Fri, Aug 20, 2010 | 17:18 BST
Interview – Killzone 3 multiplayer designer Dan Nanni
The multiplayer in Killzone3 is going to be big business. Really big business.
When it releases in February, it’ll be a month before Crytek releases Crysis 2 and two months before Gears of War 3 and both game’s multiplayer modes.
We were given the opportunity to see the Guerrilla shooter and it’s multiplayer behind-closed-doors at gamescom, where a fair bit of details on new gameplay modes emerged, and speak with the game’s senior multiplayer designer Dan Nanni.
Read the full interview below the page fold.
[Interview by Johnny Cullen]
VG247: How radically different is the XP system from Killzone 2 into Killzone 3, via the unlock system?
Dan Nanni: The unlock system is going to be more focused on classes rather then badges. In Killzone 2, we threw some badges and mix and matching and getting details on the customisation. We’re going to be giving you the customisation, but it’s going to be more focused on… this is the Marksman.
And the marksman is really good at preventing people from coming close to him, killing them from long-range, causing a lot of confusion close up, so we’re making his abilities tailored to his specific role on the battlefield. And we’re giving you the ability to unlock him when you want to.
In Killzone 2, we said you’ve got the Sniper character way off at the end, you had to play through everything first before you got to him. Right now, we’re saying if you like the Sniper character, right off the bat, unlock him. It’s your call.
If you don’t like the Medic, you don’t have to unlock him until later on. But then again, if you find out you really do like the Medic, you can start spending your points on Medic. It’s all up to you, under your control.
VG247: Okay, so customisation is one of the big key features?
Dan Nanni: Yeah, we wanted to encourage players on not just customisation, but variety. We want players to play the game they feel like playing because not everyone feels like playing the same game.
Would you even say it’s THE big key feature in multiplayer?
Nanni: The big multiplayer features, I’d say, are game modes. Again, I think it goes back to just a lot of different things. The big thing, is more of the idea of variety in Killzone 3.
So you’ll have the unlock system like you mentioned, we’ll have the really extensive points system really tailored to it, we’re going to have Operations mode, we’re going to have Guerrilla Warfare mode, Warzone mode, so it’s all about giving you a lot of options.
What other feedback have you taken back from the community for Killzone 3 multiplayer?
We could talk about, for instance, our laggy controls. It was one of big community requests that felt it was too laggy.
We wanted to keep the weighty feel of our weapons, to make them feel bulky, not like you were flying about and firing these really light weapons, we still wanted the weight there. But we needed to get rid of the lag, and that’s what we did.
So one of the things we did was making sure our weapons still felt like Killzone, but still keeping it lag-free. And if you played through it , I think you noticed that, compared to Killzone 2, it’s a lot more intuitive, lot easier to control.
Even down to the control system, we’re giving alternative control systems that are more like the games you might be playing right now, but we’re still keeping our fans loyal, we want to give them a Killzone control system as well, to give them options.
How much different is Warzone this time round from Killzone 2?
Warzone is pretty much the same, except for what you’re going to be doing in Warzone. Not in the sense of the mission modes, but we’re introducing the points system I talked about. And the points system will encourage people to play Warzone a little more intuitively.
You want to play Team Deathmatch? Maybe even Guerrilla Warfare? We still have Bodycount in Warzone as well. But what we want to say is, if you play Warzone, you’ll earn specific points for it. Assassination, search and destroy, search and retrieve.
And even with Assassination, same gameplay mode, one guy’s the target. Completely changes when you get that guy in XL, and now the assassin is inside an XL. Good luck killing him, he becomes a bit tougher.
You have a little more ability with the Tactician, he can start taking tactical spawn areas in the centre of the map, where everyone can spawn, which can become really good defensive places in some of our maps. Jetpacks add a whole new dynamic to these mission modes.
So we’re introducing so much new stuff that we wanted to keep Warzone kind of like whole. We’ve got all new intuitive gameplay modes, so lets keep Warzone the way it is.
The fans liked it, so there’s no reason to change a formula that works really well. The UI will get a little tweak, you’ll see some things in the background that you might not notice the way we accumulate points and stuff, but the game’s still there.
Obviously, the game has 3D and Move support. How does that affect multiplayer?
It shouldn’t at all. Basically, if you want to play it with Move, here you go. Got a new tool? Try it out, play through it. But if you like the SIXAXIS, go to SIXAXIS.
3D will not affect your performance at all. We make sure we’re not sacrificing anything. If it sacrifices something, we don’t put it out. So if it were a sacrifice, we’d say ‘no, you can’t have it’. But 3D you play it, 2D you play it, no matter what, you have the exact same gameplay experience with no loss of framerate.
You mentioned heavy controls. There were point in there where they didn’t feel as heavy, and responsive at other times. Herman Hulst had previously said these were going to be the most responsive controls ever in a Killzone game. So, is that still being worked on?
We still are still working on it everyday. Designers are perfectionists, and we want to make a really cool experience. So, whenever we get a chance to tweak it, we go for it. So, what you’re playing right now is still real early. It’s Alpha. We’re still tweaking things away, and still getting things in there and making sure all features are working right, but we still have more work to do.
During the EA press conference, the multiplayer for Crysis 2 was revealed, although we haven’t seen Gears of War 3′s multiplayer yet. Killzone 3 is coming out a month before Crysis, and two months before Gears of War. How does it feel to be going up against those two?
To be really honest, it’s really cool to be going up against our competitors. I mean, this industry progresses more and more and more every time a really cool new game comes out. I mean, you release something, and it’s great, and everybody loves it – and then a new game comes out and introduces a new concept you didn’t think about and you just have to admire all the work that they put into it. So, yeah, we’re looking forward to it. We’re looking forward to next year.
Yeah, it’s going to be great. It’s going to be the best three months for multiplayer.
Yes. Hopefully everybody loves it. Every multiplayer in the woodwork’s gonna come out and play.
Killzone 3 is scheduled for release in February 2011.
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Posted in: Hot, Interview, Journalism, PS3, Shooter, Sony, gamescom 2010
Tags: Dan Nanni, Guerrilla Games, Killzone 3
36 comments
#1
reask
20/08/10, 4:50 pm
Gonna take a wait and see approach on this one.
I found 2 just OK.
The potential was there but I felt it just never took off.
That was my feeling anyway.
#2
Ghost_Dog
20/08/10, 4:58 pm
Multiplayer in KZ2 was ace. The maps were really good.
Hopefully this will be just as good, if not better.
#3
Bleak Harvest
20/08/10, 4:59 pm
Cheers, Johnny. Good interview.
#4
theevilaires
20/08/10, 4:59 pm
Why don’t you tell them to just copy COD4 OMG why cant you guys just tell them what feels best for crying out loud!
#5
Erthazus
20/08/10, 5:00 pm
I enjoyed KZ 2 multiplayer but thats just it.
Killzone 3 multiplayer really didn’t show something pretty, but gameplay was nice.
@4 COD 4 was not the best thing there in the running and gunning combat.
#6
theevilaires
20/08/10, 5:07 pm
Ummm yes it was COD4 is the best FPS and everyone needs to copy it just in their own world. Don’t start talking about stuff you don’t know about PC boy. Stick to your mouse and keyboard noob style shooting.
#7
The Hindle
20/08/10, 5:09 pm
Dam it, JC did you get any sales stats for KZ 2?
#8
Erthazus
20/08/10, 5:20 pm
“Ummm yes it was COD4 is the best FPS”
than explain, why it is the best FPS? What it bring new to the FPS genre? I’m talking about gameplay, not the meta gameplay.
If you don’t know, the one who perfected this formula are Counter-Strike series by Valve and some chinese guy. You don’t even know that to begin with.
You don’t know about FPS genre nothing, except something that was created at the 7th generation era.
#9
cookiejar
20/08/10, 5:27 pm
Best FPS was the original and classic Doom. End of.
#10
theevilaires
20/08/10, 5:28 pm
COD4 is very natural to pick and play. The controls are easy to get use to and fun to use with every class. I never played counter strike nor do I need to because I doubt it stands anywhere near COD4 today. Take your stupid retro geekism else where when you talk to me.
I want to see the best graphical shooter (on consoles, let me say that before you bust a gut screaming crysis for PC) with the best game controls to match which happens to be the COD4 set up….and yes that excludes MW2 cause they’re controls are shit too.
#11
Erthazus
20/08/10, 5:37 pm
“I never played counter strike nor do I need to because I doubt it stands anywhere near COD4 today.”
You never played, than it’s your fucking problem.
“COD4 is very natural to pick and play. The controls are easy to get use to and fun to use with every class.”
And this is why it is a best shooter. I got it. I think every fucking FPS that have 90+ metacritic is easy to pick and play.
TEA you are a fucking idiot that knows nothing about FPS games. If you liked COD 4, that does not mean it is the best FPS. When i played it, it was a solid enjoyable first person shooter with OK graphics at that time with absolutely no physics on whatsoever. There is no innovation except of meta gameplay that just in my opinion is a waste of time in all FPS games these days. But thats just an opinion, so someone likes meta gameplay, someone does not.
If you never played Counter-strike:Source or CS 1.6, Battlefield 2 and e.t.c. you know nothing about these type of games. It’s still to this day the most tactical shooter out there.
It’s the most played Online game ever on Steam. + there are a lot of masterpieces like Unreal Tournament 1, 2004 or Quake 3:Arena that also you don’t know about.
So please, go fuck your PS3 somewhere else with PS3 shitty controller.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv1VkmbgnOs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPfaQJuWGvU
Just that is what mouse, keyboard and controller. So go play like disabled in your COD 4. BTW, Call Of Duty series uses Quake 3 engine (there is a link with the video) and you fucking don’t know what is the best to play with mouse and keyboard with ID Tech 3 COD games
sucker.
#12
reask
20/08/10, 5:40 pm
Looks like round 2/Grabs popcorn.
#13
The Hindle
20/08/10, 5:50 pm
LOl ^
#14
cookiejar
20/08/10, 5:54 pm
Its like when dogs are on heat, and they get stuck together. Whos got the bucket of water?
#15
Sardauk
20/08/10, 6:32 pm
What is wrong with @11 ? What a no-life comment…
#16
mojo
20/08/10, 7:26 pm
Looking forward to the game.
Killzone 2 imo was superd SP (yes ive heard of other opinions), havent played MP much, but seemed good fun.
As for MW:
A fucking pile of horseshit.
Dont buy or play this game for the better of gaming as a whole.
But its to late anyway. The methods used there allready lurked into every other game.
Gratz u killed a piece of gaming culture!
The game itself maybe is ok, but the structure and the way its working (mp wise) is a craphouse.
Someone knows why serverbrowsers getting so rare? or actualy never realy made it onto consoles?
that is imo the basement of a good online fps. just the ability to play one particular game. it incredibaly adds top the game if u have places of different types and regular players. it realy is a key for a fun mp imo.
and whatever u say, using friend invites is just not the same.
“I never played counter strike nor do I need to because I doubt it stands anywhere near COD4 today.”
well im biased on this, but in no way can mw2 cope with CS. played how its supposed to (that does not mean public server) nothing comes close. imo! played it 4 years straight with nothing else inbetween. i know ppl playing it since beta until this day. it has a soul and a decreasing, but still strong and loyal community and nearly its own subculture. MW has nothing like that. no modern fps has that in a way CS and other older games have it. they have a glimpse of it until “the next big thing” is out.
you can add killstreak, perks and what else at the end of the day there is just gameplay. fiurthermore cs is a tactical fps. mw2 surely is not. in reality its just a giant FFA, like most modern shooters. its basicaly in most cases down to a 1on1 situation. maybe quake and the likes are a better compare (where it looses again. played quake in the early days for quite some time, but only public)
Add to that the non existing, in my world, basic mp features, like server browser, setting up a own server, making adjustments like some guns forbidden or whatever u think of to creaty a more broad variety of experiencing the game and a lot more and it leaves a impression of a not-so-great game. Hype ftw. ppl who dont know better, u cant realy blame them. And just because almsot every other game is a pile of horseshit too compared to earlier shooters doenst make MW better. The whole genre goes down the drain imo.
Yes u can blame almost every modern shooter for that, but to say MW is better then the online fps’s from the time where gaming was king is just silly in my eyes.
No offence, pls dont shitstorm now.
its just one opinion of one freak from 7 billion freaks out there.
#17
Gekidami
20/08/10, 7:29 pm
Apparently KZ3 has a “Rewritten matchmaking system” so dont count on there being a server list anymore. They suck anyway imo.
#18
theevilaires
20/08/10, 7:40 pm
More power to you Erthazus, you PC geek freak. I hope one day you have a powerful enough computer that can render you a girlfriend so she can take that mouse out of your ass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHRhbd6_Zzg&feature=related
I say we need a sequel to this movie starring Erthazus and BDH!
Now back to the topic. KZ3 Graphics + COD4 feel of controls = BIG WIN
#19
Erthazus
20/08/10, 7:59 pm
@18 Yeah, right. I’m so PC geek that have Ps3 and the Wii. I’m a gamer that wants the best from all worlds and really don’t care about your battles.
“I hope one day you have a powerful enough computer that can render you a girlfriend so she can take that mouse out of your ass. ”
If you want that so much go to the 3D Studio Max lessons and you can create what you want.
“KZ3 Graphics + COD4 feel of controls = BIG WIN”
Just my two cents: Only casual audience wants COD controls at the Killzone.
Killzone 2 controls were unique and perfect and every game must have each own controls no matter what.
I have no problems over COD controls or Killzone controls or Battlefield controls. They are all perfect in each own section.
It’s the same thing when Casual audience complain about LittleBigPlanet floaty jumps and wants Mario jump stuff.
#20
mojo
20/08/10, 8:07 pm
TEA, i always liked u, but ur stupid tardness gets out of hand. Work that otherwise theres no justification anymore to take u serious in_any_way(!). thats allready hard enough.
jsut dont start about the real life shit.
ppl ure blaming propably have more experience in life than u would think. i bet.
u know nothing about the ppl writing here, saying ur mom had sex with joe ramone has just as much justification.
Geki, why u think serverlists suck? i dont realy get that.
#21
theevilaires
20/08/10, 8:25 pm
well i do have a problem with Killzone 2 controls when you have to shoot from the hip cause aiming down your target is damn near impossible to get a kill with.
Doing it in COD4 gives me better precision and makes the game more fun when you can actually win at using a gun properly. Blame it on lag or whatever in KZ2 (not lag from PSN, just the game is sluggish period) but they need to go the COD4 route plain and simple. Theres a reason COD4 has sold more units on PS3 than KZ2 and don’t give me that COD4 was out earlier bull crap. MP sucked pretty much in KZ2.
MOJO: join the I don’t give a fuck what you think about me boat. I say whats on my mind. Did I offend you by calling Erthzaus a PC geek freak and he needs a GF……awww did I hit close to home poor baby. I must have because I don’t see you saying shit to O’Connor, Gadzooks!, and the rest of the XBOT groupies when they attack me calling me names. So STFU MOFO.
Go in the corner and cry with Gadzooks! with a grease monkey script. I don’t have time to hear your crying too. Its embarrassing when you people come out of nowhere to publicly let the world know I hurt your feelings. Do yourself a favor and keep your crying behind your PC monitor please. Amazing how you completely by pass his #11 comment and directly attack me for telling him he needs a GF…..wow you really must have thought that crack was about you to say something….seriously do you need a GF buddy?
#22
Gekidami
20/08/10, 8:27 pm
@20
Server lists tend to lead to more empty games because people arent automatically placed in them and its wide open to stat padding to. KZ2 had a massive stat padding problem because it used server lists.
#23
mojo
20/08/10, 8:39 pm
lol tea. your lovely.
and for the record, i did say shit to gadzocks once. gadzocks is a pure troll. thats why i dont feed him.
Sometimes its better not to say anything and let ppl think ur an idiot, instead of open your mouth and clear all doubts.
for the girlfiend and comment #11 thing: i didnt atack u.
This is the internet, it is in its current condition per definition not suited to judge about RL things.
who are u to judge him anyway.
Im not argueing coz of dumb flames, im argueing about facts.
but leave it now, it gets silly.
im out here.
Gek: yeah some get empty, but there are still plenty of populated? tbh, a serverlist is not as usefull if u dont have permanent servers.
Why cant they just give out gameservers (the software) and ppl can set up a permanent server on a unix or windows machine? dont tell me its impossible, it isnt.
Sure, not everybody would be able to do this, but that was also not the case with every other fps that offers that option. And it always worked well.
#24
Gekidami
20/08/10, 9:05 pm
Whilst its true that theres always populated ones about, if you’re on a server then, say 10 people suddenly leave theres a chance those slots will never get filled again.
See, people always aim for the most populated servers when they can choose, if you happen to be in one without that many people in your only real choice is to quit and find a new server because where you are isnt appealing. Thats not the case with matchmaking, say in MW2 you can be in a game and have the whole enemy team quit (this happened to me last night btw) a 15 sec timer will start till you auto win but because new players are automatically placed in games there will be a full new enemy team to fight in about 2 mins. In the same match, no quitting or loading needed and before the timer can count down to 15secs.
There are also a few other things i dislike, as i mentioned, stat padding was ridiculous in KZ2. Theres also the annoying errors like that stupid “server full” message then you got taken back to the first MP menu. And theres also more chance you’ll play against new people with matchmaking because its not the same set of people going from match to match instantly.
IMO matchmaking is the better system.
#25
theevilaires
20/08/10, 9:26 pm
Mojo I wasn’t judging him I was insulting him. Theres a difference. Just like he insults me I dish it back. Its all in good fun I don’t take it serious and neither does he or anyone else. No one is threatening anyone and when that happens it clear its becoming serious.
So as long as it doesn’t get to that point please don’t jump in the middle of the crossfire when I’m verbally at war with another geek like myself about video games. I know we’re gamers and all and have infinite lives but come one Erthazus deserves a good spanking from time to time.
#26
Redh3lix
20/08/10, 10:44 pm
Upmost respect to Erthazus, he know’s what he’s talking about regarding FPS gaming.
#27
Erthazus
20/08/10, 11:09 pm
“well i do have a problem with Killzone 2 controls when you have to shoot from the hip cause aiming down your target is damn near impossible to get a kill with.”
It’s your problem if you suck with the controller or controls. They are absolutely fine and unique to the gameplay/First Person Shooter mechanic. I enjoyed them a lot, how i did enjoyed them in Crysis 1 that have similarities and differences.
Call Of Duty is just another story. They are the same like in Quake 3 arena or games that uses that engine. They are perfect for the “Fast Precision” that were realised in the Quake 3 long time ago. But again, Call Of Duty and Killzone series are absolutely different games with the different engines and gameplay. What possible there is impossible there no matter what you want.
@Redh3lix, thank you very much, sir.
#28
theevilaires
20/08/10, 11:24 pm
Erthazus shut up because I will kick your ass in any FPS on the PS3. Stop bringing up PCs you you moron. I don’t give a crap where COD engine originated from all I know is its the best FPS on consoles and thats what I play the most. Consoles not PC with retarded mouse and keyboard controls.
and of course COD and Killzone are absolutely two different games….holy shit thanks for reminding me I though they took place in parallel universes dummy. Stop trying to add fluff to your senseless argument. You wanna see how bad I suck then add me on PSN so I can wipe the floor with you in KZ2 and COD4…..come on PC boy or will you be helpless without your high tech keyboard and mouse.
#29
Erthazus
20/08/10, 11:32 pm
“Erthazus shut up because I will kick your ass in any FPS on the PS3″
Haha, i nail’d you.
Never. You think that i started playing with gamepad yesterday? I play on gamepad on par with mouse and keyboard.
We can play Killzone 2, i don’t have Call Of duty on the PS3 and don’t want to purchase it.
and playing on gamepad is not a sport at all. No precision, no fun. When both teams have experience in FPS gaming you can clearly see that with m&k.
#30
theevilaires
21/08/10, 1:24 am
Just as I thought you’re so bad with a controller that KZ2 sluggish MP factors in your horrible skills and actually some how makes you good at that game alone. I don’t know how its possible but it must be the reason why you’re so crazy about it.
But I knew you wouldn’t take my challenge. I’ll send you back to your PC crying!
#31
Kuwabara
21/08/10, 1:57 am
seriously any ps3 owners who feel that cod4 is better than kz2 are idiots. Why did u guys bother buying the ps3 if ur not going to appreciate the console exclisives!!
#32
Psychotext
21/08/10, 2:08 am
I preferred Killzone 2 to MW2… but that’s such a stupid statement. A better game is a better game, a worse game is a worse game… and something being exclusive doesn’t mean you have to appreciate it more than something which isn’t.
Unless you’re TEA, but he’s got issues.
#33
Ahmad.com
22/08/10, 12:30 am
Great Game !! = Great online
Really We Are Waiting For Killzone3
iThink Its will be Better then COD:BO
#34
theevilaires
22/08/10, 4:56 am
I do have issues but I must say COD4 is the best FPS (to me). Hell I rather play COD4 with that horrible 360 controller than KZ2 online….Plus I hate always playing team match games….teams make me lose and I hate losing
(BFBC2 team mate noobs are pissing me off atm)
#35
Gekidami
22/08/10, 6:41 am
^ As much as i prefer KZ2′s more balanced gameplay i do hate its lack of free for all. Its not even a mode i play, but the the fact that the option isnt there sucks.
Unfortunately one of the devs said over on the US Playstation forums not to expect it in KZ3 either…
#36
Crysis
22/08/10, 8:39 am
the title of the best shooter… i do not know, shouldn’t it go down to preferance & opinion? like if i said Haze was the best shooter, i would be flamed with constant insults(i know Haze is not great, it’s not even good, it has such a generic feel about it, but others may argue that they enjoy the game so in the endd it’s down to preferance) i never played counter strike, so i clearly cannot say it’s the best FPS, i have played CoD4 & can say that it’s definately not the best FPS-but that’s my opinion, but the best modern shooter i have played, imo, is Battlefield 2, modern combat on the ps2, say what you will but that’s my opinion, but FPS isn’t my favourite genre, heck i don’t have one, i like the individual game, genre just defines the style & obviously i do not have one, 1 minute i’m playing SmackDown! vs RAW, next is Fifa, then I’m playing Dawn of War, or Left 4 Dead, another time i’m playing Uncharted or Assassins creed & every now & then war for cybertron or even halo, as you can see i’m not overloaded with any particular genre, ofc i have a few more fps than i do rts, but that’s because there’s fewer gems in the rts genre right now