Multiplayer Games. What drives them?

[Z of the Na'vi]

Now before you burn me down hear me out. I have played my fair share of multiplayer games. TF2, Halo 3, CoD4, GoW, stuff like that. Those games can be fun for a bit, but I just dont see what keeps people coming back to them. I made a vow a short while ago to play mainly single player games because they allow me to focus more on the story and having fun rather than actual strategy or discussing my racial background with prepubescent children. I dont know I guess I just got a bad taste of multiplayer games and I don't see the point of playing them anymore. (This coming from an ex-WoW player 2 year veteran). Does anybody else share my feeling of appealing more towards single player rather than multiplayer games?

 

[Curtmiester]

I don't see why we can't enjoy both and NOT argue about whats better but what ever, it's not like its going to stop anytime soon....

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

I don't see why we can't enjoy both and NOT argue about whats better but what ever, it's not like its going to stop anytime soon....

Im not saying single player are better. Im just giving my experience with multiplayer games. They both have their strengths and weaknesses.

 

[microhive]

If you want to have meaning, influence on stuff then play Multiplayer.

If you want to spoil yourself play campaign(Blizzard lore) <== My two cents.

 

[Nostalgia]

Because it's centered around competition, skill, replay value, and non-linearity.
It's just what people want and feel that's where the chunk of actual gameplay comes from. It explains short single-player campaigns and emphasis on online gaming as it is today.

 

[squeekenator]

Because playing against a computer is boring. After a while, you get to the point at which you can not only single-handedly take on multiple without even trying, you can also predict exactly what a computer will do, simply because you have subconsciously (or consciously if you're that sort of person) picked up the AI's behavioural patterns. Playing with people, you have a challenge, a much greater sense of victory, and a social aspect. Now, I haven't played Halo 3 or any of those idiot magnet games, but I rarely if ever encounter the people that multiplayer detractors go on about, while most people who do talk are perfectly reasonable and nice people who are fun to play with and against.

 

[megapenguinx]

Two words... Social Competition

This plus it's never the same experience twice. You seriously never know what is going to happen because humans are unpredictable

 

[Kiutu]

The problem is the games you pick. I played CoD2 for a long time, still go back occasionally. The new perk stuff though ruins it for me. Hell I actually played WaW and I cant use a Kar until freaking level 41. My favorite and best gun, and the perks make my abilities moot since it probably ownt kill most people in one hit. CoD2, you got your gun and your skill, thats it.
Rainbow Six Vegas (1 and 2) had fun online, and also games like Kingdom Under Fire CoD was a good online game, but thats because it plays like single player but with others.

 

[JC175]

Multiplayer games are made purely by multiplayers, a good game only enhances the experience.

For example, the most fun I've ever had multiplayer wise was a LAN round of Day of Defeat with about 15 or so friends, where we completely decided to forgo the rules and just make it a frantic free for all, disregarding teams. An improvised survival mode, if you will.