Why only 2?

[Paragon Fury]

You know, I've never been able to figure this out. Why is it that gametypes like Firefight can only have 2 players splitscreen? (Others include Nazi Zombies, Horde, Sepc-Ops, Terrorist Hunt etc.)

Especially when this game (these games) has 4 player splitscreen multiplayer.

Why, of all things, would you make the mode/gametype that would absolutely want to be played with 4 player splitscreen unplayable this way?

 

[Last of the Chinchillas]

So that the companies can get more money out of you.

 

[Robert632]

because... game developers are stupid that way. and are deliberattly trying to piss people off.

 

[Ibanez887]

Any smaller, and you won't be able to tell a zombie from a lamp.

This is probably the reason, and pretty much what I was gonna say

 

[Vrex360]

I suppose the idea of playing four player splitscreen would make everything much smaller and harder to see properly. I don't see much of a problem, when I want to play Firefight with friends I generally just play system link, which is convieniant because it means I get to keep the saved films.

 

[azncutthroat]

I guess it's because most people play online if they need other people. Apparently, developers feel splitscreen is on the way out. Oh, how I miss the ye olde days of LAN parties...

 

[DazZ.]

Any smaller, and you won't be able to tell a zombie from a lamp.

I remember 4 player split screen on 12" TVs and we got on fine.

I'm sure you can see just fine with your new fancy 62" beasts.

 

[j0z]

Any smaller, and you won't be able to tell a zombie from a lamp.

I remember 4 player split screen on 12" TVs and we got on fine.

I'm sure you can see just fine with your new fancy 62" beasts.

Yeah, the old games you could get away with that... but many people don't have those big HDTV, they still have the SD fare, and those are not that big, most of the time. I tried playing the MP demo for Uncharted 2 on my 12-14 inch screen, there was no way. And I HAD THE WHOLE SCREEN TO MYSELF.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

Just so the screen doesn't make you use tinny winny eye strain o vision

 

[Timotei]

I think it has more to do with the fact that games today have much more going on and having 4 screens would be considered overkill.

 

[lostclause]

It also happen in L4D. I think this is defeating one of the points of the console which is easy multiplayer, especially with L4D since you can play splitscreen on PC.

 

[Chicago Ted]

The screens become way to small and cramped, and the popularity of online gaming has made splitscreen almost null and void.

 

[phar]

Because graphics are so important these days. Have to sacrifice a lot of detail to get the processing power to do it 4 player split.

Plus if your that desperate to do it its not that difficult to lan some consoles together.

 

[RaNDM G]

Ever since Halo 2, nobody really cares about split-screen anymore.

 

[Paragon Fury]

Hey, Bungie did for a while, but then they dropped the ball with Firefight......

 

[Baby Tea]

because... game developers are stupid that way. and are deliberattly trying to piss people off.

Really? Please. Try to grow up.

I'm assuming it has to do with hardware restrictions.
4 people running around a level with dynamic AI constantly shifting?
There would be some serious frame-rate issues.

On L4D on the 360, you can notice a frame-hit (And quality hit) just doing split screen. 4 players would be terrible.

 

[NickCaligo42]

Think of what's happening when you play splitscreen. You have two cameras poking around, rendering a crap-ton of ingame assets when the game could barely handle just one doing it.

 

[I Stomp on Kittens]

Any smaller, and you won't be able to tell a zombie from a lamp.

You're right lol
I always hated 4-player split-screen because everything is so damn small and sometimes you can't even tell what is going on.

 

[NBSRDan]

Microsoft likes to cut deals with developers to get people to sign up for Xbox Live.

... Or they're just fucking retarded.

 

[Armored Prayer]

Basically what some people already said. The smaller the screens the harder it is to see.

Its a shame really, I miss the use of four player splitscreen in most games.