Thread: Why do multiplayer FPS games make you unlock stuff?

It's a good encouragement to keep playing. I can personally attest to that--One night in 2142, I intended to go until midnight, but then I got the Support unlock allowing me to get the stickybomb launcher as a field upgrade. I ended up playing until 4 AM. I'm far more motivated to play another round when I'm going to get a sparkly new LMG, rather than see the number by my name go up by one.

The Bad Company 2 system could be improved upon, really, although the foundational concept is magnificent. I don't think you should have to unlock your regular support action (Resupply, heal, repair, recon) because it's quite hard to get the first points and get moving, but unlocking things like a single selectable upgrade from a list or different equipment makes the game fun and drives you to keep playing. Ideally, I think every new player should start with something in each slot. In BC2 terms, that's one weapon, one sidearm, one team item, one gadget, and three specializations. That way, the new player does not actually lack any functions that veterans have, he simply does not have options. Unlocking the options then feels more like a choice granted upon the player, rather than merely bringing him up to par with the better-equipped guys he had to struggle against for so long.

For example, Recon could get the SVU, the MP-443, C4, motion detectors, the lightweight pack, magnum rounds, and vehicle armor. Seriously, how many non-teamplayers looked at Medic and thought "Two guns? That's all the Medic gets? The hell?" Starting a player with every customizable slot open and containing something at least lets them learn the basics of the kit they choose, and get points in different ways.

Even BF2 makes you unlock stuff, the default guns are pretty awful if you are USMC, imo.

I do agree that having the basic medikit as a locked item is silly though, but it only takes a couple of hours to get it anyway...I even grew to *like* playing support; I get more kill streaks (even without the M60) than I do with the assault kit just because it doesn't require a reload in the middle of a spray and pray.