A little disapointed
by Shamrock · in Marble Blast · 01/26/2006 (4:08 pm) · 13 replies
Don't get me wrong Marble Blast Ultra for xbox 360 looks great and plays great, but I only bought this game for online mulitplayer. The game is not bad at all, but it gets extremely boring with the only 1 game type. Most people online have been complaining about this to. Chasing around spawning diamonds gets old very quickly.
Garage Games please put in some more game types. Something where we can just get points for knocking people off the level. The most fun I have in this game is smashing into people and knocking them off. Going after the diamonds is the least enjoyable part of the game. I would go so far as to say that if you added more game types that chasing the stupid diamonds would almost certainly be the least played game. Some examples of gametypes could be.
1. Destruction Derby: No time limit, first to 5 or 10 points. Points are awarded for knocking other people off the map.
2. A True King of the Hill: Loose the bad diamond crap and put in a circled off area that is the hill. You get time for staying in the circle and everyone else is trying to blast each other out of the circle. Whoever has most time accrued in circle wins.
3. Knockout: Played like destruction Derby, but in a last man standing format. No respawns, last man alive wins. (time limit or 5 or 10 mintues)
4. Marble Jail break: Team gametype. Two teams of 4 players. Played just like knockout, except when players are knocked off the level they respawn in cage near where the opposing team spawned\started. They must remain in the cage until one of their still alive teamates rolls up on some sort of plate which opens the cage and frees them. Same goes for both teams, so when you knock off opposing players they spawn in your teams Jail/cage. I think this would be a wonderfull gametype as it would have much action and strategy. You would have people trying to attack and knock players off the level, you would have people guarding the jail to try and not allow the opposite team to free their teamates, and you would have people trying to free their teamates out of the cage. Loads of fun. Game would end when one team gets everyone from the opposite team knocked off the level and in thier Jail.
Honestly this game has so many possiblities. Please add some gametypes in it.
Garage Games please put in some more game types. Something where we can just get points for knocking people off the level. The most fun I have in this game is smashing into people and knocking them off. Going after the diamonds is the least enjoyable part of the game. I would go so far as to say that if you added more game types that chasing the stupid diamonds would almost certainly be the least played game. Some examples of gametypes could be.
1. Destruction Derby: No time limit, first to 5 or 10 points. Points are awarded for knocking other people off the map.
2. A True King of the Hill: Loose the bad diamond crap and put in a circled off area that is the hill. You get time for staying in the circle and everyone else is trying to blast each other out of the circle. Whoever has most time accrued in circle wins.
3. Knockout: Played like destruction Derby, but in a last man standing format. No respawns, last man alive wins. (time limit or 5 or 10 mintues)
4. Marble Jail break: Team gametype. Two teams of 4 players. Played just like knockout, except when players are knocked off the level they respawn in cage near where the opposing team spawned\started. They must remain in the cage until one of their still alive teamates rolls up on some sort of plate which opens the cage and frees them. Same goes for both teams, so when you knock off opposing players they spawn in your teams Jail/cage. I think this would be a wonderfull gametype as it would have much action and strategy. You would have people trying to attack and knock players off the level, you would have people guarding the jail to try and not allow the opposite team to free their teamates, and you would have people trying to free their teamates out of the cage. Loads of fun. Game would end when one team gets everyone from the opposite team knocked off the level and in thier Jail.
Honestly this game has so many possiblities. Please add some gametypes in it.
#2
01/26/2006 (9:17 pm)
I don't have Marble Blast Ultra (I only use computers), but I believe the true spirit of Marble Blast is still the puzzle format. This doesn't necessarily mean gems, but it does mean that the navigation, jumping, and careful timing of movements is fundamental. Certain game modes, particularly the "King of the Hill" mode you suggest, aren't really in the spirit of what I would consider a Marble Blast game. I would consider rolling a marble around and hitting other marbles around to be even more dull then any sort of gem-collecting mode.
#3
forums.xbox.com/2061252/ShowPost.aspx
forums.xbox.com/2067308/ShowPost.aspx
01/26/2006 (10:14 pm)
A lot of this same discussion has gone on over at the xbox.com forums as well. I'd have to agree with Shamrock that other gametypes would greatly enhance the online game in MBU. There at least innitially seems to be a large market for MBU as there are already "tons" of people that have purchased the game and its been out less than 48 hours. When I hop online it is quite common for the discussion to veer towards a lot of the gamers wishing that they can "battle" online or somehow fight. I do feel that a lot of the people who enjoyed Marble blast on the PC like sceptus might not like this feature but by far the users on XBLA (Xbox Live Arcade) seem to want exciting online action even if its not traditionally what Marble Blast was. All in all its a great game and it looks like its going to be a great success. Congrats. Here are a few links to some discussion on the online gameplay at the xbox forums.forums.xbox.com/2061252/ShowPost.aspx
forums.xbox.com/2067308/ShowPost.aspx
#4
Wait for it ...
Oust which I showed off at IGC this past October is coming! It's gameplay completely revolves around knocking each other out of the arena.
01/26/2006 (10:22 pm)
Shameless plug ...Wait for it ...
Oust which I showed off at IGC this past October is coming! It's gameplay completely revolves around knocking each other out of the arena.
#5
01/27/2006 (7:30 am)
I think racing should be alot fun. You have to roll through every hazard there is! Ya. I think king of the hill with marble blast would be cool. They all sound intresting! Im going to get an xbox 360! How much will it cost?
#6
A couple of responses to your responses.
1. Sumo: still could be fun and the problem with low speeds of people in the circle could be fixed by a moving circle. It moves spots to different parts of the map every minute. So you will still have that race element when the circle moves of everyone trying to get their first, and everyone should have built up some speed when ariving at the Sumo circle, also if the circle is placed right on the map, you would have the element of people going out the circle to build up speed to smack others inside. Neat twists on it would be placing the big ball powerups outside the circle, for people trying to enter the circle and take over, and placing a super bounce power up inside the circle so someone in the circle can time super jumps to evade people speeding in at them.
I'll skip right to 4 now because that is the mother of all game types for me. I honestly would love to see that gametype in their (jail break). I know it would be hard, but honestly that is a gametype that just has it all and you can't possibly get sick of it because you would have a different stragtegy everytime. I can imagine it now, 3 of your 4 teamates got knocked off the map and are in the jail. All your teamates eyes are on you as all 4 of the opposing team are closing in on you, (you hear your teamates cheering you on to free them), You pull off some sick moves and sweet jumps to escape your feindish enemies, and free your teamates (crowd goes wild) Bammm!!! its 4 on 4 again and your right back in it. Or on the flip side your going to free your 3 teamates and get blasted 400 feet off the map by a big mother marble (you fail and get called the mother of all noobs). JK Serioulsy hope to see this game type. This type of strategy and exciting gametype opens up the world of clans playing it, which in turn opens up huge amounts of purchases. That is a almost to perfect clan game. Wish I knew how to code I'd help for free. (one more intresting twist: on one map put the pressure plate that releases your buddies out of jail on a small platform directly above the jail, only accesible by a super bounce power up, that would funny as hell having people trying to super bounce up to the pressure plate, missing and landing themselves in the slammer....lol) Man that would be classic, you got the guy that just super bounced himself into the jail cursing himself out, and all his teamates laughing at him.
5. Didn't include racing because I don't think it would work, everything goes so fast and if you got knocked off the map it would be over for you. Does't sound to fun to me. Maybe a caputre the flag gametype would be better though, maybe throw in a little something where flag carrier travels slower so he can be caught easier, then your teamates would have to run blocking duty for you. Takes me back to my offensive lineman days...... :P
01/27/2006 (7:38 am)
Hey thanks allot for the response Matt, nice as hell to see a developer respond to suggestions and comments, it shows me that you guys care about your customers. I didn't mean to be rude or say this isn't a good game because it really is quite fun, you guys nailed the controlls and physics perfectly. I was just disapointed in the 1 game type thats all and I hate chasing around the diamonds worse than smacking a rhino in the ass with a red hot poker and being chased down by the large beast only to be stomped on for its amusement. (sorry I had a bad African Safari flashback) But I had fun with the game, just got a little bored with the multiplayer after a hour or so.A couple of responses to your responses.
1. Sumo: still could be fun and the problem with low speeds of people in the circle could be fixed by a moving circle. It moves spots to different parts of the map every minute. So you will still have that race element when the circle moves of everyone trying to get their first, and everyone should have built up some speed when ariving at the Sumo circle, also if the circle is placed right on the map, you would have the element of people going out the circle to build up speed to smack others inside. Neat twists on it would be placing the big ball powerups outside the circle, for people trying to enter the circle and take over, and placing a super bounce power up inside the circle so someone in the circle can time super jumps to evade people speeding in at them.
I'll skip right to 4 now because that is the mother of all game types for me. I honestly would love to see that gametype in their (jail break). I know it would be hard, but honestly that is a gametype that just has it all and you can't possibly get sick of it because you would have a different stragtegy everytime. I can imagine it now, 3 of your 4 teamates got knocked off the map and are in the jail. All your teamates eyes are on you as all 4 of the opposing team are closing in on you, (you hear your teamates cheering you on to free them), You pull off some sick moves and sweet jumps to escape your feindish enemies, and free your teamates (crowd goes wild) Bammm!!! its 4 on 4 again and your right back in it. Or on the flip side your going to free your 3 teamates and get blasted 400 feet off the map by a big mother marble (you fail and get called the mother of all noobs). JK Serioulsy hope to see this game type. This type of strategy and exciting gametype opens up the world of clans playing it, which in turn opens up huge amounts of purchases. That is a almost to perfect clan game. Wish I knew how to code I'd help for free. (one more intresting twist: on one map put the pressure plate that releases your buddies out of jail on a small platform directly above the jail, only accesible by a super bounce power up, that would funny as hell having people trying to super bounce up to the pressure plate, missing and landing themselves in the slammer....lol) Man that would be classic, you got the guy that just super bounced himself into the jail cursing himself out, and all his teamates laughing at him.
5. Didn't include racing because I don't think it would work, everything goes so fast and if you got knocked off the map it would be over for you. Does't sound to fun to me. Maybe a caputre the flag gametype would be better though, maybe throw in a little something where flag carrier travels slower so he can be caught easier, then your teamates would have to run blocking duty for you. Takes me back to my offensive lineman days...... :P
#7
01/29/2006 (11:13 pm)
Just a little suggestion for any future modes made available. It would in fact get old quick racing to the end of a level like the ones in single player...however by race mode, new courses would need to be created in the same way they were for the multiplayer mode already available. A track where laps are completed, where instead of cars being used, marbles would be. In fact, it has been done already in Super Monkey Ball. To get an idea of some games that could in fact be used in MBU, take a look at the mini games in Super Monkey Ball. They have a fighting one that seems like SUMO as you described it. I think that MBU is far superior to SMB, and I think that using some of their ideas, especially the race one, could make this game even better.
#8
But that doesnt help us out now, so if any of the developers could answer this question. Would it even be possible to add a level editor as a seperate download, or would it have to be part of a future version of the game? I know it exists for the PC, but adding it to the 360 would be genius. Thanks for your time, and congrats on a great game worth a hell of a lot more than $10 IMO.
01/29/2006 (11:18 pm)
Also, fogrot to add, that a seperate add-on should be made availabe to download...A level-editor for the 360 version so that all players could create levels that could be used online to share with others. I can only imagine the ammount of fun people would have creating their own levels and having everyone compete to beat the creators best time on XBL...Hell, adding this to the game, with an extensive ammount of mini games, and more levels from the start, and I think most people would buy the game as a retail product. I think MBU has built up enough fan base already to make a release as a standard game a success. But that doesnt help us out now, so if any of the developers could answer this question. Would it even be possible to add a level editor as a seperate download, or would it have to be part of a future version of the game? I know it exists for the PC, but adding it to the 360 would be genius. Thanks for your time, and congrats on a great game worth a hell of a lot more than $10 IMO.
#9
It could work like Project Gotham where once someone has completed a race, a 30 second timer begins. After 30 seconds, everyone is sent back to the lobby regardless if they finished or not.
It would also be cool to be able to view a replay of the #1 time on each course to see how they did it.
BTW, great game -- a bunch of us from the Penny Arcade forums are playing every day/night.
01/30/2006 (10:36 am)
I'm not posting in this thread because I'm disappointed with Marble Blast Ultra for 360, but I'd LOVE to see more modes of online play. Particularly, point to point online multiplayer races on each of the 60 Beg/Int/Adv. courses. Or even new multi-lap courses.It could work like Project Gotham where once someone has completed a race, a 30 second timer begins. After 30 seconds, everyone is sent back to the lobby regardless if they finished or not.
It would also be cool to be able to view a replay of the #1 time on each course to see how they did it.
BTW, great game -- a bunch of us from the Penny Arcade forums are playing every day/night.
#10
01/31/2006 (1:53 pm)
I'm with you, its a great game. But I would have also liked to have seen more multiplayer game modes. When I first tried the multiplayer, it was early in the morning and I played the king of the marble map. Since it was so early, I just assumed you had to knock people off the map to score points. So needless to say, I was a bit disappointed later on int he day when I figured out there was only one gametype. Sad to hear that you guys had to cut features...but I guess that happens with every game :(
#11
01/31/2006 (4:55 pm)
Any plans to add gametypes or new multiplayer levels. I would be really addicted then. I like this game but you should add more multiplayer gametypes as an option.
#12
"Reverse Tag!" or "It!"
Basically, there's a timer, say, 5 minutes. And during that time, you WANT to be "it" for as long as possble. Because while you are it, your points constantly rack-up (maybe one point for every second you are "it"). You avoid other players because they want to try to tag you so that they may become it and collect points.
This game type can take place in arena settings or even on boards that have lots of paths and walkways. Easy for all to play and everyone remains in the game until time is up.
02/03/2006 (6:07 am)
Another multiplayer idea.:"Reverse Tag!" or "It!"
Basically, there's a timer, say, 5 minutes. And during that time, you WANT to be "it" for as long as possble. Because while you are it, your points constantly rack-up (maybe one point for every second you are "it"). You avoid other players because they want to try to tag you so that they may become it and collect points.
This game type can take place in arena settings or even on boards that have lots of paths and walkways. Easy for all to play and everyone remains in the game until time is up.
#13
02/14/2006 (5:12 pm)
I agree on these stuff!
Associate Matt Fairfax
Night Heron Games
2. Why do you think one of the levels is called "King of the Marble"? This was the first gameplay that we tested for multiplayer. It worked great on paper but really, really sucked in the actual game. There just isn't enough fine control on the marbles at low speeds to make it fun trying to stay in a small area or to try to bump someone out without falling out yourself.
3. In general the average gamer/consumer gets bored sitting around waiting on other people to finish playing. The attention span for a Live Arcade consumer is probably even shorter than most.
4. This mode does sound fun. It would be somewhat complicated and time consuming to refine but we can keep it mind for the future.
5. You missed "Racing" (start at the beginning of the level and race to the end) =P