Coffee Talk: How Do You Like Your Multiplayer?
My fondest memories of my gaming youth weren’t of beating Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with all seven Chaos Emeralds single handed, but with my friends. Some argue that video games are better when you can enjoy them with friends or family and Edward Stern of Brink developer Splash Damage seems to agree. Recently in an interview with Gamasutra, Stern asks an important (albeit whiny) question: “Why are multiplayer gamers a second class citizen?”
Stern elaborates that the idea of a completely solitary game experience (with a dash of multiplayer for good measure) is dated and the future for games is in social integration, which I can totally agree with (why do you think I play so much World of Warcraft?), but what if some gamers want the option to turn themselves off to the world? For many, that could be the reason they play video games in the first place. Well, this leads us to today’s questions.
Firstly, do you agree with Stern’s question? For developers and gamers alike, does multiplayer truly take a back seat to the single player experience? How do you like your multiplayer features tied in with your games (i.e. either options or integration)? Do you have an idea for the ultimate multiplayer experience? Let this beautifully geeky city know your brilliant ideas in the comments section!
(Image Via Xbox.com)
I like my multiplayer, sure, but I like my multiplayer optional. In fact, the Sonic 2 paradigm is great; the ability to play wholly by yourself coupled with the choice to allow the less gaming inclined (a younger brother, a disinterested partner) to join in without much pressure of salting your game. I do think that the multiplayer and resulting social aspects of an MMORPG differ from those when you’re–ahem–fragging side by side. The former, while fascinating, I have not had much experience with.
Haha, and I’m not ashamed to admit I was almost always Tails. My friends let me get a hold of Sonic sometimes, but it was a rare and joyous occasion!
Ever since those days I just can’t help but feel lonely after playing a game by myself for more than a hour or two. Fragging (or raiding) side by side is just my only way to go.
I’m think Mabisa. I need my optional multiplayer. Imagine playing the first Bioshock, in multiplayer campaign mode, only to have the douche you’re playing with spout out the ending cause he’s beaten it already. I’m screaming inside, just from the thought of that.
Besides, the last thing I want to do is play an RPG with someone else. Maybe I want to take my time and watch all the cut-scenes and read all the text, and they want to plow along and level grind.
Co-op or a well set up competition is pretty much the best way to play a game. This isn’t true for ANY game, but I agree with you — I’d rather play as tails together than as sonic alone. Mario Kart 64 alone, or mario kart 64 together? Goldeneye alone or together? Crash ‘n the boys? Chip ‘n Dale? Halo? They’re all infinitely better with friends. Well done multiplayer is key.
Certainly games that are primarily story driven, and especially creepy games — survival horror and the like, need to be one player. But the best games and the ones that give you the fondest memories are the ones that have you flipping out at your friends, or exchanging high fives with them.
I love some single-player games, but I feel like the ones I would insist upon playing alone are few and far between. Give me my Mass Effect and my Fallout 3, sure, but it’s a different experience from Gears of War 2 and Rock Band.
I’m not sure how you could conclude that multiplayer games are “second class citizens” considering how they’re driving the market for Wii and music games, though, and how even the hardcore market seems to think that Bioshock needs a multiplayer mode. I suspect most people bought Halo 3 and Gears 2 more for multiplayer than for single-player. You do see multiplayer getting second-string status in a lot of single-player games, just tacked into stuff and played by few, but if anything, I’d say that’s evidence that multiplayer is seen as a practically a requirement. I think that’s kind of a bummer, as I’d rather see single-player games be as focused as they can be on delivering that single-player experience.
I started playing Army of Two this weekend with a buddy of mine and it is the most fun I’ve had playing a game since mass effect. Coop is a wonderful thing if the mechanics are implemented well.