Experimental weekend poll results

Currently 3.19/5
1
2
3
4
5

(57 votes: 3.2 out of 5)

You participated in our Experimental Weekend, you answered our poll, we reviewed the data.
Now, we finally reveal what you told us.

By arne | Twitter @arnemeyer | Wednesday February 10 2010

About two months ago, in early December, we ran a little experiment over a weekend – we would lower the health for all players, in all playlists and game types, to be roughly the equivalent of activating the Crushing variation in a Custom game.

We wanted to see what you – our player population – thought about this change. We also invited everyone to take a poll on NaughtyDog.com to let us know what you thought.

After a couple of months had passed, we took the poll down and looked at the data we got from running the poll. The results are in the graph below.

Experimental weekend poll results chart

What did we learn?

Overwhelmingly, to the tune of 39% of everyone who replied, you let us know that you enjoyed the lowered health during the Experimental Weekend. Coming in at a close second, 33% of you felt that it was a good thing as well, but that we should keep it within its own playlist, rather than have the lowered health active across all playlists and game types.

By contrast, only 20% of respondents disliked the lowered player health outright. If we take into account everyone who responded critically to the Experimental Weekend – adding those who didn’t like it along with those who thought the health was lowered too much – then 24% of all respondents didn’t like the change to player health.

Even counting our margin of error (at the bottom of this post), the results are pretty clear – the majority of you liked the lowered health.

So… where does that leave us?

We hosted the Experimental Weekend to see if the lowered health addressed criticism that opponents were “bullet sponges” without affecting the overall game mechanics. After reviewing gameplay data and the poll results, if this is something we really wanted to do, then the answer would be far more complex than just changing health.

After a lot of tweaking and a ton of internal play-testing, we collectively determined the only correct way to tackle this would be to tune a broader range of multiplayer mechanics rather than only change player health.

Our upcoming Title Update 1.05 will reveal the minor weapon damage and attribute balancing we’ve done based on this poll, which we feel evolves our multiplayer game and keeps it fun to play and true to our gameplay philosophy.

(Results are based on a poll hosted on NaughtyDog.com which had 5,920 respondents, after removing duplicate and invalid responses, that was conducted from December 4, 2009, to January 30, 2010. For results based on the total sample of our unique player population, one can say with 99% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±1.7 percentage points.)

| Comments 190 | Tags: uncharted 2, multiplayer, title update, event

Share on Tumblr

Page 1 of 2 pages

Posted by: robpoole on 02-10-2010

That’s good news but unless part of the update is restoring peoples levels to what they were before 1.04 wiper then I’m afraid a lot of people are still going to be disappointed. There were a lot of level 50+ guys who you really let down.

Posted by: majora96 on 02-10-2010

yeah maybe not the uav part because the booster where you can see people through walls covers that. Maybe the tank and helicopter but they stay longer instead of just passing by and much much stronger. That’s a very good idea man. I was thinking the same thing to in the past.

Posted by: elsencillo on 02-10-2010

First of all I would like to say that UC2 MP is the best MP on the PS3 IMO..On topic, I think it will be a great idea if you guys just add a separate “crushing mode Playlist” because there are a lot of people including myself who didn’t really like the “Lower health experiment”. lowering the health will make UC2 a campfest, and to be honest, Camping=NO FUN AT ALL.. PLZ ND leave the game the way it is and focus more on fixing the random disconnection problems and the overpowered grenades etc..

Have a great Day!!

Posted by: alessat on 02-10-2010

If you add the ones that didn’t like it + the ones that thought it was too much + the ones that think that it should have its own playlist (basically people that do NOT want all games to be like that) then it’s 56% of people who doesn’t want health to be changed in all game.

Posted by: webberfan on 02-10-2010

I agree, I was one who said give it it’s own playlist. Could be good to change things up every now and again. Not always however.

“56% of people who doesn’t want health to be changed in all game” is exactly the way I read it too. I hope this doesn’t ruin the experience. Time will tell however.

Posted by: arne on 02-10-2010

Without only two choices, there are many ways to interpret the stats, many of which can suit your point of view. Taking the stats in a pure level, the majority of people without question preferred the gameplay encountered via lowered health.

Posted by: AngelSloti on 02-10-2010

hey
can somebody explain in other words, what they are going to do? I not sure if I got it right, because it is hard for me to understand!(It is not my first language)
And Yeah, I liked it too, but for me it should have their own playlist!

Posted by: ownageLSU on 02-10-2010

so if you lower health...but then make weapons do less damage...isn’t that essentially what we already have?...i mean if you lower both things then it’ll stay proportional...i’m guessing one isn’t tweaked as much as the other...but in that case all you’d have to do is just alter one as much as you need and keep the other as a control...should’t have to change both

Posted by: WhisperGamer on 02-10-2010

I didn’t like it, sorry ahah. I would rather not see it at all, not even in its own play list. I hope you guys don’t tune anything up or down to much and make the game less fun, which at the moment it is with all this lag, cheaters, glitchers, disconnections etc. I would like to see that fixed first!

Posted by: vsrobot on 02-10-2010

What makes UC2 great is the traversal and the cover system. If I can’t use my knowledge of the maps to turn an enemy encounter from a probable death to a clean kill based on making smarter decisions about how to react to his attack, then what’s the point? I really hope ND doesn’t throw the baby (the tactical side of UC2 online) out with the bathwater (COD-babies complaining about “bullet sponges” because they are used to a game that rewards camping and encounters always go to the guy who gets the drop on his opponent).

Posted by: Imputed7-14 on 02-10-2010

As someone who is just so-so at this type of game to begin with, I agree with the vsrobot. Stick some square pants on me and shot at me all the way to my pineapple under the sea. I am having a great time doing well by out thinking people as opposed to waiting in a certain spot. Though, I loves me some Moss!

Posted by: M-Brother on 02-10-2010

I voted to “Give it its own playlist” because I knew that was popular, but that I personally disliked lower health.

I’ve always liked Uncharted 2 because it was more a game of smarts and skill BECAUSE you rarely “surprise” kill anyone. Whoever won in a gun firefight was the one with the better accuracy, better timing, and better movement. And I loved multiplayer for that.

Posted by: Imputed7-14 on 02-10-2010

So, I am not the only person who lost a level getting randomly kicked out of a game for no obvious reason? Yeah, I would really like that fixed. That really sucked. I mean I don’t need the level redeemed, but if it happens again, I may move on. From the sound of it other people have it worse than I?

Posted by: msprad on 02-10-2010

Arne, is there any way that you could comment on my post at http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=uncharteddf&thread;.id=148369

For a short summary, the game locked up on me and when I returned, I was a level 1. I was previously a level 56. I have never had the error syncing player data, so I have no idea why my account rolled back to a 1. Can my account get fixed back to a level 56? Please comment on this as it is happening to more and more people. Thanks

Posted by: CaptainGillette on 02-10-2010

“After a lot of tweaking and a ton of internal play-testing, we collectively determined the only correct way to tackle this would be to tune a broader range of multiplayer mechanics rather than only change player health.”

So does this mean that you are NOT changing the player health, or that you ARE changing the player health AND other mechanics?

Posted by: SoWutIfMahSnSux on 02-10-2010

i oppose lowered health. the game’s health and weapons are well balanced. the game only needs to be patched in a matchmaking, glitching, and removing game freeze zones sense. you die plenty fast in this game. i cant help but think about which demographics voted for lowered health - they definitely wanted the game to be easier, and this game is simple enough already.

Posted by: ownageLSU on 02-10-2010

if ya’ll just give it its own playlist everyone is happy...those who don’t like it don’t have to play it...and those who do like it...can go play it...its a win/win situation...i voted give it its own play list cause i figured it made the most sense...i personally like the way the game is...it creates a skill gap between good and bad players and makes camping tough to do effectively...great concepts...that’s why this game is sooo great

Posted by: blackmamba707 on 02-10-2010

@Naughties - here’s the idea you should follow

Make DTI booster as default, go figure out most used booster stats, I’m sure there’s like 90% o people using it anytime ; this is because DTI is a must, and of course it kills the freedom of choosing from variety of other interesting boosters

Posted by: THE_DIGZ on 02-10-2010

I will have to disagree, I really hope this game doesn’t become a “Call of Duty” Who sees Who first Game. The greatest part of this game comes down to who has the better shot. I love being able to get shot in the back bust a juke move turn around and three shot, or Deagle headshot my opponent.

Posted by: JoseTK2 on 02-10-2010

That is true THE_DIGZ, you have all the reason, this game doesn’t have to become another “Call of Duty” this game has its own originality.

And… taking about lowered player health, my opinion is that you create a separate playlist. Beacuse for example, I use “Invalid” booster, so that puts me in disvantadge. So my opinion is that you create a different playlist.

Posted by: THE_DIGZ on 02-10-2010

I think developers shouldn’t take the opinions of their audience for changes like this, I understand “Listening” to you fans but there comes a time when there is just too many cooks in the kitchen, Stick to what makes this game the most competitive game out there and please, please don’t adjust for the purpose of the few
“less skilled” – Just look at what happens to franchises like Halo, they make it more and more easy for the average player to have a “good experience”. Halo CE is still the most competitive console shooter out there, the skill gap was unparalleled, fast forward to Halo 3, you can press a button and be protected (bubble shield). I’m just saying don’t change the game based for the masses, make the priority to be competitive. You don’t see the NBA lowering the height of a basket ball hoop, because most people are short, and they put a poll and everyone voted for a lowering the hoop.

Posted by: Harrijet on 02-10-2010

weapon adjustment? OH i would like to see damage-reduction on shotgun/pistole and will see how many players rely on those weapons! Shotgun is a reeeal powerful weapon in reality, yes, but you have no chanse when you turn around, and see your opponent is about to shoot you because these weapon ONLY requires blindfire! Skills in that? Hell no!

Posted by: portillo2011 on 02-11-2010

I love using the shotgun but i only use it to a certain limit.... when i play deathmatch there will always come a team who just picks up the freaking shotgun and use it ALL the time. Some games i only go dying becuz of those lol

Posted by: Spittygood on 02-10-2010

I admit I didnt play during this weekend so I have no real understanding of how the game played, but I have to say I am a bit concerned that lowering health could break gameplay. It’s pretty friggin good as it is. Tread lightly and with great caution ND....we dont want this thing to go South.

Posted by: xSlimjimmx on 02-10-2010

The health is fine as it is, I just want universal Grenade times. Im tired of grenades exploding when ever they want to, please just make a grenade that goes 1,2,3 boom, no matter who’s around or how close you where to it. You should also add a booster that lets you roll away form grenades without dying but you will still take damage. Im tired of killing people and have them throw a grenade at my feet right as they die and I can’t do anything about it (I do it too but its beacuse I have too ;P).

Posted by: Hochemo14 on 02-10-2010

Sweet, I loved that experiment. Hoping to see those other updates too!

And… I noticed that there was a longer time to render map textures and character teextures after 1.04, which left me entering some of the maps to feel stale when I first spawn. Anything you guys can do to fix this, arne?

Posted by: xSlimjimmx on 02-10-2010

Also! Fix the melee! please!
If its possible I think it would be pretty cool that if two players (on opossing teams) Melee eachother at the same general time, then they would each bounce back about 5 feet (Same animation you get form being hit by the ‘mutants’ with the gatling guns?) and take no damage, so bassicly both players are reset away 10 feet away from eachother and they can resolve the encounter some other way. Gun, grenade, flee whatever.
And if that does’nt work you can try an FPS approach (dear God I never thought I’d say this)and make melee one hit kills, lol maybe the melee could even be a drop kick or superman punch
If you can pull it off a get an experiment weekend going it could workout for the better...maybe.

Posted by: nicchae on 02-10-2010

Arne, PLEASE PLEASE address the following problem.

Currently I live in South Korea, but I purchased the game from Hong Kong during trip there. Now I am back in South Korea and have tried to download skin pack from American PSN store and Japan PSN account, but neither seems to work.

I haven’t tried downloading skin pack from Hong Kong PSN account which I have as well.

So my question is this.

I’m going to forget about downloading skin pack but will download map pack that you will have available in the future. In order to download future map pack,(1) do I need abandon the Hong Kong game disc and buy South Korean version of the game and also the map pack from South Korea PSN account? OR (2) Can I keep the Hong Kong game disc and simply download the future map pack from Hong Kong PSN account?

Again, I emphasize that I am in South Korea but with Hong Kong version of the game.

Posted by: arne on 02-10-2010

The PSN store download info page should provide detailed information on which versions or SKU of the game the DLC will work on. You’ll have to check there versus the version of the disc you have to ensure compatibility.

Posted by: Sol-Train on 02-10-2010

This is once again, a terrible idea. It makes it so that when you are out in the open, and being shot at you have no chance for survival. Right now, you still have a chance to roll out and make a move back. Don’t shorten the lives. Don’t turn this game into Duty.

Posted by: BanyaKnoT on 02-10-2010

thats very nice, thanks for continiusly improve the game, with new characters, and new maps etc, it would be pretty nice something for st valentin day like double cash plesee .

pd:sorry my english im chilean

Posted by: Sol-Train on 02-10-2010

If these adjustments play anything like the experimental weekend, I will surely RESELL my copy of the game. Everyone in my clan (and that I know) severely hated that weekend. We all played other games instead.

Posted by: xImpactt on 02-10-2010

Hey ND, This is off topic but I was wondering if you could add silenced weapons into online play, I think it would add a new layer to the online mode, being stealth is really fun and we need more ways to do that then just stealth melees

Posted by: OLDMAN543210 on 02-10-2010

uc2 is 1 of the best MP games out there, but it wont take much before it becomes another COD. im not computer savy.......i dont know how this clitching (CHEATING) works....but ND should have a place to report cheaters so they can be speced and when found cheating ND can bust there rank back to 1… im tired of being shot through the walls and being pulled through the walls and killed and even being killed by a single shot pistol from across the map.

Posted by: Naej_ on 02-10-2010

uh oh!...i think this is a little too late! the veterans of UC2 MP will be outraged and most likely stay away from this game...the health is perfect as it is...you die quick if you know how to aim! the ones who love the lowered health weekend were new players! ><

the implementation is too late...a lot of players are now accustomed to the current health..

Posted by: Raiden672008 on 02-10-2010

Arne, Im sorry but this is NOT the best idea with this update it will encourage camping and more kill farming for people to level up in Plunder WHICH I HATE campers , You should keep it this way because when 1.05 comes out all you will see is people camping , This isn’t your best idea i HIGHLY DICOURAGE your idea which will sadly make me play this less because i can’t stand campers. hope you read this Arne and Stop this idea.

The multiplayer of this game was perfect at release but this idea is going to kill it please stop it.

Posted by: theAmazingRyan on 02-10-2010

I find this concerning also. I choose this game over COD 10 times out of 10 because of the mechanics. It does require more strategy and maneuvering than COD which makes it more fun. I didn’t get to play during the experimental weekend nor did I vote on the poll, but I’m a firm believer in “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”.

Posted by: wlldestbeest on 02-10-2010

I agree with those that say no. I picked for it to have it’s own playlist ONLY because i thought that some people would like to have it as an option. If it were only a yes or no option, I would have definitely picked NO. Reading through the forums and this site, it seems that many agree with me. maybe you could have another poll with just yes or no for additional data.

Skills are required in this game and it has so many layers - shooting AND dodging. if you are going to add anything, i agree with ADR - up the headshot dmg.

as a note: i recently moved to taiwan and i bought a second ps3 JUST TO PLAY THIS GAME in taiwan. it’s amazing. i love the mechanics. UC2 >>> MW2. please don’t turn this into MW2.

Posted by: arne on 02-10-2010

We aren’t changing the core gameplay style and mechanics that make Uncharted what it is. We are changing things around, but not purely based on the poll. The weekend and the poll told us which paths were worthwhile to pursue.

Posted by: ownageLSU on 02-10-2010

just because we say give it its own playlist doesn’t mean we like it...it just means we are considerate of others who might like it, and if they wanna play it, let them...for those of us who like the way it is (as i do) leave the game be and just clean up the glitches and what not

Posted by: TheBigAitch on 02-10-2010

Hmmm, wow, I hope this works out ok :l I also voted to give it its own playlist BECAUSE personally I DIDN’T like it (no two ways about it - it massively reduced your chances of skillfully winning individual confrontations) BUT i could see that others would love the COD style play it produced - and why deny others that option? Seems that however the people who voted for separate playlist are all being lumped in with the straight ‘yes’ respondents.

I would prefer to see much longer respawn times on the shotguns, pistoles, hammer etc AND grenades too actually, there are certain players who virtually use nothing else and it gets very boring very quickly when you’re in matches with those sort of players.

Also, any way to at least reduce a players ability to spam a grenade before they die? It’s lame and unsporting!

Posted by: arne on 02-11-2010

No, if you want to take it literally, people who voted for “put it in it’s own playlist” are not put in the “love it” and they’re not put into the “didnt love it” categories. they are kept separate and we considered them and that solution separately. again, this helped us look at what paths in gameplay evolution we wanted to look at.

Posted by: CaptainGillette on 02-11-2010

Well, just to second the above poster, I was squarely in the “didn’t love it” category, but I voted to give it its own playlist because I figured “why deny the people who do like it if it wouldn’t affect me?” Perhaps the poll options themselves led to dodgy results… if TheBigAitch and I both interpreted the question as such, there are certainly others in the ‘Give it its own playlist’ camp who didn’t think the health tweak improved the game in any way.

Either way, I trust ND to do what’s best. Looking forward to the official rundown of what’ll be new…

Posted by: Anghild on 02-11-2010

I’m concerned that it would take all skill out of the game. And are you going to rebalance the negative boosters like invalid?

If I decide to use the Invalid booster to earn more cash, this is my decision as a player. As it is you die from people just sneezing in your direction. How will this affect it?

Also, can’t remember if we had to sign in to take the poll, but you should have spread your demographic to vote per player level. Did you take into account that people level 1-10 might have had a different opinion to 20+, 30+, 40+ and even 50+

Not saying that a lower level can’t air an opinion, just saying that people on higher levels have experimented with different boosters and generally played a lot more. Example: How can you be concerned about changes affecting negative boosters if you never used them?

Posted by: arne on 02-11-2010

Weighing or subcategorizing results would mess with the integrity of the randomization of the subject of this particular poll. Keeping it as random as possible ensures an accurate sample of the sentiment all current (and many future) players.

You did have to sign in, one of the criteria was that you had to have a PSN account to even vote. There were others as well to up the accuracy of the poll results.

Posted by: xGUMBIx on 02-11-2010

This is fantastic news! Everyone I play with absolutely loved the reduced health. You had to approach situations with a bit more skill (no jumping around spamming the blindfire with shotguns). I played all weekend long and most everyone I played with, friends and random people loved it. Great stuff!!

Posted by: sulphury on 02-11-2010

R.I.P. Uncharted 2 ... Why cant you just leave it alone !! Mess up Uncharted3’s online if u want but leave this alone! this is the best multiplayer game the ps3 has and you guys want to screw it up by making “ fun” for everyone. If u guys want to please everyone make uncharted for the Wii. So you get the soccer moms into it. This game takes skill right now. But youre gonna turn into a n00b friendly camping fest piece of crap… i might have sell my ps3 and get a 360 again so i can play damn Halo3 and reach. so dissapointed ...

Posted by: fire_spirited on 02-11-2010

Can you make shotguns a less powerfull? You have reduced ammo for sniper rifle - it is unfair cuz it is not easy to use weapon like shotgun. I met good snipers extremely rare, but shotgun bearers are everywhere! +sniper rifle and -shotgun

Posted by: BreasticalsIRL on 02-11-2010

NO ND NO!!!!!!!
Now since ive clocked over 200 hours on your game I think my point is valid!
First I couldn’t vote on this poll way back because your site had issues and I couldn’t log in.
Second even though I HATED the Lower Health weekend now I mean HATED it
I still would of voted “Give it its own playlist” instead of a direct “NO” to keep everyone happy (Makes sense) I say the majority of “Give it its own playlist” votes were people who “didn’t like it” or said it was “O.K” but understanding some people might of liked its said “A Hell""Give it its own playlist whats wrong with that”
Fourth: To me the people who voted a direct “Yes” were selfish not think of other players and of course ND listened

BAD MOVE ND BAD MOVE
I understand you need to keep things “Fresh” but..........weren’t the new maps going to do just that??

During that weekend of Lower Health I literally took U2 out of my PS3 (First time since i got it) put it in its case and “Brushed it aside"…

And it looks like that will happen again......

I love U2 for its fast pace not camping (look what happened to gear of war 2 DISASTER)

SERIOULY CONSIDER its own playlist keep everyone happy dont turn your backs from the fans who have been here since the start :( :( :(

Posted by: tts42572 on 02-11-2010

Somebody at Naughty Dog isn’t real good at interpreting results....

The poll results basically say that over 50% of respondents either didn’t like it or wanted it’s own playlist.

I think the best solution for everyone would be a seperate playlist. If you want to play a reduced health game, it would be your option.

I’d rather see time focused on developing a few more maps to keep things fresh rather than tweaking health. Also would like to see all maps available in the co-op arena (temple, ice cave).

I think we can all appreciate attempts by Naughty Dog to offer DLC and to keep adding value to the game. But don’t fix what isn’t broke and concentrate more on adding real value to the game instead of just tweaking things for the heck of it.

Posted by: LEROYJ on 02-11-2010

i putted the game away for a while. done everything in the game. every map; every detail i know of the game. belong to the top leaderboards of the game(now that im stopping for a while i will drop in the list offcourse) but there is nothing to achieve anymore for me - but also for more level 60 poeple - make the game more fun for the higher levels. new maps , new function, AND maybe there is hope that this lower health makes the FAGS that only throw grenades not that good anymore. sometimes i shoot at somebody, he doesnt even shoot at me, he just throws a grenade and runs half way the map to get away from me(or picks up a shotgun and waits behind the corner).

Time will tell.

[Mr.] LEROYJ

Posted by: fc_sinnfrei on 02-11-2010

complaining, complaining, complaining…
campers suck, nades suck, shotgun sucks, wawawa…

this is the game, why always complaining? those who cry getting killed by a nade: bad luck, it’s the way the other one plays/reacts! shall he just stand tall and get being killed? campers suck? the campers like playing it this way… i like it to take a camper out, i often camp on my own, who cares? the real cracks will come and get me while campin, it’s ok, they react better! shotgun takes me out all the time? well, they got it, go and get it on your own (or the desert eagle), this is the game! and it’s awesome! would you prefer to end every death-match winning with 30 kills and no deaths? come on: that would be boring! if somebody kills you so often, well end this deathmatch, leave this group after the game and search for another group you little kids! as a matter of fact, i am not the best dm-player, sometimes i got 10-5, or 5-10 or sometimes it happens that i end one dm without a single kill, laugh at me, i dont care, IT’S THE GAME!!!

Posted by: wheskeydean on 02-11-2010

This is really disappointing to hear. I think you should reconsider. One thing I like about Uncharted is getting used to the different weapons and there strengths… now every weapon will be as powerful as the Desert Eagle? 1 shot kills? It takes the skill out....Basically this means that it doesn’t matter which weapon you use, so why have different weapons at all? All that will matter now is who sees who first. Yeah, i don’t want this to turn into COD.

Posted by: Bahamaboy on 02-11-2010

You know what i’m glad ND is doing this as long as it doesn’t mess up the core gameplay feel. I’m going to love killing people and hear them say “omg he didn’t die i put a whole clip into him.” however if it makes it harder to win 2v1 or 3v1 ima be pissed.

Page 1 of 2 pages

Experimental weekend poll results

You participated in our Experimental Weekend, you answered our poll, we reviewed the data. Now, we finally reveal what you told us.

Log in to reply to this entry

You participated in our Experimental Weekend, you answered our poll, we reviewed the data.
Now, we finally reveal what you told us.