Extra Credits

Asymmetric Play (2015x10)

: 18, 2015

Many multiplayer games have already embraced the idea of "soft" asymmetry, where different characters have skills and playstyles that make them unique but the overall game mechanics are the same. Recently, more games have begun to experiment with "hard" asymmetry where not only are individual characters different, but the game offers completely separate modes that interact with each other but share none of the same mechanics: for instance, a shooter (Dust 514) paired with a space exploration MMO (EVE Online). Where soft asymmetry promotes teamwork by giving players skills that work better when used with a team member, hard asymmetry has the potential to keep players (and their friends) invested in the same game even when they crave a different play experience.