Online multiplayer one could argue is a fantastic step in bringing players from round the world to enjoy an experience as one big happy family. On the other hand, its a needless, forced attempt by developers to create a half-arsed campaign, where prepubescent teenagers wont shut their bloody traps and having your race and/or sexuality questioned is the norm. Online multiplayer nowadays seems like an outdated expression like saying "bootleg" for a pirate DVD. I say this because multiplayer as I know it has virtually disappeared. Gone are the days of screen watching and being able to slap your opponent across the gums when they kill you - now its replaced with connection problems and huge amounts of racism. I cant tell you the number of times Ive been playing online and have had some little git scream things down the mic like some overweight American from the Bible belt. This is one of the issues I have with online multiplayer because it gives people complete anonymity to say whatever they want - and even though Im all for freedom of speech, it doesnt mean everyone else wants to hear you screaming abuse out of your mouth because you believe using "big boy" language means youre ard as bloody nails. Which brings me to my next problem I have with gamers online: how they shift the blame of their own cack-handedness to lag, or their controllers broken, or their teammates are noobs, or theres a whale sitting in front of the television. They can never just tip their hat to an opponent who has bested them in that encounter, dust themselves off and try again. Its always: 3hhh lag, my controllers buttons arent working, OMG my teammatez R n00bsz. Why they feel complaining through their high pitched voice will make any other player give a rats arse about their current situation makes my head unhappy. Another statement I loathe is: OMG u haz n0 lif3, thatz y u kill3d me completely unaware that theyve been playing for ten hours straight. Oh, sorry darling, I forgot that ten hours is an acceptable play length, but anything over that means you have no life. Also, like a gentleman with broken knees, I cannot stand people who leave their mic on constantly throughout the match like theyre providing a running commentary in case we all got confused and start baking pies instead of shooting the hell out of each other. The developers have provided an on-off button; we dont have to listen to every cough, every snivel and every other noise that leaks out your body like a cracked boiler. Lastly, receiving messages from gamers in a match youre participating in, which, are normally nothing more than a lame insult, or making doubly sure that you understand that the only reason you killed them is lag or and other reason Ive said above. What honestly makes me depressed is the fact that all this technology is being used to be a complete douche towards your fellow man (or women). What it boils down to is the fact that most gamers arent mature enough to use this equipment they buy, but unfortunately theres nothing we can do about that. Unless I rise to power and instigate an incredibly unforgiving law in which all participants who wish to enjoy an online experience must pass some form of test like balancing a plate on their head or something. I know I have spent the last three paragraphs bashing gamers like baby seals, but you are to blame. However, I do place more blame on the developers who would rather spend their time and money creating something that will never be as popular as the COD franchise. I almost feel sorry for them... they see the overwhelming successes of titles like MW3, Battlefield, Halo etc. and only want that for their titles. This is why you cant blink without seeing some FPS shooter boasting about creating the next step in online gaming. Using words like innovative and future which is great because I didnt know the future was in the here and now; I thought this was the present, silly old me. As soon as developers start and push their multiplayer feature, there has to be some give somewhere else and unfortunately that usually affects the campaign. Take the hugely successful MW3 which I mentioned above. The plot seems to be written by a paranoid gun crazy bloke with the stars and stripes in one hand and a massive moustache in the other. MW3 cleverly explains the complexities and political complications of war by just blaming a guy with an ethnic sounding name. This is why I think with Black Ops 2, Treyarch and created an amazingly bizarre scene where you take control of Raul Menendez (the bad guy) in an attempt to try and attach some identity and despondency towards him: I supposed it would have worked if the scene wasnt him blaring at the top of his lungs wielding a massive machete and cutting everyone in sight without any consequence. However, the reason COD sells like delicious crack isnt the terrible underwhelming plot, but the incredibly addictive multiplayer; and I understand that. But,dont argue with me and say no-one buys COD for the story and not expect me to have a hissy fit over the forty pound price. If COD is merely an online multiplayer, Id expect a price that reflects that.
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