Poll Question 005 - What type of weapon do you prefer?

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3

Introduction

Weapons are a curious thing. We all have our favorite and will fight and argue to the death to defend our choice.

In fact they can make or break a game. Weapons can be broken down into two types:

Conventional Weapons (shotgun, pistol, machine gun, grenades etc)
Sci- Fi Weapons (Gluon guns, Hivehands, pulse rifles etc

So, this weeks poll question is simple; which do you prefer?

I’m sure most of you know which I choose but what about you?

The problem with Sci- Fi weapons is that they are often too powerful and you only get them at the end of a game. Why not have more Sci- Fi weapons early on? Also, they need something special to remember them. I have just stopped playing Gene Troopers and I honestly can’t remember any of the weapons! Is that a reflection of my age or the weapons themselves?

If you vote, please take a few moments to express your thoughts here on this post.

Results

Votes: 73
Conventional Weapons: 70%
Sci- Fi Weapons: 30%

Perhaps I should have called this poll Projectile weapons and energy weapons? If weapon designers could make energy weapons with the same solid feel of projectiles then maybe players would accept them?

About this entry

Published:: 17th November 2006 at 7:32 pm

Category:: Poll Questions

Responses:: 10 Comments (add)

Luke L 17th November 2006 at 21:24 1

Definitely conventional weaponry, it feels more natural and isn’t completely redefined in every game like sci-fi weapons are.
el_espaniol 18th November 2006 at 00:37 2

Conventional weapons, for sure…!
T.B. Biggs 18th November 2006 at 18:50 3

Great question Phillip-you got me thinking on this one. From Halo to Half Life and now FEAR, it’s been the conventional methods that’s gotten me through. Of course, with one exception-I love the gravity gun!
Zockopa 18th November 2006 at 23:52 4

Depends what game, but normally I go for normal weaponry. In Halo I found the alien weapons - except the sniper - far better than the normal weapons.
planetphillip 19th November 2006 at 00:11 5

planetphillip Said:

Great question Phillip

Well, passerbywhoplayshl also suggested it and his wording was better than mine.

planetphillip Said:

Depends what game

All of the poll questions are very dependant on game, cirecumstanes, prefered gameplay style etc. They just happen to be generalisations.
liddl3monk3y 19th November 2006 at 00:35 6

I like conventional or conventional-ish weapons over lasers and other gadgets.

I think most game developers have realised that people prefer the smack of bullets to the zap of energy beams (I call it the “Aliens Effect” - we can fly into deep space in suspended animation but we still use good old fashioned hot lead to kill the bad guys, just that the futures weapons fire a hell of a lot more of it) - even HL2’s Overwatch Rifle “feels” like a conventional weapon - even if it does fire some kind of blue glowing stuff!
planetphillip 19th November 2006 at 00:44 7

planetphillip Said:

the smack of bullets to the zap of energy beams

That’s nicely put. The feel of Sci- Fi weapons tend to be soft wan weak. The feel of a Magnum from Hl 1 and 2 is very solid.
Old Scratch 21st November 2006 at 03:30 8

I like any weapon that will knock the living **** out of the opponent. I wish HL2 had a machine gun that threw larger slugs (like a nice Thompson submachine gun), I get tired of those wimpy 9mm’s doing almost nothing to the enemy, I usually give completly up on the pistol early on because it’s almost useless.

I like the overwatch rifle, but the clips are too small.

sci-fi weapons do have a place, depending on the situation. I think what’s most important for them is to make the weapon unique and surprising, and make its characteristics and availability based on the game techonology, if that makes sense.
andyb 21st November 2006 at 04:17 9

Old Scratch you should try smod tactical if you like powerful weapons.Even the pistol will blow away the head
Aniline 24th November 2006 at 20:43 10

Anyone remember the magic spells from the old Quake mods (showing my age)? Turn your enemy into a dog and bash the mutt to death - yeah!

I prefer a mix of weapons - every one has their own faves. Also I like to see how Combine die differently depending on the weapon.

Aniline