Does RAGE Really Need Deathmatch?

It has been stated several times that id Software's upcoming RAGE will not feature the traditional Deathmatch (DM) and Capture the Flag (CTF) modes normally expected out of an FPS. There have been gamers, most of which we could assume are id-faithful, have reacted somewhat negatively or shocked. But should they be?

Apparently, id felt that the co-op and vehicular multiplayer works much better for their newest game than DM and CTF. This may come as a surprise from the studio credited with creating the first-person shooter and coining the term "deathmatch". I think it's safe to say that id know their game better than we do and thus know what will work best.

There have been quite a few notable examples of games that either featured multiplayer that didn't belong or just didn't turn out well... or both. Bioshock 2 and Dead Space 2 have been infamous for their "tacked-on" multiplayer modes that were essentially dead on arrival. As id has kindly demonstrated to us, the AI and environments in RAGE are impressive and help to create an immersive atmosphere in the game. Even if the player does not HAVE to play the extra modes, there needs to be a consistency within the universe to keep an overall polished product - an issue I had with Resistance 2.

What's worth noting is that many games, after a period of competitive multiplayer shooter saturation, have gone for the co-op approach. Games like Borderlands have gone on to be a hit with gamers and have proven that there is most definitely a market for players who want to fight with a friend. Could this be because we are finally beginning to move on from current fads?

I've seen my fair share of complaints about the abundance of FPS games and the need for more developers to explore possiblitlies in different genres. And this is a valid criticism, I think. We won't even bother trying to list the amount of "generic" shooters we've seen this generation. Maybe id is trying to get ahead of the game and push out a title we're ALMOST ready for; at just the right time.

But then we could consider this: id is a very well-known figure in the gaming industry for their work with hits like Doom, Wolfenstein, and Quake, so understandably, I imagine there are high expectations for a game dev with such a background. If id didn't think their Deathmatch or CTF modes stood out in a meaningful way, it might hurt their reputation as the "grandfather". Nobody wants to see their favorite dev crash and burn or be frowned upon by the community as being mediocre, especially one so legendary.

Whatever the case, I am sure id's bold new world will strike a chord with gamers. It may seem a little familiar to those with a respectable gaming history, but id's doing it their own way - the classic way. It will undoubtedly have a unique flavor that will be savored by those who give it a spin.