n o f M u l t i p la ye r

Evolut i o
w a y s to p la y together
Inventing ne w
Speakers

Rocky Forehand
Ben Bricker
Nate Niederkorn
Jared Hagans
Ian Freshwater
Jacob Grealy
 y o f M ul t i pl a ye r
His t o r
k ed M u lt ip la ye r Games
Non-Networ
 r d e Ga m e s
f M u l t ip l a y e 7 0 ’ s Ar ca
His tory o

Early games, Computer Space

consisting up to 2
players alternating
turns.
Computer Space
(1971) – the first
commercially released
video game.
 r d e Ga m e s
f M u l t ip l a y e 7 0 ’ s Ar ca
History o

Pong (1972) – the first

successful
commercially released
video game.
Multiplayer gaming
has been born!
 ip l a y e r l de n A g e
tory of Mult G o
His
1 to 2 player
games
(alternating
turns)

Space Invaders (1978)

Asteroids (1979)
Pac-Man (1980)
 f M u l t ip l a y e r 1 9 8 0 ’s
History o
a i (1 9 8 5 ) - It is c o n si d e re d a
Island of Kesm
n n e r o f m o d e rn M M O R P G s. T his
major foreru
e a v a ila b le in 1 9 8 5 fo r $ 1 2 .0 0
game becam
C o m p u S e rv e o n li n e se rv ic e
per hour via the
p to o n e h u n d re d p la y e rs.
and supported u
 f M u l t ip l a y e r 1 9 9 0 ’s
History o
- c o n sid e re d a s o n e o f th e
Doom (1993)
e e ri n g fi rs t- p e rs o n sh o o te r se ries.
pion
o rt e d b y L A N u p to 4 p la y ers .
Supp
 f M u l t i p l a y e r ’s
H i s t o r y o 1 9 9 0

Warcraft (1994) -
Introduced multiplayer
facilities were essential
for future RTS titles.

Allows two players to

compete in multiplayer
contests by modem or
local networks.
 f M u l t i p l a y e r ’s
H i s t o r y o 1 9 9 0

The Lost Vikings -

The player controls three
different characters (only
one at any given time),
and must make use of
their individual abilities
and work as a team to
solve puzzles and
progress.
 f M u l t ip l a y e r 1 9 9 0 ’s
History o
Golden Eye (1997) The multiplayer mode
allows two, three, or
four players to
compete against each
other in five different
types of split screen
death-match games.
 f M u l t ip l a y e r 1 9 9 0 ’s
History o
Games are up to
4 players
simultaneously.
 l e s s M ul t i p la y e r
S e am
 u l ti p l a y e r W ha t i s i t?
Seamless M
n ju m p in a n d o u t o f o th e r
● Players ca
o rl d s, p lay in g a s a n N P C .
player’s w

e s u se p e rs is te n t wo rl ds, th a t
● Some gam
is shared by all players.

e s h a v e p la y e rs a lw a y s a ble to
● Other gam
it h e a c h o th e r w it h o u t be in g
interact w
NPCs.
 u l ti p l a y e r E x a mp l e s
Seamless M

Journey
Watch Dogs h e r p la yers
En c o un te r o t
Play as NPCs while online
 u l ti p l a y e r E x a mp l e
Seamless M

Destiny
is shar ed by al l on li ne pl ay er s
Persistent, shared world that
 s M u l ti p l a y e r W at c h _ D o g s
Se a m l e s

able to ju m p in to othe r w or lds and play

● Players are
as NPCs.

m ai n play er to ne ve r kn ow if the
● This causes the
NPC is an AI or other player.
 u l ti p l a y e r J o ur n e y
Seamless M

te r ot he rs w hi le pl ay in g th ro ugh
● Players can encoun
their single player game.

ot co m m unicat e w it h each ot her, but

● Players cann
r.
are allowed to assist each othe
 s M u l ti p l a y e r D e s t iny
Seamle s

ar e in a sh ar ed w or ld th at pe rsists even
● Player s
when they are not playing.

th e ab il it y to pl ay w it h or w ithout others
● They have to gether.
an d ca rr yi ng ou t m is si on s
by joining up
 M u l ti p l a y e r ?
S e am l e s s
Why

to play w it h ot he rs ha s al w ay s been
● The option line
as ev id en t w it h co -o p an d on
appealing,
multiplayer.

pl ay er is like co -o p ca m pa ig ni ng or
● Seamless multi ut sw itching
he ne ve r yo u wan t, w it ho
versus mode w
out of single player mode.

y to ju m p ri gh t in gi ve s pl ay er s more
● The abilit others.
d op po rt un it ie s to pl ay w it h
options an
 u lt i p l a y e r
Winless M
 l ti p l a y e r a t is i t ?
Winless Mu Wh

o p o ss ible w a y to win th e g am e.
● N

la y e rs fig h t to g e th e r to su rv iv e.
● P

la y e rs h av e d ied , th e g a m e
● Once all p
ends
 M u l ti p l a y e r E x a m p le s
Winless

Call o f D u ty: Z o m bie s M od e

Endless Waves of Zombies
 M u l ti p l a y e r E x a m p le s
Winless

Halo 3: ODST - Firefight Mode

Winless Sets of Enemies
 ti p l a y e r b i e s M o d e
W i nl e s s M u l Zo m

rk to g e th e r to fig h t wa v es o f
● Players wo
zombies.
 ti p l a y e r f ig ht M o d e
W i nl e s s M u l Fire

g h e n dle ss se ts o f ro u n d s
● Players fight throu
of enemies. s
sta rt s o n c e a ll th e ro u n d
● A new, harder set
th e p re vio us se t is c o m p le ted .
of
 s s Mo d e s ?
Why Winle
r’ s g o a l is to su rvive a s lo n g as
● The playe
they can.

a te s p la y e rs to kee p im p ro v in g.
● This motiv

s o b ta in in g n e w w eap on s
● Other goals such a
il ls m o tiv ate th e pla y e rs to
or new sk
continue playing.
 s i v e M ul t i p la y e r
P as
 l ti p l a y e r a t is i t ?
Passive Mu Wh

a lo n e w h e n y o u c an p la y alo n e
“Why play
together?”

n li n e , b u t n o t “ p la y e d ” o n li n e.
● O
P la y e rs do n o t in te ra c t d ir e ctl y
●
● Data is shared
y e r w it h M u lt ip la y e r Ele me n ts
● Single-Pla
 i p l a y e r S t r e e t P a s s
Pa ss iv e Mu l t 3 D S

Nintendo 3DS StreetPass

o rt -r a ng e c o m m u n ica ti o n
● Utilizes 3DS sh
t D a ta o f o th e r p la y ers y o u p ass
● Collec
s
● Use their character in game

http://cdn.medialib.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/screens/dir_509/image_50901.jpg
http://nintendoconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/streetpass-mii-plaza.jpg
 i p l a y e r S t r e e t P a s s
Pa ss iv e Mu l t 3 D S
 Mu l ti p l a y e r E x a m p les
Passive

Dark Souls

● Orange Soapstone
Messages

● Blood Stains

http://analogaddiction.files.wordpress.
com/2013/11/dark-souls-2-message.jpg
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.
net/__cb20131115182725/darksouls/images/8/85/Bl
oodstain.jpg
 Mu l ti p l a y e r E x a m p les
Passive
Dragon’s Dogma
● Pawn System
(Similar to StreetPass)
● Ur-Dragon

Super Mario Bros. U

● Miiverse Messages
● Ghost Players
 Mu l ti p l a y e r E x a m p les
Passive

Need for speed: Hot Pursuit

re - R a c e ti m es a n d e v e n t
“Autolog” Featu
lo a d e d to se rv e r, th en se en b y
times up
friends.

Kerbal Space Program

LiveFeed Passive [Mod]
se e o th e rs ’ cu rr en t st a tu s,
Allows players to
.
ship, etc. Chat interaction only
 l es s M ul t i p la y er
G o a l
 u l ti p l a ye r W ha t i s i t?
Goalless M

● Offers no goal

● Players make a goal

p la y e rs to m ak e th e ir o w n
● Designed for

play style
 u l ti p l a ye r E xa m p l e s
Goalless M

Minecraft Animal Crossing

Bounded Creativity
Unbounded Creativity
Fixed Environment
Destructible Environment
 l a ye r l C r o s s in g
l es s M u l ti p A n ima
Goal

e
● Maintain your villag
hbors
● Befriend animal neig
o ra te a n d u p g ra d e y o ur home
● Dec
 s M u l ti p l a ye r M u l t i p l a ye r
Go a l l es

village
● Everyone visits one person’s
Ca n do th e sa m e th in gs as in single player
●
rp os e as id e fr om sh arin g/ pl ay ing together
● No real pu
 ye r a d e G o a ls
s M u l ti p l a P la y e r- M
Goalles

● Net Tag
● Bug or Fish Catching Contest
● Hide & Seek
 u l ti p l a ye r M i n e c r a f t
Goalless M

● Survival Game
Fi nd Resour ces, Figh t M on sters, Craft
●
ld
● Build and Reshape your Wor
 s M u l ti p l a ye r M u l t i p l a ye r
Go a l l es

Ev er yo ne vi si ts on e pe rs on ’s world
●
th e sa m e th in gs as in si ng le player
● Can do
as id e fr om sh ar in g/ pl aying to gether
● No real purpose
 ye r a d e G o a ls
s M u l ti p l a P la y e r- M
Goalles

● Install adventure
maps to play
● Maps made by
others
● Similar to text
based games
 ye r a d e G o a ls
s M u l ti p l a P la y e r- M
Goalles

8:35
 e r G a m e p la y
s M u l ti p l a y D e si g ni n g
Goalles
● Animal Crossing
added timer &
hammer tools

● New Leaf added

minigames

● Minecraft added
creative mode
 s M u l ti p l a ye r G r i e f i ng
Goalles

m o n a m o n g g o a ll e ss m u lt ip la yer
Com
 s M u l ti p l a ye r G r i e f i ng
Goalles

● Players get bored

● Start ruining things
 e r g G r i e f in g
s M u l ti p l a y Co m bat i n
Goalles

● Quit Without Saving Feature

● World Backups
● Kicking/Banning
● Permissions
Alway s O nl i n e
 “ F e a tu r e ”
Al ways Online

v e rtis e d “ A lw a y s O n li n e ” a s
Companies have ad n s
fits th e so c ia l in tera c ti o
a feature that bene
between players.

u t it m a in ly ju st se rv es a s la z y
Perhaps, b
Digital Rights Management.
 M a n a g e m e n t
Digit a l R ig hts

y e d w it h o u t a n in te rn e t
The game cannot be pla
connection.
h o ld e r’ s p u rc h a se o f c o n ten t
-Verify account
 M a n a g e m e n t
Digit a l R ig hts
 M a n a g e m e n t
Digit a l R ig hts

Problems:
e s, g e ne ra l p u b lic b ac kla sh
Server issu
 w a y s O nl i n e
Al

w ith o ut a n y o n li n e p la y ers :
Game can persist

s fo r A sy n c h ro n o us M u lt ip la ye r
This allow
 s M u l t ip l ay e r
Asyn c hr o no u

a g a m e “ to g eth e r” w it h o u t
Players can play
b e in g on li n e a t th e sa m e ti me
actually
 s M u l t ip l ay e r
Asyn c hr o no u

One player takes a

turn, then waits for
another player to
come online and take
their turn.
 s M u l t ip l ay e r
Asyn c hr o no u
Can be applied to
turn-based games
with significant
complexity
 t r i c a l G am e p l ay
Asym me
 m ep l a y W h a t i s i t ?
tr ic a l Ga
Asymme

Asymmetrical Gameplay is a form of

multiplayer in video games in which
multiple players can play the same
game simultaneously in different ways.
Source: Wikipedia.org
 c a l Ga m ep l a y Maps
Asy m m etr i

Asymmetrical Maps

-Multiplayer maps/arenas that are

not symmetrical in shape and/or
offer different advantages and
disadvantages with player/team
start positions.
 c a l Ga m ep l a y Maps
Asy m m etr i

Symmetrical Maps

Derelict, Halo Facing Worlds, Unreal Tournament

 c a l Ga m ep l a y Maps
Asy m m etr i
Zanzibar, Halo 2
 c a l Ga m ep l a y Maps
Asy m m etr i
Strike at Karkand, Battlefield 2
 c a l Ga m ep l a y Abilities
Asy m m etr i

Asymmetrical Abilities

-Multiplayer where players/teams

have unique abilities and play styles
from other players/teams.
 c a l G a me p l ay Abilities
As y m met r i
P r o t o ss ; S t ar c r a ft
Terran, Zerg,
 c a l G a me p l ay Abilities
As y m met r i
Champions ; League of Legends
 p l a y iv e s / Go a l s
ic a l Ga m e O b j ec t
Asymmetr

Asymmetrical Objectives/Goals

-Multiplayer where different

players/teams have completely
different objectives than other
players/teams.
 p l ay iv e s / Go a l s
i c a l G a me O b j ec t
Asymmetr
Terrorists and Counter Terrorists, Counter Strike
 me p l ay i v e s / G o a l s
t r i c a l G a O b j e c t
Asymme
Humans and Zombies, Left 4 Dead 2
 c a l Ga m ep l a y Wii U
Asy m m etr i

Wii U and Asymmetrical Gameplay

-Nintendo designed the Wii U and it’s

Tablet controller specifically with
Asymmetrical Gameplay in mind.
 c a l G a m e p l a y Wii U
As y m m e tr i

VS
 c al G a m e p l ay Wii U
As y m m et r i
Mario Chase, Nintendo Land
 ep l a y d v a n t a g e s
tr ic a l Ga m A
Asymme

-More Variety

it io na l S k ill / S tra teg y / D ep th

-Add

re la te d to the re al w o rl d
-More closely
 l a y a n t a g e s
tr ic a l Ga m ep Di s a dv
Asy m m e
lan c e c o m p e ti tiv e g a m ep la y
-Harder to ba

e r lea rn in g c urv e for ne w pla y ers

-High

e v e lo p m e n t ti m e / re so u rc e s
-Additional d

pro ne to b u g s / un e x p e c te d
-More
interactions
 e o f M ul t i pl a y e r
Fut u r
 u l ti p l a y e r
Future of M
Three major factors:

-Technology

-User Experience

-Business
 u l ti p l a y e r
Future of M

Technology
-Nintendo Wii U
-Microsoft Smart
Glass
-Playstation Vita

Increase in nonstandard multiplayer

such such as Asymmetrical
gameplay

User Experience
Users are growing tired
of playing the same
games
 u l ti p l a y e r
Future of M

Technology
Smart phones;
-Small intervals of time
-Sporadic internet
connection

Increase in Passive and

Asynchronous multiplayer

User Experience
Increase in “casual” gamers
-prefer slow paced simple
gameplay
 u l ti p l a y e r
Future of M

Technology
-Current games push graphics
hardware to it’s limit

Decrease in offline multiplayer and increase

in always online games.

Buisness
-Offline multiplayer can be played
with one copy of a game

-Easier to pirate offline games

 u l ti p l a y e r
Future of M
Technology
-Internet speeds and percentage of
users with internet access are
continually increasing
-Larger integration of internet with
next generation game consoles

User Experience
-Most Users (70%*) do not finish
Increase in multiplayer games of all
single player games
kinds including seamless, winless
-People are social beings and in
and goalless multiplayer.
general like to experience things with
others

Business
Creating single player experiences is
expensive:
-Programmers to program AI
-Artists to create assets
-Designers/Authors to create *According to Steam Statistics
story
 n o f M u l t i p la ye r
Evolut i o
w a y s to p la y together
Inventing ne w