At a trade fair, Bungie presented how players in the MMO shooter Destiny pass the time. However, a part of the game is not perceived as it seems.
John Hopson is responsible for “User Research” at Bungie, meaning he investigates how players actually play Destiny. For this purpose, there was a pie chart at the GDC trade fair that was supposed to show that all activities in Destiny are pursued more or less evenly, right? At least that is the impression the image creates.
The pie is a lie!
At first glance, everything looks nice and even: 6 slices of pie, one a bit larger, the other a bit smaller. A family can feast on that. The father gets the largest slice (Story!) and the youngest daughter settles for the raid slice – she doesn’t eat much anyway: Mom, I’m not hungry.
However, Bungie has cheated with the pie. Because story, patrol, raid, strike are not necessarily different things in the minds of the players. Instead, they could be summarized under the aspect of “PvE”: the game against computer-controlled monsters. Raid and strike might be group PvE, while patrol and story would be solo PvE. And tower represents the peaceful social moments in the game.
In contrast, there is “PvP,” the combat between players, which is a relatively small part that has not been further broken down in the diagram. However, there are some of those: control, skirmish, iron banner, various weekly events – the slices of pie would have become so small that not even one of Heidi Klum’s supermodels would have been satisfied with it.
Players are right with their demand for more PvE
When you look at the pie chart from this perspective, it confirms what many players criticize Bungie about loudly: PvP is getting relatively too much attention.
Currently, the only monthly event that brings variety is the PvP event, the Iron Banner. Weekly variety only comes in the form of special PvP modes like double skirmish or now the Inferno mode.
Moreover, relatively many new PvP maps come with expansions. Bungie also aligns the balancing of weapons with the results from the Crucible. Fans of automatic rifles and hand cannons can currently sing a song about that .
It therefore seems to players as if a lot of time is being invested in PvP, even though the majority of gamers can’t do much with it. It’s no wonder that there is unrest arising here, especially since there are still many issues in PvE.
And indeed: If you take another look at the pie chart, the time Bungie invests would probably be better spent on new strikes, raids, or missions. After all, most players spend their time in Destiny doing that.
PvE is the most delicious part of Destiny
This also makes sense: there are plenty of PvP shooters out there. In Destiny, it’s mainly the co-op mode, the cooperative play against monsters, that shines as the “Unique Selling Point,” the aspect that distinguishes Destiny from competitors.
Much indicates that Bungie did not foresee this development. At least not in this form. Especially the raids were viewed skeptically before release, with questions about whether shooter players would accept the mode at all.
Six months later, we know the answer: Yes, players are accepting the PvE part of the game, especially the co-op mode, and are wanting more.
Can Bungie lure players into the crucible with better bait?
In the near future, Bungie will continue to invest in PvP. Destiny’s developers have already announced plans to make the PvP mode more attractive and varied with better loot, a larger selection of maps, and more modes. The next big event, the upcoming monthly event “Trials of Osiris” is also intended for PvP players. Here, the currently rarest weapon in Destiny, the scout rifle “Fate of all Fools” will be available. The question is whether they can succeed in attracting more players to the crucible with it. But if not with loot, then what?
Although players wouldn’t mind if more PvP content came, as long as there’s something going on in the aspects of the game where they hang out. Since early December, not much has happened here. The shooter trend of playing together and not blowing each other up needs new fuel.
