Shooters: Why so few maps?

[Jupsto]

I dont understand why all the top shooters like bc2 and only include 4 maps, then release DLC of different game mode versions of the same maps. it seems to me all shooters suffer from this condition or severe developer laziness.

I really didn't think making maps was the hardest part of making a computer game. I spent a few hours attempting to make a map on source SDK once, it really doesn't seem that hard. the only difficulty is knowing how to use the software which wouldn't take long if it was your job.

Once the textures and models are made by someone else all your really doing is re-arranging them in different combinations. Ubisoft must have realised this when they made far cry 2. they had the right idea; it had a proper map creator. not like halo forge where you can edit a few maps, and move some scenery and boxes around. some of the player created maps I played in far cry 2 were good, shame the multilayer gameplay was not.

Is there a shortage of map makers in the industry and if so why? or are do companies purposely make so few maps so they can grab more cash from DLCs?

 

[steevee]

I think it's just a money making device.

Plus most shooters multiplayer mps are versions of enviroments found in the campaign, so that could add to it.


But I totally agree with the Far Cry 2 comment. Online rankd matches were horrible, but I've had days of fun with friends on player made maps. The amount of time people must have put into them, it's just, wow.

 

[imnot]

Two woeds
Forge world.
HALO FTW!

 

[kalakashi]

Y'know, I have never considered this point. Even stuff like MW2 doesn't have a huge map list. By the sounds of things it far extends BC2 but we could do with a hell of a lot more, as it would make catering for different styles of play far easier, more maps to revolve around stealth, sniping, medium range etc.
I don't know how easy it would be to introduce a fair way of using player made maps on games like MW2 and on Xbox in general, but if they managed it, it would be fantastic.

 

[TheComedown]

I think its 2 reasons. 1) publishers are greedy money hungry whores, so for DLC. 2) Counterstrike has a HUGE amount of maps not including the insane amount of custom maps, but there was only ever 5 or 6 that REALLY got played, maybe there where more closer to launch, but I wasn't in on it back then. Anyway, the point is when they release massive amounts of maps many just go unplaced and become a waste of space and time. Oh a 3rd reason, TF2, the maps in there took a lot of time and effort to balance right, to put that kind of effort into creating an even larger group of BALANCED maps would have increased the development time by at the very least another year.

 

[Hashime]

Well, to play well you need to know the layout of a map.

 

[Super Toast]

Because people are willing to pay for content that really, really should have been in the game in the first place.

 

[CrazyMedic]

I think it is a combo of milking DLC the cow and the fact that it is kinda like mastery though repetition rather then 20 maps no one plays they do 5 really good ones the you play every time and get used to.

 

[Lawnmooer]

1) People usually are focused on playing in FPS's rather than going "Oooh thats pretty"

2) People need to know the best places to camp.

3) People like to know the ways around the map to play well.

4) The majority of players that play the Modern Warfare games usually have their parents pay for new maps... more cash is made.

5) Some companies encourage player made content and some (Valve) will include good player made maps in the game so they can focus on other things.

In my opinion anyways.

 

[Jupsto]

its true that even when given a choice most people will play the same few maps over and over, 2fort anyone?

 

[Fusionxl]

its true that even when given a choice most people will play the same few maps over and over, 2fort anyone?

As Yahtzee said, 90% of everything is shit. It's so much easier to pick a map you know you'll enjoy than start cycling through the hilariously unbalanced user generated ones with bad latency and very few players.

Not all of them are bad, mind you, just the vast majority of them.

 

[Altorin]

It's partly to sell you maps as DLC, and it's also partly so that players can learn/master maps, and actually have a chance of finding maps that they like in random choices.. If there are 5 maps, you have a better chance of a) getting a map that you like, and b) getting a map you know well enough to be competive, then if there were 50 maps.

 

[Booze Zombie]

It has always bothered me in FPS games when they decide: "Hey, fuck it, they don't need content, I mean, what are they... CUSTOMERS or something"?

 

[Wayneguard]

Play Unreal Tournament.

 

[Echo136]

It all comes down to money. EA and Activision make make money from the DLC.

 

[Docbrown]

Let me ask you this
name a game you played every map all the time

halo had blood gulch
goldeneye had facility
ect

most games have 1 to 3 good maps that work out well and the rest just suck

making a map is hard to do right
its hard for a guy to make a map with no idea how the masses are going to use the mechanics to play it
much like most glitches that arise from programmers setting up the game unaware that gamers would come across a certain sequence regularily that results in a glitch
companies make a few to avoid wasting money.

 

[The Procrastinated End]

Modern FPS's require a little knowledge about the map, so having 10 instead of 20 allows people to learn about each one without playing for hours on end.

 

[L4hlborg]

1) Quality over ammount. The BFBC2 maps are all very good (meaning the rush ones). Plus they are all very big, so you won't get bored with the scenery too soon. And BFBC2 DLC is FREE. They are not trying to get money out of them.

2) Since you need to know the maps to succeed, it's good to have a few of them instead of dozens. Playing on a few varied maps and learning the tactics for them is a lot more comfortable than playing tens of maps and learning tactics for all of them.

3) People always take favorites. Nobody is gonna play crappy maps, so why make them?

4) To be honest, many developers do want to get money out of DLC. It's just bussiness, don't take it personally. Check videos of the maps to see if they are good.