S4 League
Encyclopedia
S4 League is a third-person shooter
multiplayer game developed by Pentavision
and published by Neowiz Games
in 2007. It is hosted exclusively in Korea by Pmang
. It's also hosted in Europe
and North America
since 2008 by Alaplaya. A sequel, S4: Dark Lightning, has been announced and released.
. Altering the camera position can bring the experience from the game closer to that from a first-person shooter
.
To play games, registered players have to log–with the game client installed–into the servers provided by the S4 League publisher. The playerbase gets separated into "servers" (alaplaya publisher has language labeled servers), and–subsequently–"channels" which may have restrictions such as based on player character level. Clan system and "channels" for clan vs clan matches are available. Once in a "channel", players can create rooms that define the game mode and limitations. When enough players join the room and declare themselves ready, the game can be started. Maximum number of players in a match is 16. Majority of the game modes are competitive, though win or loss doesn't have much impact on experience points or in-game currency gains. Few weapons being an exception, no friendly fire is possible. Some of the lower character levels, when attained, unlock emote
s and clothes-equipment available for use.
In Captain mode the deathmatch-like game is split into rounds. Players start the round with increased hit-points and are termed "captains". The objective of the round is to eliminate opposing team "captains", while preserving own team ones. Until the next round starts, a once-killed "captain" respawns as a non-"captain", with standard hit-points and the ability to detect opposing team "captains".
Touchdown mode has the highest number of different maps available. Allusively to american football
game process, the two teams in this game mode have to bring a ball (termed "fumbi") to opposing team "goalpost" to score the points that serve as primary win criterion. The player characters can kill each other, like in deathmatch, and ball-carrying character drops the ball when killed. Successfull "touchdown" finishes a round and awards a TD score point. Start of the new round resets player characters and "fumbi" to respawn at the normally designated locations.
In Chaser mode games, each round a randomly selected player is appointed the role of "chaser", other players are teamed against that player. "Chaser" player is faster than usual, has distorted vision and increased damage resistance. Both "chaser" and the opposing team can see "target" mark pointing to the non-chaser character with the highest score. The more players participate, the larger time limit is allotted to the round. Currently-"chaser" player is given points for killing the opposing team characters. Killing a "target"-mark shifts the mark to the next survivor and nets additional points. Opposing team players earn points by dealing damage to the "chaser" and by surviving till the end of the round.
Battle Royal mode is a non-team, "free-for-all" deathmatch. Killing a player currently in the lead nets additional points. In Battle Royal mode, 5 points are obtained by killing the individual currently in first place whereas 2 points are gained by killing a player whom is not in first place. However, any kill assist nets only 1 point no matter if the player on either end of the killing was in first place or not.
Arcade mode is the non-competitive mode. Similarly to instancing
, the team of 1 to 4 players is put on the pre-generated time-limited map. Scripted sequences of computer-controlled opponents are spawned. 8 maps are available, comprising a single plot narrated by cutscene
s.
Siege mode is a team based mode where both teams have to capture 3 points scature around the map. There are currently 2 maps available for this mode. During the gameplay drops will be found across the map the will serve benefits to your character such as bonus pen and also attack increases.
Additional variations are restriction of allowed weapons and skills. Some modes provide on-the-fly balance alterations. For example, players from the team that falls behind in Deathmatch or Touchdown would begin to take less damage from similar attacks, compared to their opponents'. Majority of the maps are available only in a single specific game mode.
A number of clothing elements can be purchased and equipped. These items serve to alter character appearance and to impart bonuses, such as additional offense or defense. Weapons differ in their appearance, bullet spray patterns, damage, clip size, speed, etc. A number of weapons fall under the category of melee (such as swords, dagger). "Skills" are an assortment of special equipment and are player-activated or constantly active during actual matches (examples: invisibility; additional maximum hit points). Activated "skills", as well as acrobatic special moves (wall jump
ing, running, etc), spend points from a regenerating but limited "SP" pool, which is also affected by certain game modes rules.
The equipment is purchased for in-game currency earned by participating in matches. Real-world currency micropayments serve to purchase of special currency
, exclusively from the game service provider. This special currency is spent to purchase a wider variety of character equipment, including that with bonuses of otherwise unattainable level. No inter-account transfers of currencies and equipment is possible.
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
multiplayer game developed by Pentavision
Pentavision
Pentavision is a South Korean video game developer. It developed S4 League, DuelGate and the DJMAX series. It is a division of Neowiz Games....
and published by Neowiz Games
Neowiz Games
Neowiz Games is an online game publisher in South Korea, with its own game portal, Pmang, publishing and servicing 41 diverse games of various genres, from sport to web board games....
in 2007. It is hosted exclusively in Korea by Pmang
Neowiz Games
Neowiz Games is an online game publisher in South Korea, with its own game portal, Pmang, publishing and servicing 41 diverse games of various genres, from sport to web board games....
. It's also hosted in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
since 2008 by Alaplaya. A sequel, S4: Dark Lightning, has been announced and released.
Gameplay
Default game settings make S4 League a third-person shooterThird-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
. Altering the camera position can bring the experience from the game closer to that from a first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
.
To play games, registered players have to log–with the game client installed–into the servers provided by the S4 League publisher. The playerbase gets separated into "servers" (alaplaya publisher has language labeled servers), and–subsequently–"channels" which may have restrictions such as based on player character level. Clan system and "channels" for clan vs clan matches are available. Once in a "channel", players can create rooms that define the game mode and limitations. When enough players join the room and declare themselves ready, the game can be started. Maximum number of players in a match is 16. Majority of the game modes are competitive, though win or loss doesn't have much impact on experience points or in-game currency gains. Few weapons being an exception, no friendly fire is possible. Some of the lower character levels, when attained, unlock emote
Emote
An emote is an entry into a text-based chat client that indicates an action taking place. Unlike emoticons, they are not text art: They describe the action using words.- /me :...
s and clothes-equipment available for use.
Game modes
Deathmatch mode is of team variation, players being divided into two teams: "alpha" and "beta". From either team's point of view the opposing team player characters wear red clothes, while nicknames in green text are constantly being displayed next to allied characters.In Captain mode the deathmatch-like game is split into rounds. Players start the round with increased hit-points and are termed "captains". The objective of the round is to eliminate opposing team "captains", while preserving own team ones. Until the next round starts, a once-killed "captain" respawns as a non-"captain", with standard hit-points and the ability to detect opposing team "captains".
Touchdown mode has the highest number of different maps available. Allusively to american football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game process, the two teams in this game mode have to bring a ball (termed "fumbi") to opposing team "goalpost" to score the points that serve as primary win criterion. The player characters can kill each other, like in deathmatch, and ball-carrying character drops the ball when killed. Successfull "touchdown" finishes a round and awards a TD score point. Start of the new round resets player characters and "fumbi" to respawn at the normally designated locations.
In Chaser mode games, each round a randomly selected player is appointed the role of "chaser", other players are teamed against that player. "Chaser" player is faster than usual, has distorted vision and increased damage resistance. Both "chaser" and the opposing team can see "target" mark pointing to the non-chaser character with the highest score. The more players participate, the larger time limit is allotted to the round. Currently-"chaser" player is given points for killing the opposing team characters. Killing a "target"-mark shifts the mark to the next survivor and nets additional points. Opposing team players earn points by dealing damage to the "chaser" and by surviving till the end of the round.
Battle Royal mode is a non-team, "free-for-all" deathmatch. Killing a player currently in the lead nets additional points. In Battle Royal mode, 5 points are obtained by killing the individual currently in first place whereas 2 points are gained by killing a player whom is not in first place. However, any kill assist nets only 1 point no matter if the player on either end of the killing was in first place or not.
Arcade mode is the non-competitive mode. Similarly to instancing
Instance dungeon
In massively multiplayer online games, an instance is a special area, typically a dungeon, that generates a new copy of the location for each group, or for certain number of players, that enters the area. Instancing, the general term for the use of this technique, addresses several problems...
, the team of 1 to 4 players is put on the pre-generated time-limited map. Scripted sequences of computer-controlled opponents are spawned. 8 maps are available, comprising a single plot narrated by cutscene
Cutscene
A cutscene is a sequence in a video game over which the player has no or only limited control, breaking up the gameplay and used to advance the plot, strengthen the main character's development, introduces enemy characters, and provide background information, atmosphere, dialogue, and clues...
s.
Siege mode is a team based mode where both teams have to capture 3 points scature around the map. There are currently 2 maps available for this mode. During the gameplay drops will be found across the map the will serve benefits to your character such as bonus pen and also attack increases.
Additional variations are restriction of allowed weapons and skills. Some modes provide on-the-fly balance alterations. For example, players from the team that falls behind in Deathmatch or Touchdown would begin to take less damage from similar attacks, compared to their opponents'. Majority of the maps are available only in a single specific game mode.
Character equipment, virtual goods
Up to three characters can be created, the characters share the level, nickname and inventory associated with the game account. A character should have from one to three different weapons and one "skill" equipped to participate in a game match. During the half-time short break available in Deathmatch and Touchdown modes, players can switch from one of the game account character to another (for example to a character equipped with another set of weapons).A number of clothing elements can be purchased and equipped. These items serve to alter character appearance and to impart bonuses, such as additional offense or defense. Weapons differ in their appearance, bullet spray patterns, damage, clip size, speed, etc. A number of weapons fall under the category of melee (such as swords, dagger). "Skills" are an assortment of special equipment and are player-activated or constantly active during actual matches (examples: invisibility; additional maximum hit points). Activated "skills", as well as acrobatic special moves (wall jump
Wall jump
This article is about the video game move. For its real-world counterpart, see wall flip.A wall jump is a technique players can execute in several video games.-Technique:...
ing, running, etc), spend points from a regenerating but limited "SP" pool, which is also affected by certain game modes rules.
The equipment is purchased for in-game currency earned by participating in matches. Real-world currency micropayments serve to purchase of special currency
Virtual good
Virtual goods are non-physical objects purchased for use in online communities or online games. They have no intrinsic value and are intangible by definition....
, exclusively from the game service provider. This special currency is spent to purchase a wider variety of character equipment, including that with bonuses of otherwise unattainable level. No inter-account transfers of currencies and equipment is possible.