THQ's Homefront 2/MP Unlocks Investigation

Document Status: Yellow [Further coverage needed]
==Goals==
*To provide an overview of the unlockable items available in HF1
*To identify perceived issues and examine possible areas of improvement for HF2
 
File:HFU1.jpeg
==HF1 Unlocks==
 
File:HFU2.png
File:HFU3.png
Issues:
*Rank 1-50 each level has one unlock – except Rank 45
*Rank 50 provides the last major unlock – an additional Vehicle Ability Point
*Rank 51-75 the only unlocks are Weapon Skins – one every 5 Ranks
*Ultimately there are too many Ranks and not enough unlocks to support the system
*Many powerful unlocks are inaccessible until higher ranks causing balancing issues
**e.g. Rank 47 – Quick Healer – Faster Health Regeneration)
*Global unlocks are not necessarily appropriate to the player’s style of play
*Players are unaware of upcoming unlocks
*Number of attachment unlocks was superficially increased with 3 versions of each optical attachment (Red Dot Sight, Holo & ACOG) – felt confusing to the player whether there was any tangible difference between them
*Some unlocks provided similar benefits as Battle Commander bonuses
==HF2 Unlocks==
System Improvements:
*All suggestions are subject to the progression system and loadout/class method used
*Fewer global Ranks and more unlocks overall
*More methods to gain unlocks beyond level progression (e.g. class progression, challenges)
*Improved presentation of unlocks mid-game, post-match and in the menus
*Tracked progress towards upcoming and future unlocks
*Clearly defined requirements for unlocks
Unlock Improvements:
*A clear distinction between aesthetic unlocks (personalisation) and tangible unlocks (customisation)
*More aesthetic unlocks for characters/vehicles (e.g. skins, accessories, personalisation)
*More tangible vehicle customisation (e.g. weapons, armour, performance, equipment)
*More depth to unlocks within each category
*Unlocks should not unbalance or deprive low-rank players of the core experience