New TimeShift details about shifting time online
IGN has scrounged up some multiplayer details on TimeShift, which we hope to get some hands-on time with soon because from the images it looks like Gears of War 2 -- which isn't a bad thing. Yes, yes, we know it's the same engine, but the visual similarities are strong (might be all the earth tones). The game will allow players to customize all aspects of the multiplayer experience: start weapons, gravity, armor respawn time, run speed and weapon damage. The maps and modes are still being locked down but all the standards are there like deathmatch and capture the flag.
The only thing we really want to know about TimeShift multiplayer is how to control time. From the interview it doesn't sound like they've worked that out yet. Lead Producer Kyle Peschel says, "The first idea was to have Time Shifting work just like in single player. Sounded great on paper, we even figured out how Slow would be trumped by Stop and Stop by Reverse ... [the] problem was what reverse looked like ... lag. Even though the game was doing EXACTLY what it was supposed to do, the other people going in reverse thought the game was lagging out since they were telling it to do something and it wasn't responding." That's it, no further explanation, so it looks like they're still working on that issue. They also say they've been really focusing on the multiplayer. Yeah, don't go neglecting the single player game, just ask Shadowrun how that one ends.
The only thing we really want to know about TimeShift multiplayer is how to control time. From the interview it doesn't sound like they've worked that out yet. Lead Producer Kyle Peschel says, "The first idea was to have Time Shifting work just like in single player. Sounded great on paper, we even figured out how Slow would be trumped by Stop and Stop by Reverse ... [the] problem was what reverse looked like ... lag. Even though the game was doing EXACTLY what it was supposed to do, the other people going in reverse thought the game was lagging out since they were telling it to do something and it wasn't responding." That's it, no further explanation, so it looks like they're still working on that issue. They also say they've been really focusing on the multiplayer. Yeah, don't go neglecting the single player game, just ask Shadowrun how that one ends.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jun 27th 2007 7:34PM
Quite a problem there. You can't have a game about Timeshifting and not being able to do it in mulitplayer.
Tom @ Jun 27th 2007 7:55PM
People always get weird about this, it's like when Max Payne came out and people complained there was no multiplayer. Like Remedy (was it remedy who did MP?) said then, it just doesnt work. IF you go into bullettime, the only way to present it in multiplayer is to make everyone else in the game slow down too, that would be really annoying if you were in a different part of the map. Stopping time would be even worse, I don't even want to think about reversing time. Time is interesting to play with when it comes to AI and destructable environments, but not with squishy human minds, please.
Jake @ Jun 27th 2007 9:21PM
If it was a Sony console, you would be able to manipulate the 4th dimension, time, without any problems. It sounds to me they are just looking at a "lack of cell" problem.
Death @ Jun 27th 2007 9:43PM
They should call this game Lagshift. Cuz that's what's going to happen with you go online and try to so call shift time.
I wish FPS would die.
Kenny @ Jun 27th 2007 10:28PM
It's not the Unreal Engine, it's their own proprietary tech. And they do have time control in MP through localized grenades. It is cool...
Dave @ Jun 27th 2007 11:17PM
They could display an icon on the screen to let other players know that time is being shifted. Simple.
Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jun 28th 2007 12:17AM
@ Jake
You're being sarcastic right?
Mitochondria @ Jun 29th 2007 3:06PM
How about when the person initiates the time shift a small bubble is projected from that person and anyone who is caught in that bubble is effected, including projectiles
Justin @ Jun 29th 2007 3:12PM
you could always just display a message on the screen that says your time is being reversed or similar. Then everyone would know it wasn't lag.(unless it was lag)