Poll: Online-only multiplayer needs to stop.

[Akai Shizuku]

I think online-only multiplayer is a problem in gaming. Not only is going to contribute to stereotypes about our beloved subculture, but...it might make them partly true. Think about it. We'll have less real-life human interaction than we already get because the games simply will not allow us to play with our friends and family in the same room. I find this troubling and frustrating. A number of games I have that should be locally multiplayer (such as certain FPSes) simply do not offer this option.

I understand that many games still have only local multiplayer, but online-only is still a growing and potentially serious problem. I also understand that this could stem from my arch-nemesis, capitalism, which continues to screw the gaming industry every which way by ensuring developers constantly go for money-moves such as this one; it means if people want to play multiplayer, more copies of the game much be purchased. Sometimes, though, I see this as nothing but a pure dick move, as quite often (usually?) multiplayer is not enough to encourage someone to buy the game unless they're rich and bored.

What do you guys think?

 

[Generator]

My God, yes! It's absolutely ridiculous! Why would anyone not want local multiplayer. I mean, don't get me wrong, online is fine. But I'd much rather play with my friends... in the same room... on the same game console.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

My God, yes! It's absolutely ridiculous! Why would anyone not want local multiplayer. I mean, don't get me wrong, online is fine. But I'd much rather play with my friends... in the same room... on the same game console.

It's either a really dickish money move that affects us in a serious way, or they think we just don't care anymore.

Corporate twats.

 

[Satin6T]

My God, yes! It's absolutely ridiculous! Why would anyone not want local multiplayer. I mean, don't get me wrong, online is fine. But I'd much rather play with my friends... in the same room... on the same game console.

pretty much win

 

[Clashero]

Precisely. I mean, playing Soul Calibur online is fun, but nothing beats being to able to scream at yor friend and laugh over that really stupid ring-out, face to face.

When my friends come over, we'll set up a LAN with both my laptops and my desktop computer, all right next to each other, and we have loads more fun than just playing over the internet.

 

[Christemo]

LAN needs to be like in Warcraft 3: simple, easy and good.

 

[Arehexes]

Or atleast get rid of the online achievements(I'm still waiting to get those for timeshift)

 

[TK421]

I think

this is nothing but a pure dick move

For serious guys. I want to be able to play games with my friends. Otherwise I get very bored of them very fast.

 

[War Penguin]

It's not that of a deal.
I admit, online multiplayer can be a major pain in the ass and online only is a terrible idea. It does feel tacked on and you meet the most annoying people there (that is to say you got a head set).
But it also allows you to play with your friends far away (like me) and play with more people. Having more people available is the best part of online multiplayer despite the fact the people are annoying (again, if you got a head set). I understand you might fear that it will lead to less social interaction, however, that's just superstition. I'm sure people WILL get off the chair, put down the controller, and go outside eventually and for good. The stereotype will, at some point, be lifted.
Now, for it being tacked on? I agree with you there. It is very unnecessary and a poor attempt at adding replayablity.

But over all, online multiplayer is not a terrible thing to fear. And besides, if you don't like it, don't play it.

 

[ZeroMachine]

It's not that of a deal.
I admit, online multiplayer can be a major pain in the ass and online only is a terrible idea. It does feel tacked on and you meet the most annoying people there (that is to say you got a head set).
But it also allows you to play with your friends far away (like me) and play with more people. Having more people available is the best part of online multiplayer despite the fact the people are annoying (again, if you got a head set). I understand you might fear that it will lead to less social interaction, however, that's just superstition. I'm sure people WILL get off the chair, put down the controller, and go outside eventually and for good. The stereotype will, at some point, be lifted.
Now, for it being tacked on? I agree with you there. It is very unnecessary and a poor attempt at adding replayablity.

But over all, online multiplayer is not a terrible thing to fear. And besides, if you don't like it, don't play it.

The OP isn't saying online multiplayer is a bad thing. Hell, online multiplayer is great.

The problem is games that say "You can play multiplayer, but even though your system can support up to four controllers at once, you can only play our game over the internet. If you want to play with your friends in the same room, you must each have your own seperate system/game/subscription." That is a major problem. Some of today's older gamer's best memories are that of yelling taunts at their friends while they're sitting next to each other after blasting them with a red shell in Mario Kart 64, or saying "how the fuck did you fall for that?" after planting a trip mine in Goldeneye.

Split-screen single-console multiplayer is dying out, and it's a very, VERY sad thing. That's the issue here.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

You could, and this is just a far stretch not buy those games. If you seem to like games that feature an Online and local multiplayer base then look for those types of games. I'm all for playing with friends on a splitscreen (Hell some of my best memories in gaming involved beating my friends in a round of Halo 2) But the idea isn't exactly a bad one.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

Don't get me wrong, guys. I love online multiplayer. It's just online-only, when local multiplayer is not an option, that pisses me off.

 

[War Penguin]

Don't get me wrong, guys. I love online multiplayer. It's just online-only, when local multiplayer is not an option, that pisses me off.

It's not that of a deal.
I admit, online multiplayer can be a major pain in the ass and online only is a terrible idea. It does feel tacked on and you meet the most annoying people there (that is to say you got a head set).
But it also allows you to play with your friends far away (like me) and play with more people. Having more people available is the best part of online multiplayer despite the fact the people are annoying (again, if you got a head set). I understand you might fear that it will lead to less social interaction, however, that's just superstition. I'm sure people WILL get off the chair, put down the controller, and go outside eventually and for good. The stereotype will, at some point, be lifted.
Now, for it being tacked on? I agree with you there. It is very unnecessary and a poor attempt at adding replayablity.

But over all, online multiplayer is not a terrible thing to fear. And besides, if you don't like it, don't play it.

The OP isn't saying online multiplayer is a bad thing. Hell, online multiplayer is great.

The problem is games that say "You can play multiplayer, but even though your system can support up to four controllers at once, you can only play our game over the internet. If you want to play with your friends in the same room, you must each have your own seperate system/game/subscription." That is a major problem. Some of today's older gamer's best memories are that of yelling taunts at their friends while they're sitting next to each other after blasting them with a red shell in Mario Kart 64, or saying "how the fuck did you fall for that?" after planting a trip mine in Goldeneye.

Split-screen single-console multiplayer is dying out, and it's a very, VERY sad thing. That's the issue here.

Okay, I guess I didn't understand the OP very well. And yes, online only is a terrible idea. I don't see why developers tease the buyer and say "you can play multiplayer but not locally".
So my bad on that one.
*Face palms at self*

 

[Emphraim]

I fully agree with your sentiments OP.

While FPS games like COD5 and RTS game slike Company of Heroes obviously would not work with local multiplayer, it is essential in games like Super Smash Brother Brawl. Half the fun in that game is in laughing your head of in your friend's face as you proceed to murder him with crappy characters like King Dedede.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Not only that, I want to have guests in Online multiplayer. Is Halo the only game that did this! (I don't play many online games, so actually do inform me)

 

[MR T3D]

Not only that, I want to have guests in Online multiplayer. Is Halo the only game that did this! (I don't play many online games, so actually do inform me)

like it and CoD3/2?
gears to limited extent, and ps3 one like R2,

 

[Booze Zombie]

Good games have all options, for those of us who are less-than-social and those who are social.

 

[Cody211282]

I love the fact i can get online at any random time and find a game, but the best way to play multiplayer is with friends sitting next to you talking smack and having a good time i hate the games that only let you have multi over live or system link and there are way to may of them, same for co-op

 

[Kiutu]

I just want to have online and local mixed. Would be nice if my brother and I could kick people's asses online together. Would make us argue less too. Thankfully Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will let us...though its a co-op game so we will be kicking ass with people online, instead of them.