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One of the first games I can remember playing with friends was the first Super Mario Bros. Dou you remember the two player with one person controlling Mario and Luigi, where yo used to take it in turns. Aaah, memories. Anyway. It wasn’t really multiplayer, per se, but it was still a lot of fun. Ever since that game, I’ve always had a lot of fun playing video games in groups. Not every game, of course, but there was definitely a social aspect there to certain titles. I mean, who can't fail to be entertained by a Goldeneye bout (License to kill, pistols only, of course) or a Mario Kart race! But as we move further into the next generation of console gaming, the multiplayer landscape is changing immensely, and I'm not sure whether its for the better.
Every new console has some sort of “online” gameplan. (I posted a topic about Nintendo's online plan yesterday in the Ninty forums). But is online playability a blessing or a curse? My favourite multiplayer experiences are, for the most part, confined to the one system I mentioned earlier, the good ol' Nintendo 64. The reason for that, I believe, is that it was the first system to incorporate four controller ports and support multiplayer right out of the box. I have fond memories of long sessions with Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, and Diddy Kong Racing. There’s definitely something to be said for being able to trash talk up close and personal, or maybe it’s just me. I’m having problems finding “next-gen” games that I can enjoy in groups as much as those. Sony's utterly ludicrous not to include four controller ports absolutely baffles me. I wouldn't mind if games of the calibre of MK or Perfect Dark were available, btu with all due respect sub-standard games like Timesplitters don't justify the purchase. But why the change in perspective? It seems gaming companies are concentrating much more on the online component and are starting to ignore good old-fashioned multiplayer.
One problem I am seeing with the present direction of console multiplayer is the innate difference between console and PC gaming. PC games tend to be a bit slower paced, aside from the plethora of FPS's, and that lends itself better to online playability, where fast connectiity has not been achieved, or at the very least is not accessible to the majority of gamers. Console games, on the other hand, lean more toward twitch gameplay and fast action. This doesn’t translate nearly as well to multiplayer, as your success and failure can depend on the speed of your connection. The next-gen consoles intend to fix this by only offering broadband hookups to even the playing field. My only problem with that is, that as a student, I just plain can’t afford the money for a month hookup fee for a broadband connection, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Don’t get me wrong. I am excited about the possibilities of online console gaming. I think it would be great if we get some games that incorporate both PC and console gamers in the same arenas.
One avenue where this could work really well is in MMORPGs. With both Sony and Microsoft sporting new systems, could console versions of Everquest and Asheron’s Call be far off? I know there are some problems with trying to merge PC and console online gaming, but it can be done. The one area where I feel PC gaming really overtakes console gaming is in MMORPGs. Sure, there is Phantasy Star Online, but it just isn’t the same. The multiplayer aspects of that title are really limited when compared to the aforementioned giants from Sony and Microsoft. They offer a persistent, extremely open-ended sandbox of a world to play in which PSO sorely lacks.
Overall, the future of console mutiplayer is bright. With the Xbox and Gamecube not too far off, we will get a better idea of what direction multiplayer will take. We already know that Nintendo will have its usual library of solid multiplayer titles, from Super Smash Brothers to Mario Kart, but what are their online plans? Typically they are being kept closely guarded. The Xbox will also sport some intriguing titles, especially Halo, but other than that I’m pretty hazy on where they stand. Until then, I guess I’ll keep getting my multiplayer fix with my trusty N64.
Every new console has some sort of “online” gameplan. (I posted a topic about Nintendo's online plan yesterday in the Ninty forums). But is online playability a blessing or a curse? My favourite multiplayer experiences are, for the most part, confined to the one system I mentioned earlier, the good ol' Nintendo 64. The reason for that, I believe, is that it was the first system to incorporate four controller ports and support multiplayer right out of the box. I have fond memories of long sessions with Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, and Diddy Kong Racing. There’s definitely something to be said for being able to trash talk up close and personal, or maybe it’s just me. I’m having problems finding “next-gen” games that I can enjoy in groups as much as those. Sony's utterly ludicrous not to include four controller ports absolutely baffles me. I wouldn't mind if games of the calibre of MK or Perfect Dark were available, btu with all due respect sub-standard games like Timesplitters don't justify the purchase. But why the change in perspective? It seems gaming companies are concentrating much more on the online component and are starting to ignore good old-fashioned multiplayer.
One problem I am seeing with the present direction of console multiplayer is the innate difference between console and PC gaming. PC games tend to be a bit slower paced, aside from the plethora of FPS's, and that lends itself better to online playability, where fast connectiity has not been achieved, or at the very least is not accessible to the majority of gamers. Console games, on the other hand, lean more toward twitch gameplay and fast action. This doesn’t translate nearly as well to multiplayer, as your success and failure can depend on the speed of your connection. The next-gen consoles intend to fix this by only offering broadband hookups to even the playing field. My only problem with that is, that as a student, I just plain can’t afford the money for a month hookup fee for a broadband connection, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Don’t get me wrong. I am excited about the possibilities of online console gaming. I think it would be great if we get some games that incorporate both PC and console gamers in the same arenas.
One avenue where this could work really well is in MMORPGs. With both Sony and Microsoft sporting new systems, could console versions of Everquest and Asheron’s Call be far off? I know there are some problems with trying to merge PC and console online gaming, but it can be done. The one area where I feel PC gaming really overtakes console gaming is in MMORPGs. Sure, there is Phantasy Star Online, but it just isn’t the same. The multiplayer aspects of that title are really limited when compared to the aforementioned giants from Sony and Microsoft. They offer a persistent, extremely open-ended sandbox of a world to play in which PSO sorely lacks.
Overall, the future of console mutiplayer is bright. With the Xbox and Gamecube not too far off, we will get a better idea of what direction multiplayer will take. We already know that Nintendo will have its usual library of solid multiplayer titles, from Super Smash Brothers to Mario Kart, but what are their online plans? Typically they are being kept closely guarded. The Xbox will also sport some intriguing titles, especially Halo, but other than that I’m pretty hazy on where they stand. Until then, I guess I’ll keep getting my multiplayer fix with my trusty N64.
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One of the first games I can remember playing with friends was the first Super Mario Bros. Dou you remember the two player with one person controlling Mario and Luigi, where yo used to take it in turns. Aaah, memories. Anyway. It wasn’t really multiplayer, per se, but it was still a lot of fun. Ever since that game, I’ve always had a lot of fun playing video games in groups. Not every game, of course, but there was definitely a social aspect there to certain titles. I mean, who can't fail to be entertained by a Goldeneye bout (License to kill, pistols only, of course) or a Mario Kart race! But as we move further into the next generation of console gaming, the multiplayer landscape is changing immensely, and I'm not sure whether its for the better.
Every new console has some sort of “online” gameplan. (I posted a topic about Nintendo's online plan yesterday in the Ninty forums). But is online playability a blessing or a curse? My favourite multiplayer experiences are, for the most part, confined to the one system I mentioned earlier, the good ol' Nintendo 64. The reason for that, I believe, is that it was the first system to incorporate four controller ports and support multiplayer right out of the box. I have fond memories of long sessions with Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, and Diddy Kong Racing. There’s definitely something to be said for being able to trash talk up close and personal, or maybe it’s just me. I’m having problems finding “next-gen” games that I can enjoy in groups as much as those. Sony's utterly ludicrous not to include four controller ports absolutely baffles me. I wouldn't mind if games of the calibre of MK or Perfect Dark were available, btu with all due respect sub-standard games like Timesplitters don't justify the purchase. But why the change in perspective? It seems gaming companies are concentrating much more on the online component and are starting to ignore good old-fashioned multiplayer.
One problem I am seeing with the present direction of console multiplayer is the innate difference between console and PC gaming. PC games tend to be a bit slower paced, aside from the plethora of FPS's, and that lends itself better to online playability, where fast connectiity has not been achieved, or at the very least is not accessible to the majority of gamers. Console games, on the other hand, lean more toward twitch gameplay and fast action. This doesn’t translate nearly as well to multiplayer, as your success and failure can depend on the speed of your connection. The next-gen consoles intend to fix this by only offering broadband hookups to even the playing field. My only problem with that is, that as a student, I just plain can’t afford the money for a month hookup fee for a broadband connection, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Don’t get me wrong. I am excited about the possibilities of online console gaming. I think it would be great if we get some games that incorporate both PC and console gamers in the same arenas.
One avenue where this could work really well is in MMORPGs. With both Sony and Microsoft sporting new systems, could console versions of Everquest and Asheron’s Call be far off? I know there are some problems with trying to merge PC and console online gaming, but it can be done. The one area where I feel PC gaming really overtakes console gaming is in MMORPGs. Sure, there is Phantasy Star Online, but it just isn’t the same. The multiplayer aspects of that title are really limited when compared to the aforementioned giants from Sony and Microsoft. They offer a persistent, extremely open-ended sandbox of a world to play in which PSO sorely lacks.
Overall, the future of console mutiplayer is bright. With the Xbox and Gamecube not too far off, we will get a better idea of what direction multiplayer will take. We already know that Nintendo will have its usual library of solid multiplayer titles, from Super Smash Brothers to Mario Kart, but what are their online plans? Typically they are being kept closely guarded. The Xbox will also sport some intriguing titles, especially Halo, but other than that I’m pretty hazy on where they stand. Until then, I guess I’ll keep getting my multiplayer fix with my trusty N64.
Every new console has some sort of “online” gameplan. (I posted a topic about Nintendo's online plan yesterday in the Ninty forums). But is online playability a blessing or a curse? My favourite multiplayer experiences are, for the most part, confined to the one system I mentioned earlier, the good ol' Nintendo 64. The reason for that, I believe, is that it was the first system to incorporate four controller ports and support multiplayer right out of the box. I have fond memories of long sessions with Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, and Diddy Kong Racing. There’s definitely something to be said for being able to trash talk up close and personal, or maybe it’s just me. I’m having problems finding “next-gen” games that I can enjoy in groups as much as those. Sony's utterly ludicrous not to include four controller ports absolutely baffles me. I wouldn't mind if games of the calibre of MK or Perfect Dark were available, btu with all due respect sub-standard games like Timesplitters don't justify the purchase. But why the change in perspective? It seems gaming companies are concentrating much more on the online component and are starting to ignore good old-fashioned multiplayer.
One problem I am seeing with the present direction of console multiplayer is the innate difference between console and PC gaming. PC games tend to be a bit slower paced, aside from the plethora of FPS's, and that lends itself better to online playability, where fast connectiity has not been achieved, or at the very least is not accessible to the majority of gamers. Console games, on the other hand, lean more toward twitch gameplay and fast action. This doesn’t translate nearly as well to multiplayer, as your success and failure can depend on the speed of your connection. The next-gen consoles intend to fix this by only offering broadband hookups to even the playing field. My only problem with that is, that as a student, I just plain can’t afford the money for a month hookup fee for a broadband connection, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Don’t get me wrong. I am excited about the possibilities of online console gaming. I think it would be great if we get some games that incorporate both PC and console gamers in the same arenas.
One avenue where this could work really well is in MMORPGs. With both Sony and Microsoft sporting new systems, could console versions of Everquest and Asheron’s Call be far off? I know there are some problems with trying to merge PC and console online gaming, but it can be done. The one area where I feel PC gaming really overtakes console gaming is in MMORPGs. Sure, there is Phantasy Star Online, but it just isn’t the same. The multiplayer aspects of that title are really limited when compared to the aforementioned giants from Sony and Microsoft. They offer a persistent, extremely open-ended sandbox of a world to play in which PSO sorely lacks.
Overall, the future of console mutiplayer is bright. With the Xbox and Gamecube not too far off, we will get a better idea of what direction multiplayer will take. We already know that Nintendo will have its usual library of solid multiplayer titles, from Super Smash Brothers to Mario Kart, but what are their online plans? Typically they are being kept closely guarded. The Xbox will also sport some intriguing titles, especially Halo, but other than that I’m pretty hazy on where they stand. Until then, I guess I’ll keep getting my multiplayer fix with my trusty N64.