TRIALS FUSION – MULTIPLAYER UPDATE
We’ve updated you on everything from ice buckets to bungee jumping and have even shown you some developers on fire, but that’s only a small part of what we’ve been working on behind the scenes. In fact, for the past few months we’ve been toiling away on the multiplayer for Trials Fusion. We know our fans are eagerly anticipating this feature, so today we’ve got new information on what multiplayer will look like as well as when you can expect it!
THE EVOLUTION OF MULTIPLAYER
Before telling you where we’ve gone with multiplayer, we want you to see how we’ve learned from and improved upon the online multiplayer in Trials Evolution. Evolution was the first time online multiplayer was included in a Trials game, and the two online multiplayer modes in Evolution were originally single-player modes that we converted to work for multiplayer. While the experience was fun, we knew we could do even better with a mode built from the ground up exclusively for multiplayer.
We were somewhat limited with what we could create after having With Trials Evolution, we had used every available resource on the Xbox 360, so our first multiplayer mode in that game (“single driving lane”) was based on a career mode. We used ghost riders to depict the competition but noticed that while they were meant to be unobtrusive, they were still distracting and blocked players’ views. Also, if you were too far ahead or behind, it felt like you were racing alone.
The second mode we created was similar to the Local Multiplayer mode, with four players riding side by side on identical driving lanes. The problem became the placement of the camera; it was randomly determined who was in the front of the screen and whoever was chosen had the best visibility. If you were in the back of the pack the camera was sometimes so far away it became hard to drive and see. While this isn’t typically a problem in Local Multiplayer when you’re with friends, yelling and having fun – it didn’t translate well online, where it could feel remote and unfair.
Overall we weren’t fully satisfied with these multiplayer modes, and the players agreed. Our statistics showed that players only spent10% of their time in the multiplayer, and of that only 3.8% was spent in public multiplayer. In comparison, 33% of our players in Trials Fusion are using Track Central daily and more than 40% have tried Local Supercross. This lack of engagement with multiplayer in Evolution is the reason we redesigned multiplayer to provide a superior racing experience.
MULTIPLAYER IN FUSION
In Trials Fusion those who enjoy local multiplayer play, on average, over three times longer than those who only play solo content. The combination of multiplayer, Track Central, and regular content updates gives Trials its staying power, which is why we have devoted so much time and effort to make the best possible multiplayer mode for our players. We have long-term plans for Fusion!
The four-person local multiplayer was by far the most played and enjoyed mode in the previous game – and we liked it too – so we knew we should keep that for the game at launch. But online multiplayer has received a complete revamp.
This is how the new multiplayer will work: When you play multiplayer, you want to see where the other riders are at all times. You don’t want them to get in front of your camera, and you want your rider to be as close to the camera as possible. Knowing this, we designed the new online multiplayer to have the player always be closest to the camera. To ensure everyone sees themselves as the closest rider, we render your rider on a different driving lane than the one your friends will see you on when they are playing with you.
This also makes it possible to now have up to eight players at the same time, all of whom will always be visible on the screen but never in your way. We’re really stoked about it, and early tests already show it’s a blast.
Stay tuned for more information before the end of the year when we roll out multiplayer as a free content update, as well as our upcoming PC multiplayer beta!
Source: ubi blog
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. I've gone as far as I'll go in the campaign now, and just jumping on and trying custom tracks every week or two, 'tis a bloody great game still 
. I've got a track under construction as well, but suspect I won't get it near finished, but ya never know....
Axe99, on 22 June 2014 - 02:21 AM, said:
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. Ubisoft are a funny pub, sometimes they do really cool stuff (Rayman, Child of Light, Valiant Hearts), and other times they seem to mess it all up (this, Uplay).
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