Gears of War 3 Multiplayer ‘All About Accessibility’

Gears of War 3’s strategy with its upcoming multiplayer component of the game is accessibilty.  The developers want to get people into the game, lower the barriers to entry, and keep them there.  Rod Ferguson of Epic Games spoke with inc gamers recently and explained the phenomenon of getting pwned as a first time player, how it’s not very fun, and why you are likely to leave after it happens.

The developer explained: [Gears of War] has always been about accessibility and how we get more people in and then keep them in.  If you don’t know what you’re getting into and the first thing that happens to you is you come into a game and the hardcore audience shotguns you in the face, that’s not a place that you want to stay.”

Fergusson details that the best way to eliviate these probelsm is by presenting the player with information, therby making the concepts of the game easier to grasp from the onset.

“We’re trying to give people lots of information, whether it’s more information during matchmaking or more information about what the weapons are or where your team-mates are on the map; we’re trying to empower the player and provide a place for them in which they feel they can grow and feel comfortable.”

The Gears of War 3 Beta will launch next month, so pay attention and you won’t get shotgunned in the face.