Settling the Score: Tracking MMOG Player Progress by the Numbers

Should MMOGs offer detailed scoreboarding for apples-to-apples stat comparisons between players? That's the editorial question facing the Ten Ton Hammer writers this week, and war correspondent Ethec goes behind enemy lines to find his answer in the recently released EA / Dice online shooter Battlefield 2142. This badly garbled transmission (oh, wait, that's his writing style!) and linked article are the last we've heard from him, but that's what happens when an MMOG player gets drafted to play a shooter.

"[Battlefield 2142's] progression system is only one area where there's significant overlap with MMOGs. The fact that everything's persistent - you carry your score, rank, and awards with you no matter where you play (so long as you're playing on one of the EA-approved "ranked" servers) - is significant step towards the MMO category. I've caught myself wondering sometimes whether the only difference between BF2142 and a traditional MMOG is BF's clumsy server load screen (where you can select the map and game type that you'll play), which in a way takes the place of the egregious travel times found in many MMOGs. Orcs, elves, and medieval themes are other important distinctions, but then again, it might be kind of fun to see Battlefield 1542. You know… call in a cow carcass trebuchet strike or snipe a noob with your longbow at 50 paces."

Keep reading to see what else Ethec has to say. Do you agree with him? Think he's finally lost it? Head over to the Ten Ton Hammer Forums and speak up!