Levels: The new way to progress, the appropriate way for online matchmaking?

[amar212]

So, basically we have these we know already for some time about and we wondered what are they about:

And now we have these:

It is safe to say that GT5 will introduce Level system as new way of leveling the player. Numbers 11 (A) and 9 (B) obviusely corresponds with "Level" of particular mode.

Further logic says you need to collect something in order to level up, so we may presume that Points for A/B-Spec are back, but now their collection results with leveling.

Also, we may presume that License tests will be graduated though those Levels, because Levels are obviously restricting factor for entering particular race/event - as particular License was in previous games (A, B, Internationals, Special..).

So, further logic tells us that higher/harder instance of Events will require higher Level, ergo give more A/B-Spec points after the race.

If we expand the A/B-Spec point system, it would be more than perfect if some kind of "backup engine" - similar to one in COD games for instance - would constantly monitor our driving during races and award more points after the race (not just prior to the race, depending of factors descriptive for A/B-Spec points in GT4 <GT5?>) for clean racing/racing without damage/non-usage of assists, etc.

I wonder would the Levels be descriptive factor for the online Matchmaking, because if executed even remotely closed to system I've concieved above it would solve almost any problem imaginable for Public Races.

Discuss if interested, thanx in advance for constructive thoughts.

 

[CTznOfTime]

I am loving this system of levels... it's like a combination of GT2 and GT4!!


Bring it on i say!

 

[Spagetti69]

RPG racing. I'm up for that.

Hated getting levelled to 50xp on forza only to go nowhere after.

If I ever made a racing game, next to my ID/gamer tag I would add a mileage gauge showing all miles run in practise/online/events etc. Simple to implement. Not necessary and totally geekish.

But good. lol.

 

[shirakawaa]

Maybe we will see some kind of "experience point" system like in Enthusia Professional Racing (PS2). When the player gets enough of them, he gains an A/B spec level. The red/blue bars would be the XP progress, the visible number, the current level. When the player finishes a race, XP points (A/B spec points?) would be calculated taking into account the number of crashes against opponents or other cars, damage, driving aids, the performance level relatively to the competition, etc. The only difference from EPR would be that here the player would gain levels rather than ladder positions and wouldn't lose them over time or if the race turned out poorly (or at least, I don't see this happening).

Could this be plausible?

 

[Neal]

Excellent amar, I hope you're right. I've wondered if there would be an online leveling system in the GT5 Online Thread and hoped it would be similar to COD so what you've described would be ideal. If this is the case then it would seamlessly link your progression on and off line which would be fantastic.

 

[eSZee]

If they keep the A-spec and B-spec accumulation process the same as it was in GT4, then I see this turning many people away. We were talking about how license tests can be bronzed by pretty much anyone, but a-spec points in GT4 were awarded based on your cars performance. So if they set the levels high, many will not be able to compete since the points for same events would not be stacked but replaced by highest score.
Anyone get what I'm trying to say?

 

[rileyra]

In Shift you gained aggression or precision points during races, offline, online, arcade, and enough points gave a level up with unlocks. sounds like it will be a similar system but with more depth and prolly without the aggression/precision split

 

[Jarmo]

In Shift you gained aggression or precision points during races, offline, online, arcade, and enough points gave a level up with unlocks. sounds like it will be a similar system but with more depth and prolly without the aggression/precision split

You definitely should not get points for pushing others off track in GT5!

 

[shirakawaa]

You definitely should not get points for pushing others off track in GT5!

Sorry for mentioning it once again, but on Enthusia the player got a negative bonus for car-to-car crashes, so in the end he was encouraged to drive cleanly.
I still can't help but feel that Enthusia has been a great source of inspiration for Yamauchi when it came out in 2005, not much time after GT4. Even the "GT Life" mode here, it's named as Enthusia's "Enthusia Life". I'm not sure if it's a coincidence.

(by the way, some people from the Enthusia staff also apparently worked for Polyphony for GT5P, and I guess GT5. This might explain some similarities).

 

[Revelation1115]

if you level up in this game, i hope i evolve at level 16 and 32.. just like charmander!

 

[eSZee]

Wow, how old are you?

 

[stig's helmet]

lol, looking forward to gaining tips and tricks here in order to progress...certainly need them at the moment

 

[Timppaq]

yay, "safety rating" based public matchmaking would be great!! 👍

 

[Evilmali]

👍 I say love the way this is going to have a RPG feel and will want you to come back for more

Wow, how old are you?

I want to know too ,Revelation1115

 

[XEPEGTP]

Wow, how old are you?

Well, seeing as he compared it to 1st gen Pokemon, if he was 10-12 at the time of the 1st gen, he should be somewhere in his mid twenties by now.

So his system would be like Impreza, Imprezario, Imprezaurus Rex.

 

[Pleurii]

Well, seeing as he compared it to 1st gen Pokemon, if he was 10-12 at the time of the 1st gen, he should be somewhere in his mid twenties by now.

So his system would be like Impreza, Imprezario, Imprezaurus Rex.

I LOL'd both at this and at Revelation1115's post. But on topic now..

First of all I've never played GT4(shoot me if you want to), but I must say I'm really looking forward to this sort of system, as its new for me in the GT series.
As for my own thoughts, it would be nice if for example for a license, each trophy(Gold, Silver and Bronze and maybe Platinum if you'd beat Demo Time??) would give you a certain amount of points so lets say :

Platinum : 5
Gold : 3
Silver : 2
Bronze : 1

Then make the license so that you have to acquire a certain amount of points, to get that license. Meaning, even if you can get all bronze you still won't get it, cause you only have 10 points ( if 10 events like in GT2 ) instead of having the required 15 (or more for lets say I-A/B/C or S-license)

Then with those Loeb and Jeff Gordon thingies : I think those will be more like assignments or challenges with that particular person as your instructor. He could give you an assignment as in beat the time trial or overtake that many cars in that much time or follow the perfect line as much as you can or whatever, with the prize afterwards being points that can improve your skillz in e.G. rally, NASCAR,, a special car maybe in the end, or even this being actually the 'license' that you need in order to drive in any of those cars in races.

And to Spagetti69, I would totally agree for a mileage gauge, I loved this when I had PGR 2 on the Xbox, too bad there it was only by car. Always nice to see how much we've driven by track/car or total

Anyways, those are my 2 cents, feel free to discuss

Peace and may Allah bring you patience untill the game finally comes out

 

[FlourescentBlak]

I thought the game was good enough but I hated how in Shift you earned points for knocking people off the track. Yeah, thats exactly what we need to teach young people who are interested in motorsports.

I hope GT life has a leveling system. That would be fun. Of course it has to be implemented correctly. I don't know if I would want my level to matter for online matchmaking but it would work well if done right.

 

[HenGTX]

GT4 kept track on how many kilometres/miles you have driven in total. Also every car had his/her own meter

 

[snake900]

I think the game should rank you against players who achieve similar no. of gold medals etc.

So those who receive only bronzes only play against bronze people, all lisence gold vs lisence gold. It helps filter out the possibility of extremely good people (others) playing against awful drivers (like me).

 

[nasanu]

I wonder would the Levels be descriptive factor for the online Matchmaking, because if executed even remotely closed to system I've concieved above it would solve almost any problem imaginable for Public Races.

I really hope not. Progression through a game is no indication of skill level. For example in the PGR games (take No2 for example) I didn't even complete half of the single player game. The fastest car (on most tracks) in the game I didn't even have because you needed to get all golds in events to unlock it.

If the match making was based on this, then I would always be racing against new players. But the reality was that I held all the time trial records in one car class, and was very fast in the rest. That match making system would have totally killed any fun I had with the game.

If they make it so you have to complete licenses to enter certain online races then that is fine, I can live with it. But never match people based on offline completion.

 

[Sephy]

if you level up in this game, i hope i evolve at level 16 and 32.. just like charmander!

You level up in the game, you level for real.



Anyways I like the leveling system that most new racing games are using. I guess it doesn't hurt that I like RPGs too. Anyways it gives you accomplishment and something more to work towards. I don't really care for individual car levels like in Forza though. That didn't mean anything to me but an overall level is good.

Dirt 2 had a single player level and a separate online level but it didn't mean anything. So I'm sure it will probably show your level online to others but it might not have an impact in online play. Or it might who knows.

 

[terminator363]

Good find

 

[SavageEvil]

Will the levels automatically keep you from joining online races? That's a bit unfair, some people might be very good drivers and just want a good race, levels don't mean too much. I've seen some people with 0 levels online and their first race they are giving legends 35+ a run for their money. So hopefully it wont automatically exclude you, but possibly just let everyone know that you are a new driver and to be wary of the new guy.

They better not go the every car level up route of FM, that right there would be over kill, way too many cars to level up.

 

[ploopsy]

I hope they just go by PP. I would hate not being able to race the pros online from the get go. It will make the game more like WoW *shudders*.

Another thing is that a hardcore GTP fanatic might do well in GT5 from the get go vs a first time sim racer since the skills you pick up in GT and other sims carry over easily. RPGs on the other hand require you to drone off and build up a character before you can kick a lot of ass.

I say let online matching be like shooters by allowing the host of the race to moderate. Keep the good players and bannish the dirty drivers and noobs.

Moderation after all is what makes GTP one of the best forums on the topic.

 

[Zimmerd]

Interesting perspective!

It would be a very nice add, hopefully not to complex.
Certainly the fact that you could get clean race points or something like that and in that way be able to race with othere people that race clean.

It's all possible !

 

[II IVORBIGUN II]

Will the levels automatically keep you from joining online races? That's a bit unfair, some people might be very good drivers and just want a good race, levels don't mean too much. I've seen some people with 0 levels online and their first race they are giving legends 35+ a run for their money. So hopefully it wont automatically exclude you, but possibly just let everyone know that you are a new driver and to be wary of the new guy.

They better not go the every car level up route of FM, that right there would be over kill, way too many cars to level up.

In my opinion the rank on FM3 is a nightmare and ruins what online racing should be about, fun. Im forever being kicked or having to dodge idiots who are parked up waiting to take me out because of my rank.

Having said this another nightmare on FM3 is racing against people who are 8secs a lap slower. Being behind someone who brakes hard for a corner which I do flat out causes all sorts of problems.

Ideally online racing should be about clean, fair racing and more importantly playing for fun. This is what a friends list is for because you will never get this racing against strangers!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Will the levels automatically keep you from joining online races? That's a bit unfair, some people might be very good drivers and just want a good race, levels don't mean too much. I've seen some people with 0 levels online and their first race they are giving legends 35+ a run for their money. So hopefully it wont automatically exclude you, but possibly just let everyone know that you are a new driver and to be wary of the new guy.

If you need a certain level to compete online, then it's probably because the game assumes you don't have much experience racing. And while there are Level 1 players who can give 35s a run for their money, for the most part the drivers will be inexperienced. I'm sure you'd much rather have a level cap than open season where a driver who would normally be unable to race can get in and ruin it for everyone by ramming people off.

 

[Gejost]

👍 I say love the way this is going to have a RPG feel and will want you to come back for more

It certainly does. I like it. 👍

 

[blaktek]

A level system is nice. It has limits, though. You can have a high level obtained by grinding, which won't make you a better player. If you play online shooters, you know the kind of high level scrubs I'm depicting here.

Getting likely minded players together will take time, and a behavioral signature card could be useful. As said earlier, you should be monitored online so your driver card can reflect the kind of player you are. A lot of aspects can be prioritized.

- Lap time in a specific car/track combo (or several, be it technical, or rythmic).
- Race line conformism.
- Rumble strip usage.
- Likeliness of getting off-track.
- Opponent contact.
- Opponent crash.
- Tire wear.
- Smoothness / aggressiveness of maneuvers.
- ...

You can be the driver you want, but you need to play with similar players. My friend is a real brute, and will not hesitate to punt you off if you are faster than him. He was playing GT5P on my account, and had a ton of friend requests because of his driving behavior. We couldn't play together because I was 5 seconds faster than he was, and a lot more precise. And hating punters didn't help either.

Each of us found players that we were comfortable with, and an online ranking (or driver card) not based on playtime/grind would make things easier.

In the end, such a complicated endeavor is only useful if you are REALLY serious about your online experience. Punters and vindicative ones aside, there is nothing wrong with racing with someone you know is better, or slower than you are.

Players segregation is a necessity, but it shouldn't get in the way of your fun.

 

[SgtWhitten]

I think the RPG side to racing games is a key element to expose as it will boost emersion and the sense of reward. I really liked the RPG aspects of Grid such as choosing a co driver, team name, team paint job and sponsorship deals.

I wonder how the leveling system will work online to make it feel rewarding. What will each level grant you? does it link with the single player campaign? It will be great to see how it works with the B-Spec races you can run from your PC.