BioShock 2 Multiplayer and Matchmaking Q&A

[Grayskin]

From Cult of Rapture Website

How does multiplayer work on the consoles, and is it different for the PS3 and 360?

They work similarly for both platforms, with some differences in how they are integrated with its respective party systems.

How does multiplayer, in general, differ on the PC from the consoles?

Like above, the core gameplay experience of the PC, Xbox and PS3 are similar, with some differences in how they are integrated with its party systems and required functionality for its respective platform. How do ranked matches work? The multiplayer does not have ranked/unranked distinctions, but a hybrid system where there is an in-game party system where you can invite up to four of your friends into your party to take into online matchmaking. You can also join in-progress games on any of your friends if there is space available. All of these games have stats recorded to a worldwide leaderboard. You can also create private matches where you can invite up to 9 other people into a match to play the games on your own time. Private match results don’t get posted on the leaderboards and is a safe place for you and your friends to practice before going online.

Can you play ranked matches with your friends?

Yes, once you are in the lobby, you can invite your friends to form a party to play online. The matchmaking system will keep you and your friends together on the same team as long as you all want to play together and will attempt to find you players of similar skill for your party to play against. How does your matchmaking system work and how do you make sure there isn’t lag or bad match ups? The matchmaking system takes a couple of things into account. We try to get you into a game as quickly as possible (since we know how much waiting really stinks), but match you up to people who are as close to your rank and skill as possible, with a certain amount of weighting to each factor, as well as requiring a low ping for those matched players.

How do you deal with people who grief or cheat or are otherwise not making a good ranked experience? Can you kick them?

Even though we are doing everything we can to try to find exploits in our own game, there will always be people who will find a way to grief a game. There is no kick option as we felt like it often leads to more unfair kicking than fair kicking. We hope that because there are a variety of player goals and a multitude of options for ranking up and killing, the player will always feel like he or she is gaining something in a match with mean people and griefers. If you do get matched up with one of those people, please report it, leave that game, and we’ll try to smooth out the online experience as best as we can.

What’s the difference between ranked and unranked matches and why did you choose to have these two options?

We don’t have these two options. We felt like having just one giant place to meet players would be easier for getting better matches, and it is very important to us that we never split your parties. We want you to make friends, play with your friends, and compete with your friends. If you want to get practice in before going online, you can make a private match where you can play with people on direct invitation.

Do you support LAN play on consoles or PC? Do you support dedicated servers?

Short answer, no and no. There is always a finite amount of time for the development of a game. Bringing Multiplayer to BioShock was a daunting task between the tech (there was no multiplayer support in the codebase from the first game) and the expectations of the community. Either you try to do everything and so nothing feels finished or you focus your efforts to do a smaller number of things really well like an accessible online experience. We chose to spend the time we had creating a solid game foundation and unfortunately that did not include LAN play or dedicated servers.

Also theres a new audio diary from Father Wales, go check it out

[Unknowncode]

We chose to spend the time we had creating a solid game foundation and unfortunately that did not include LAN play or dedicated servers.

Oh rite, so they just pulled a MW2 on us and aren't even bothering with dedicated servers? Well that sucks, don't know whether or not the multi player is a good idea along side the single player campaign now. Matchmaking on the PC is horrible, mainly because it doesn't give the player enough choice about what kind of server they join and usually takes a while to find a decent one. Seriously considering cancelling my pre-order or at least just boycotting multi player if this is how its going to be

[Crezth]

Oh rite, so they just pulled a MW2 on us and aren't even bothering with dedicated servers? Well that sucks, don't know whether or not the multi player is a good idea along side the single player campaign now. Matchmaking on the PC is horrible, mainly because it doesn't give the player enough choice about what kind of server they join and usually takes a while to find a decent one. Seriously considering cancelling my pre-order or at least just boycotting multi player if this is how its going to be

What! Don't be a clod! There's still a delicious single player campaign to play.

[gbpackers25]

Oh rite, so they just pulled a MW2 on us and aren't even bothering with dedicated servers? Well that sucks, don't know whether or not the multi player is a good idea along side the single player campaign now. Matchmaking on the PC is horrible, mainly because it doesn't give the player enough choice about what kind of server they join and usually takes a while to find a decent one. Seriously considering cancelling my pre-order or at least just boycotting multi player if this is how its going to be

i think that is a little extreme man, sure there wont be dedicated servers but the multiplayer will still be amazing!

Also there is the great story mode you will be missing out on as well!

[adain]

If you are seriously going to follow infinity ward wish this then I simply won't buy your game on the principle of the matter. I didn't buy MW2 and I won't be this. I was willing to forgive GFWL because its easy to work around that trash, but not this.

[magicman4443]

If you are seriously going to follow infinity ward wish this then I simply won't buy your game on the principle of the matter. I didn't buy MW2 and I won't be this. I was willing to forgive GFWL because its easy to work around that trash, but not this.

Congratulations. It's a shame you'll be missing out on an amazing Single Player story, only because you don't like what they did with Multiplayer. But to each his own I suppose.

[HeavySplicerGuy]

Don't quite understand all the debate about dedicated servers, so i won't hit that bees nest.

I think multiplayer will still be good, and urge you guys to at least try it. After all, like our fellow players have said, there is STILL single player. Don't drop the Great Chain so spontaneously!

[japester]

If you are seriously going to follow infinity ward wish this then I simply won't buy your game on the principle of the matter. I didn't buy MW2 and I won't be this. I was willing to forgive GFWL because its easy to work around that trash, but not this.

Didn't you make this same declaration a week ago based upon an entirely different complaint?

How many times can you not purchase this game?

[Codex]

Didn't you make this same declaration a week ago based upon an entirely different complaint?

How many times can you not purchase this game?

Well if you want to get into the philisophical discussion of it, you can infinite number of times not buy something until the instance changes where you buy it. After that, it is the only point that you cannot be not buying it any more.

But, I would like to point out that the "boycott" of MW2 for not having dedicated servers ended like this: definitly one option...

I'm rocking the boat, I know, but why are we freaking out before we've got our hands on it? I really don't understand all the apocalyptic doom and gloom about EVERYTHING before we get our hands on the game. I know two weeks is a long time to worry, but I feel we all need to take a chill pill and stop freaking out over stuff we don't know will be the way we assume it to be.

This has been Codex, your friendly forum broken record. We shall be repeating this broadcast the next time we set foot in the BS2 forums...

[Eirscythe]

Well if you want to get into the philisophical discussion of it, you can infinite number of times not buy something until the instance changes where you buy it. After that, it is the only point that you cannot be not buying it any more.

But, I would like to point out that the "boycott" of MW2 for not having dedicated servers ended like this: definitly one option...

I'm rocking the boat, I know, but why are we freaking out before we've got our hands on it? I really don't understand all the apocalyptic doom and gloom about EVERYTHING before we get our hands on the game. I know two weeks is a long time to worry, but I feel we all need to take a chill pill and stop freaking out over stuff we don't know will be the way we assume it to be.

This has been Codex, your friendly forum broken record. We shall be repeating this broadcast the next time we set foot in the BS2 forums...

Hahaha, amen man.
I'm with everyone else. The single player will be amazing, and not having the word "dedicated" in front of the word "servers" will not end the world.

[andrix10]

Oh rite, so they just pulled a MW2 on us and aren't even bothering with dedicated servers? Well that sucks, don't know whether or not the multi player is a good idea along side the single player campaign now. Matchmaking on the PC is horrible, mainly because it doesn't give the player enough choice about what kind of server they join and usually takes a while to find a decent one. Seriously considering cancelling my pre-order or at least just boycotting multi player if this is how its going to be

just get an xbox 360 or a ps3 and play bioshock 2 on it, pc has a lot of hackers and consoles have almost none at all big advantage right there

[dewder74]

I don't play too many multi-player games so I don't know and therefore have to ask. How does one "grief" a game?

[Lamb_meat]

I don't play too many multi-player games so I don't know and therefore have to ask. How does one "grief" a game?

By acting in a way that makes the experience unpleasant for others. E.g. throwing oil barrels at your teammate.

[dewder74]

O, ok. Like when you're playing against a pro who has the map memorized, kills you in 5 seconds and then is on top of you again as soon as you re-spawn. That's usually why I don't like playing multi-player. Griefing definitely takes the fun out of a game.

[Lamb_meat]

O, ok. Like when you're playing against a pro who has the map memorized, kills you in 5 seconds and then is on top of you again as soon as you re-spawn. That's usually why I don't like playing multi-player. Griefing definitely takes the fun out of a game.

lol.. griefing is usually done on teamates, who you should be helping, but instead hurt. Like Pushing teamates off the roof in l4d beta I'm guilty

[japester]

I'm a total noob when it comes to multiplayer, but from what friends have told me, cheaters/griefers are a universal problem, regardless of the server setup. Unless you play exclusively against people you know. (I think the Wii is set up like this, yeah?)

Since the internet brings out the worst in folks, I hate the fact that the trend is to make random people a necessary component of your gameplay experience. Let me experience Jordan or Hoagie's or whomever's vision of Rapture....without the shrill screams of a feral 13 year old in my ear.

[dewder74]

lol.. griefing is usually done on teamates, who you should be helping, but instead hurt. Like Pushing teamates off the roof in l4d beta I'm guilty

O, so griefing is being a jerk to your own teammates. I think I've been guilty of that when playing multi-player GTA4.

[Amazin_GB]

O, ok. Like when you're playing against a pro who has the map memorized, kills you in 5 seconds and then is on top of you again as soon as you re-spawn. That's usually why I don't like playing multi-player. Griefing definitely takes the fun out of a game.

so getting out skilled is greifing. perhaps you should try to improve or play with more noobs?

[ArmorForVictory]

so since there's no dedicated server's does that mean we can only host games that our internet can handle? meaning with my speeds i'll only be able to host 2v2 matches? if so gonna have to find people to play with that can host the full 10 player matches

[magicman4443]

Let me experience Jordan or Hoagie's or whomever's vision of Rapture....without the shrill screams of a feral 13 year old in my ear.

That right there is my biggest problem with Multiplayer Games. That, and the obnoxious, "Oh, lol, you suck, loser, etc." college "frat boy" player. Can't stand them in the slightest. Oh and Jape, Wii does allow for playing with friends, but most games do have a random wifi option, like Brawl. But there's no mike, so you don't have to deal with the other person.

[Temple]

LOCAL MATCHMAKING SEARCH! YES OR NO!
That is my question.

Anyway, Griefers are terrible, and I always manage to come across one bloody Engie that builds a dispenser in front of my Sentry for laughs.
(Talking Team Fortress 2 by the way :P)