Dear Splash Damage,
I am a fan of your “Brink” game, and I would like to highlight some question, ideas and thoughts.
I found out about the competitive scene of CoD4 when the first competitive mod (aka pam4) came out. Tbh, I never thought there is a method to enjoy a game even more than it supposed to be. Since then I am always trying to find a competitive side of each game, because I am kinda used to it now and I can’t live just playing raw public all day long.
Anyways, the thread isn’t going to be written about me. I’ve been waiting for Brink for quite a long time. It sounded promising, really promising, and couldn’t resist pre-ordering. But it seems that Brink lacks some major develovepment choices, that supposedly should have been taken in a clearer thought before the actual execution. Bottom line: The idea is great, the way that the idea is implemented into the game, is wrong, corruptted, misconfigured, however you’d like to call it. Brink has got the potential to be THE game, unfortunatly it is not.
So here we are, repeating the same points of view that have been given by the critics. I just feel like this supposed to be stuck in your heads, untill you fix and polish the game with the upcoming patches and DLC’s.
Speaking of which, I hope a 5 map and a few weapons pack isn’t going to be considered a DLC, especially when the term, so called Downloadable “CONTENT” is being exploited by huge game companies to earn additional money for their useless effort. These are called pigs… pardon me if I sound harsh, but a fact is a fact.
Back on topic, the game needs to bold its advantage - the SMART system. In Container city I was hoping to get on top of all containers, scope the area and surprise the enemy, or better yet having a risk of falling down if another guy, just as extremist as me, is trying to hunt me. Oh yeah, this reminds you of the official trailer, no ****. Don’t limit the maps by putting a false container texture, because this is rather confusing and frustraiting. Let the players have some freedom across some well built maps, with a huge amount of passages.
Plus, I have seen some great cutscenes in the early gameplays (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juTZZj93cY8 - watch the ending), and I was wondering if they even exist, but no. What’s up with that? did someone in your studio SHIFT+DELETE all the project? so you had to start all over again and end up mixing the multiplayer with singleplayer?. I mean seriously, what is the point of playing a local game with just bots, when you can get the same experiences in the multiplayer? with your friends? there is no point in this.
Another thing is, why were there so many bug and glitches after release? as far as I am aware, there has been a beta test period, so what nobody complained about lags and stuff?. I think you guys rushed for nothing. Don’t be afraid to postpone the release date, in fact the customers will appreciate to have some honesty, why would anybody rush, why?
I think I am done, but in case I have more things on my mind, I will add them in the [EDITED] section/s below.
So, basically, this is what Splash Damage should focus on in my opinion:
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(MUST HAVE) LINUX server files. (ye ye, this has been confirmed, but seriously hurry up because **** windows servers are ****)
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(MUST HAVE) Modtools, such as map editors, mode builders. If you can’t keep up with the community, let the community keep up with itself. And if you do release Modtools, please please please, please, DO NOT limit the amount of modifications.
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(Optional) Record command. There are plenty filmmakers out there, and they want to be able to capture footage great moments without HUD, ingame sound etc… Imagine a “great moment” is being captured with “Fraps” by the player, and then a huge FPS drop is interfering. HORRIBLE. This will also come in handy in the competitive ladders, such as “ESL”, in which you’re taking part managing, I guess?
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(MUST HAVE) Extended command support. I’ve managed to lower some graphic detail and I am struggling to find a comfort, not because my card is weak, but of the fact that there are so many annoying elements that I still cannot get rid of. And that is just one example of hundreds of issues.
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(MUST HAVE) Better maps. Big maps, challenging maps, maps with even more side objectives. A “perfect” map builds to make the players use the SMART system in a smart way.
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(Optional) More customizable options. I hope my imagination isn’t on drugs already, but if there’s a way to widen the variety of customizations, DO IT.
I hope to see SD’s concern about the above written points.
Yurjah
P.S. Excuse me if there are any grammar, spelling mistakes, English is not my mother tongue. (I hope I got that right <;)