It seems this is all I ever say on these forums anymore and frankly I'm starting to sound abit like Steve Ballmer....
"Community.....Community.....Community.....Community.....Community.....Community..... WOOAAAHAHHAAHAHAHAAAAAAAA"
Community is what you need in order to build and keep a player base with a co-op game. They have a very basic server browser that comes with the game, yet you can't communicate directly with people outside of directly joining the game. (which if you need help with your setup is kinda a raw deal) Some squads host ventrilo and teamspeak servers, yet upon joining is like the first day at a new school, you don't know what the expect and the people in there already have pre-existing friendships, making the new guy the awkward man out.
Lack of defualt MP missions that come with the game doesn't help things much, nor does the editor facilitate quick construction of missions.
As a whole the multiplayer needs to be more of a "game." We need someway to define if we accomplished something, not a personal goal of not crashing the chopper, but a mission goal.
What I think it needs.
-In game info and briefing (See ARMA)
-Updated in game objectives users can understand and see (Again See ARMA)
-GAMEMODES! Establish a defined set of rules for a gamemode and build missions around that idea where your team success is easily quanitative and obvious.
-Multiplayer lobby with chat, friends, direct voice, private messaging (hyperlobby replacement)
-Server wide VOIP would be pretty awesome, but if thats not possible, what about peer-to-peer voip? (as connected through the game lobby)
Mission Editor needs...
-None GUI Simulation
Used for testing AI in missions. It simulates at accelerated speed and feedsback detailed information and records the data for later analytical usage. Perhaps once its done you "simulate" it 10 times to find out the reliability of an AI group. If they destroy their target 9 out of 10 times like they are supposed to then you can move on, if they fail half the time you know something needs fixed.
- and alot of stuff Panzertard said.
Maybe someday I'll give it a go at the BS Mission Editor and see what sort of ideas I can come up with, but right now I'm having way to much fun in the Source SDK to care.