Will it be enough to help the game sell?
[dropcap size=small]A[/dropcap]fter the Titanfall 2 technical test last weekend, many players lit up the internet with criticisms of the game. The criticisms ranged from map layout to how fast players can earn their titans. The developer for the game, Respawn, seems to have taken these criticisms to heart and making some changes.
In a statement Respawn said that they are changing how the Titan acquisition system will work. Instead of just having the Titan timer go down based off of kills, the timer will also go down a small amount during the course of the game, similar to how it was in the first Titanfall. The developers also increased mobility for Titans and pilots so they can traverse the larger maps faster and speed up the pace of the game. This increase in pace will allow for more firefights and Titan acquisitions.
The developers at Respawn also addressed the concerns about the map layouts for future maps. Many players had expressed their displeasure with how open and flat the map Homestead was. In response Respawn said, “Some of our Tech Test players have asked if the relatively flat and open design of Homestead is indicative of a new direction for Titanfall. And the answer is no.”
Another change in the game is how long a player will be highlighted after they have been spotted. In the tech test, the players would be highlighted for long periods of time that allowed enemies to find them and kill them with relative ease. The developers have tried to remedy this by making it not as easy to have highlighted players seen at long distances. How this will be received by players has yet to be seen but it does seem like a step in the direction if it does not completely solve the problem.
All of the changes that Respawn is making seem like solid steps towards building a game that will be able to satisfy players and sell with relative ease. With more and more players waiting to buy games until after reviews come out so they do not get burned by lofty expectations, i.e No Man’s Sky, these changes can help entice players to buy the game. With a tech test already behind them and another beta test in the future, allowing players to play the game before it comes out may also help sell the game since players will have an understanding of what kind of game they are getting. This is not a new strategy for game companies as other games have had early beta tests before games and made changes afterward but if it can help Titanfall 2 then it is a smart move for Respawn. We will just have to wait to see if it pays off.
Titanfall 2 is scheduled to be released on October 26 for Xbox One, Playstation 4, and PC.
