Do people understand the Team Mechanic anymore?

[AnarchyInBlack]

Or has games like CoD and battle royals only cemented the birth of the solo player?
I've found more times than not, while playing team-oriented games (Overwatch, Battlefield, etc), people seem to dwell in the solo mentality, verses playing as a team.
Thoughts, comments, possible remedies?

[lostaname]

I think it is because of psychological group dynamics involving people being the newbie/outsider and then getting expelled/rejected or trashed regardless of potential skill. Also teaming with strangers is a hassle since there is no way to communicate strats unless you are extremely lucky that they are 'obedient'. This all makes the sore losers, impatient people and downright elite groups decide to keep out the unwanted elements.

[isturbo1984]

No, its just mass casuals that are playing games these days. What you said was true and all, but it just seems odd you would completely leave out the underlying cause.

[JackofTears]

Stop blaming "casuals" for everything, we are all casual compared to someone and we all started out as bad players and learned to become good. When I played Mass Effect multiplayer I became incredibly skillful but avoided playing above silver after the first few times because the people there were elitist pricks who'd kick kids out of their group without giving them a chance to show what they could do - all because they didn't like their build, or their item loadout. It wasn't fun and it didn't build teamwork. The Silver matches (and even the Bronze), however, wherein this kind of behavior was uncommon, were always fun, the people worked together naturally because we weren't being antagonistic to one another and since little mistakes wouldn't get the team killed, everyone was able to just relax and enjoy the experience.

Elitism kills games faster than any "casual" player.

[lostaname]

JackofTears You just described my experience with WoW. Getting kicked out of public groups FOR DUNGEONS for not meeting the highest ilvl. <_>

[isturbo1984]

They do. But uber popular franchises like "Overwatch and Battlefield" are the wrong games to flock to just to try and play a cohesive team match with randos. Join a group or a guild.

[ryvrdrgn14]

I play Mechwarrior Online and the lack of team play can be painful during certain times of the day, but there are times when the game puts together a really good team and it just flows like water without any communication.

I think that with any team-based game, there are always good teams and bad teams. The only way you'll get the team you want is if you assemble them yourself, otherwise randoms will be random.

[AnarchyInBlack]

They do. But uber popular franchises like "Overwatch and Battlefield" are the wrong games to flock to just to try and play a cohesive team match with randos. Join a group or a guild.

Those were honestly just the first two examples I thought of. I haven't played Battlefield since BF4, and I tend to only play Overwatch when my friends are online due to, as ryvrdrgn14 put it, "Randoms will be random". I'm sure there have been plenty of other times I've been mid team-based game, and felt zero cohesion.

[Yoshi]

I think your hypothesis is likely correct, though I suspect it varies significantly by game. I've had much better luck with randoms in Rocket League for example than Fortnite. Part of the issue with the latter is all of those inane challenges that have people doing everything but playing the game half the time.

[Colenado]

Unfortunately a lot AAA games cater to instant gratification, I like instant gratification from time to time as well don't get me wrong. I think the problem that devs need to solve is creating engaging mechanisms that revolve around rewarding teamwork in the way that "killstreaks" do.

[Merlin]

I believe it is innevitable by nature. When every new game is a new set of strangers, its hard to develop and cohesion. You don't know who is good at what, and you may all do best a certain thing which is unhelpful. You don't have time to figure out what everyone should be doing as much. Though as a support and tank player I never have this issue since everyone wants to be the DPS I don't have to fight over a role in games. But I see what you mean, people don't seem to cooperate as much in newer titles even if there are bigger potentials for team play. It might sound sad, but I remember more teamwork in Halo 3 than I do in overwatch.

[AnarchyInBlack]

No kidding. I had more cooperative moments while playing Dewrito than I have playing Overwatch in random queue, lol

[Merlin]

oof, don't remind me of El Dewrito. I'm still sad about that. We are never getting Halo on PC

[SnarkyJay]

There are a bunch of forums out there for gamers looking to join a gaming group. They will often have boards for various games, and I find that there is much more teamwork when players chat with each other outside of the game. I used to belong to a group called Friendly Gamers Guild and I had a bunch of good multiplayer interactions across various games. I don't think that particular guild exists anymore, but I know others exist. I would join a few forums and see which ones seem to have the most welcoming members and game with them! I would much rather join a group of nice people that play middle of the road, as opposed to a bunch of jerks at the top of their game. That's just me though. I'm not the most competitive person in the world, and I game to have fun, not be the best of the best.

EDIT: I wanted to add that some streamers on Twitch will allow viewers to join them online. I have hopped in a bunch of online multiplayer matches with streamers and had a blast. Another good way to find gaming groups is through Discord!

[ciderPunk1877]

Nothing killed team dynamics. People have been in it "for themselves" in MP shooters since Doom deathmatch. The arena shooters in the late 90s and early 2000s? Total "every man in it for himself" madness.

There are games that cater toward teams, there are games that cater to solo.

[AnarchyInBlack]

You're not wrong, but, you're specifically talking about solo-play games. I am talking about the absence of team-play in team-based games.

[Hadley]

It's not just you. The average gamer today has no tactical awareness and is completely clueless to the idea of providing cover and moving as a team. To them it's run, shoot, look at scoreboad. Do you use Steam? If I'm gonna play an online shooter, I don't go in alone. It's always good to bring a couple reliable friends along.

[Dub-Z]

Everything peaked at Quake III for me and I never clicked with team based shooters. Or class based. Or sims. I need that raw uncut.

[xadu]

It is all matter of incentives. What is your incentive for helping another player? If you sell yourself as a mercenary, what is your payment?

Corporations don't like teams, because they need to be managed. It costs money, and if some member flakes, all are desincentivized from playing.

There also is Leeeroy Jenkins!. Stay away from Leeroy.

[ethansito]

I laugh so hard whenever I hear mention of a "COD team".

You can try playing team-based games, but the only way to guarantee being group with people who actually care about the objective let alone the team is to form a group to queue with from people you know. Some of the most frustrating games I have in CSGO is when I queue solo and end up with people who don't feel like trying or communicating.

[Kashimi]

Modern day online mentality:

Get more kills than everyone else, be the flag carrier, storm the zone and be the king of the mountain.

There is no in between anymore. You're either seen as the one doing all the bad ass stuff like you're Dwayne Johnson in a cheesy action film, or it's "u suck, get gud"