quote:Original post by HemoGloben
I don''t know if any of you have actually thought about network Co-op, but it''s hard. It requires sync with randomizers, and tons of other little choices that usually an indiviual computer makes. Trying to sync these, while still running a normal game, is hard and resource tasking. Not just on the computer, but to develop also.

There is literally no difference between networked deathmatch and networked coop. None. All that changes is the rules of the game and the scoring system - you don''t get points for killing your friends. The architecture required to sync lifts and doors between players provides for syncing pretty much anything, including AI agents.

I also agree that coop multiplayer is (a) better than singleplayer and (b) better than deathmatch. They''re my friends; why do I want to be shooting them? Much more fun to be saving their asses when they''re too incompetent to get out of the way of the Big-Assed Monster™.

quote:Original post by superpig

There is literally no difference between networked deathmatch and networked coop.

I couldn''t agree more - if a game is going to include multiplayer in the form of deathmatch, it doesn''t seem much of a stretch to allow cooperative play as well. And also, if while playing some of the main game levels in cooperative mode some slightly odd effects do occur, such as seeing enemies spawn or puzzles becoming trivial, I think most players would be pretty forgiving. I for one would certainly take the view that it was better to be allowed to play cooperatively even if there are glitches, rather than not because some of the levels wouldn''t work as intended.

Three of the best Co-op games I''ve played are: (in no particular order)

Serious Sam (PC) your basic FPS on steriods
coop mode was implamented very nicely, wep pickups stayed, I thinka ammo to. and MOBs grew more powerful for each player you added (very powerful, first set dificulty, then for start of coop pick percent of dificulty (up to 200%) then percent PER ADDITIONAL PLAYER (again up to 200%), and you can have up to 16 players in coop mode.) Man what a LAN game.

Diablo 2 (PC) Well done RPG
Coop was basic play with another person. I think there was a dificulty bonus per player, but don''t remember. Very nice was the ability to play over diablo net for people in different areas.

Gunstar Heros (Sega Genesis)
This is a classic, still played by friend and I even after all this time. side-scrolling shooter, with weps being built on a combo of four items, (total of 10 combinations) and very fast paced. Only one area where coop mode made it dificult (fighting the other player to get ahead, the Dice room for those who''ve played it).

This is a very great way to play and in games that I will be working on I will always have this feature with multiplayer modes.

Erik of Ekedahl



I am a madman running through the halls of computer latency, freeing the dark-suckers from their pedistals of atrophy... man I need some sleep.

I''d like to see more coop games too. The problem is many developers have to cut features they planned to put in the game just to ship on time. Big developers like Blizzard almost always put coop play in their game - its just the million other knock-offs that leave it out. For that matter, plenty of console games have coop too. I guess it depends on how much you believe in your project, and how much money you''ve got to play with.