tank. Sailors even got a kick out of navigating the treacherous waters of Midway in a destroyer and hunting submarines and other warships (especially the prized carrier)...
The Swiss Army Knife soldier classes
But DICE took gameplay diversification one step further. Beyond the broad player-type target audience, diversification was also found in the soldier class system. Some folks enjoyed playing sniper and sitting in a hidey-hole for the entire round while generally making a pest of themselves. They could sit at their computers and watch the action through a scope while drinking a beer and every once in a while get a chance to shoot someone with their rifle. Others were hard charging, ground pounding, chest thumping assault types who enjoyed running into a battle screaming “Leroy Jenkins” and shooting anything that moved. Still others enjoyed the tactical aspect of a support class like engineer or medic, providing support to the frontline grunts on the field...
Continue Reading...
Expect part 2, "Strategy, Tactics, and a Fluid Battlefield," to be posted on Wednesday March 22. After the Troybob essay has been posted in its entirety, we will resume the "1943 Reactions" series with Elxx's notes about the community's reaction to 1943.
Be sure to check out this and other Editorials, posted straight From the Editors' Desks. Also, make sure to leave your thoughts and comments on this editorial.