Level Up.pdf

262 LEVEL 10 The Elements of Combat
regenerating health, promotes “ attack then retreat ” strategies. Vehicles play
a big part of the gameplay as well.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has a multiplayer mode that concentrates
on short- range combat with intense action. Players can concentrate on
upgrading their weapons and characters like in an RPG.
Team Fortress 2 resembles an RPG but the players assume widely varying
skill - based roles. The game modes promote teamwork over single player
actions.
Left4Dead is also all about teamwork; in fact, you can ’ t win without it. While
most multiplayer shooters match opponents one - to - one, Left4Dead pits a
handful of players against an endless horde of zombies. Game modes
resemble stories more than in other shooters.
Even in games where shooting isn ’ t the main focus of play, ranged combat
can immediately change the dynamic of the game. This is why I recommend
that if a game isn ’ t a shooter then guns should be saved until later in the
game. Let the player get used to their moves and attacks without a gun first.
When you feel like they ’ ve learned all they can, then go ahead and arm them.
Creative Director Hardy LeBel, who has designed many successful shooters
like Halo: Combat Evolved and SOCOM 3, says that ranged combat is about
building a distinctive rhythm. There are several factors that influence that
rhythm such as targeting methods, reload times, weapon fire rate, weapon
accuracy, rate of fire and lethality, the availability of ammunition, the
availability of area - of- effect weapons like grenades, player health mechanics,
and so on. Even level design, AI behavior and mechanics all contribute to
that rhythm. Whew! That ’ s a lot to digest at once, so let ’ s start with the
three As: action, aiming and ammo.
Action is the loading, firing and unloading of a gun. Here are some
questions you need to ask about a weapon ’ s action: