Re: Left 4 Dead
I think you guys are hitting on some of the points, but beyond being different types of first-person shooters, there are some things even at the psyche level that I think play into it.
First off, I do agree that L4D is an experience that is best enjoyed with friends (but you can say that about most any online-based game).
Beyond that though, COD is the type of game where you can hop in by yourself and succeed. You can feel like a total badass while just running and gunning, and that's what the COD series really nailed during the last few versions especially. I mean you can still play a more realistic/hardcore game-type as well, but either way there are options.
And, I think in addition to that, COD is the type of game where you are constantly on attack. You don't sit around and wait for people to shoot (there are campers obviously, but I would argue it's pretty hard to succeed whilst camping in that game). You go out, you attack, you get perks, and you rack up kills. It's straight forward and it's a game where you always are building towards something.
L4D is a game where you have to get into a different mindset. It is really about survival. In the game I don't feel like a badass most of the time, I'm simply trying to watch my back and my teammates and not die. You are tying to make it from point A to point B without getting mauled, so you're not necessarily in pursuit of the next kill. That's a big difference between the two games beyond just base-level stuff like controls and tactile feel.
If you hop in by yourself and play with randoms or the CPU, there just isn't that draw for most people, because surviving by yourself is just scary or well, not worth it. So you survived, kudos, but that's not a good bonus in a video game by itself without other elements building on it.
COD will always give you bonuses, say good job in so many words, and make you feel awesome all over. It's a total pat on the ***-like game, and the solo attitude can work.
L4D is at a basic level about just not dying, and thus, the reward is simply survival. You make your own fun along the way, and giggling with your friends as you escape a horde, or make fun of someone when you maul them in Versus mode are things that become more enjoyable at the social level, but you get those social perks through the game.
I think you guys are hitting on some of the points, but beyond being different types of first-person shooters, there are some things even at the psyche level that I think play into it.
First off, I do agree that L4D is an experience that is best enjoyed with friends (but you can say that about most any online-based game).
Beyond that though, COD is the type of game where you can hop in by yourself and succeed. You can feel like a total badass while just running and gunning, and that's what the COD series really nailed during the last few versions especially. I mean you can still play a more realistic/hardcore game-type as well, but either way there are options.
And, I think in addition to that, COD is the type of game where you are constantly on attack. You don't sit around and wait for people to shoot (there are campers obviously, but I would argue it's pretty hard to succeed whilst camping in that game). You go out, you attack, you get perks, and you rack up kills. It's straight forward and it's a game where you always are building towards something.
L4D is a game where you have to get into a different mindset. It is really about survival. In the game I don't feel like a badass most of the time, I'm simply trying to watch my back and my teammates and not die. You are tying to make it from point A to point B without getting mauled, so you're not necessarily in pursuit of the next kill. That's a big difference between the two games beyond just base-level stuff like controls and tactile feel.
If you hop in by yourself and play with randoms or the CPU, there just isn't that draw for most people, because surviving by yourself is just scary or well, not worth it. So you survived, kudos, but that's not a good bonus in a video game by itself without other elements building on it.
COD will always give you bonuses, say good job in so many words, and make you feel awesome all over. It's a total pat on the ***-like game, and the solo attitude can work.
L4D is at a basic level about just not dying, and thus, the reward is simply survival. You make your own fun along the way, and giggling with your friends as you escape a horde, or make fun of someone when you maul them in Versus mode are things that become more enjoyable at the social level, but you get those social perks through the game.
Comment