A forewarning: This is just pure speculation intended to get some player response on the subject. I expect that most players will be in great support to the idea or find it completely impractical and unfair.
My friends and I who regularly play BF2 were recently discussing the idea of assigning a player's physical abilities to their in-game BF2 character. Constantly, I'm playing BF2 and thinking to myself, "these are the most out of shape soldiers I have ever seen." They have a hard time running down stairs without getting injured, can hardly sprint for 10 seconds, and can't pull themselves over ledges. Wouldn't it be interesting if your in-game character reflected what you are really capable of in real life?
Let's say for instance that EA decides to create a deal with 24 Hour Fitness and other fitness centers in various parts of the world for the purpose of recording and submitting player's physical abilites. A player would be able to go in to a qualified facility and submit themselves to testing in several areas including strength, agility, and endurance. For example, if the player is able to push 400 lbs in the test then their character will be permitted that level of strength in the game. If you are able to sprint at 15 mph while carrying a 40 lb load for twenty seconds then your in-game character should be allowed to do the same. If you can run 10 km (a little over 6 miles) at a pace of 8.5 minutes/mile while carrying a 40 lb load then your character should be able to do the same in the game. Even more variations could be taken on this. For example the same person who can run 6 miles at a 8.5 minute/mile pace with a 40 lb load might be able to run the same distance at a 7.5 minute/mile pace with a twenty lb load. As far as game application is concerned, this might mean that your character could run a 7.5 minute/mile pace for 6 miles using the sniper kit since it should be fairly light, but might run the same distance at a 8.5 minute/mile pace while using the support kit since it should in theory weigh more.
I don't think this testing should be required for the game but an option for those players who want to modify the physical attributes of their character for BF2. I also think increasing the abilities of the standard BF2 characters would be necessary, since they are desperately out of shape. There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to this type of modification to the game. Obviously it will give players who are in shape an advantage in certain situations and set those who are not able to either visit a center or who just simply aren't fit to have access to the same benefits. One positive benefit that immediately comes to mind is that more gamers would be encouraged to get in shape. Unfortunately, though I think many demographics will be excluded from these benefits such as those who are younger than 15 and those who are older than 35. That's why I mentioned that the standard or default physical abilities of the in-game characters should be increased as well to whatever the average values are for all players that are tested.
This might make someone think that it's pointless to use a character that has below average physical stats when they could just use the default average stat values. However, certain players such as snipers and special forces soldiers may not care if they didn't perform well in the strength category as long as their character has the speed and endurance they desire to get themselves into strategic positions. It'd basically come down to a give and take approach.
I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I'm curious to see players thoughts on the subject.
My friends and I who regularly play BF2 were recently discussing the idea of assigning a player's physical abilities to their in-game BF2 character. Constantly, I'm playing BF2 and thinking to myself, "these are the most out of shape soldiers I have ever seen." They have a hard time running down stairs without getting injured, can hardly sprint for 10 seconds, and can't pull themselves over ledges. Wouldn't it be interesting if your in-game character reflected what you are really capable of in real life?
Let's say for instance that EA decides to create a deal with 24 Hour Fitness and other fitness centers in various parts of the world for the purpose of recording and submitting player's physical abilites. A player would be able to go in to a qualified facility and submit themselves to testing in several areas including strength, agility, and endurance. For example, if the player is able to push 400 lbs in the test then their character will be permitted that level of strength in the game. If you are able to sprint at 15 mph while carrying a 40 lb load for twenty seconds then your in-game character should be allowed to do the same. If you can run 10 km (a little over 6 miles) at a pace of 8.5 minutes/mile while carrying a 40 lb load then your character should be able to do the same in the game. Even more variations could be taken on this. For example the same person who can run 6 miles at a 8.5 minute/mile pace with a 40 lb load might be able to run the same distance at a 7.5 minute/mile pace with a twenty lb load. As far as game application is concerned, this might mean that your character could run a 7.5 minute/mile pace for 6 miles using the sniper kit since it should be fairly light, but might run the same distance at a 8.5 minute/mile pace while using the support kit since it should in theory weigh more.
I don't think this testing should be required for the game but an option for those players who want to modify the physical attributes of their character for BF2. I also think increasing the abilities of the standard BF2 characters would be necessary, since they are desperately out of shape. There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to this type of modification to the game. Obviously it will give players who are in shape an advantage in certain situations and set those who are not able to either visit a center or who just simply aren't fit to have access to the same benefits. One positive benefit that immediately comes to mind is that more gamers would be encouraged to get in shape. Unfortunately, though I think many demographics will be excluded from these benefits such as those who are younger than 15 and those who are older than 35. That's why I mentioned that the standard or default physical abilities of the in-game characters should be increased as well to whatever the average values are for all players that are tested.
This might make someone think that it's pointless to use a character that has below average physical stats when they could just use the default average stat values. However, certain players such as snipers and special forces soldiers may not care if they didn't perform well in the strength category as long as their character has the speed and endurance they desire to get themselves into strategic positions. It'd basically come down to a give and take approach.
I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I'm curious to see players thoughts on the subject.
Last edited by LG-MindBullets (2005-12-05 15:43:04)