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General discussion (archive)Do you miss local offline multiplayer?(73 posts)(73 posts)
(73 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted October 30, 2012
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langurmonkey: Compare local offline multiplayer to Eve Online for example. 4 local players VS I think over a thousand players you can play with in just a few clicks.
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Qwertyman: I think that's perfectly fine for games like MMO's - but not everyone wants to play with thousands of players for every multiplayer experience. Sometimes you just want to play with a couple of your friends. Not everyone feels like they need to have an online social presence either. At 30 years old, I just don't see the need or have the urge to have an online social life, really - I use a couple of forums for various things (I don't exactly have a lot of friends that I can discuss physics with, for example), but that's about it. I haven't ever used Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc.

Maybe it's just more common for the younger generations, who are spending more time indoors tethered to technology, that want every gaming experience to be some kind of massive online social event. Anyone else remember playing outside until it got dark out and your parents called you to come in? This was before cell phones existed, of course. Maybe that's the difference between those who prefer always-online, and those who don't. I really don't know.

I'm currently majoring in physics and computer science, and I enjoy technology, so don't get the impression that I'm just resisting change - I just don't see the need to convert my social life into a digital format.
I completely agree with everything you said, I don't like how companies are less and less giving us a choice with regards to how we play. If people want to game online that is fine, but give a choice to those of us who prefer to LAN or game with a buddy on the couch.

There are times when I don't want to share a server with thousands and thousands of other players, that is what I have dedicated mmo's for Guild Wars 1&2 and AO for and even then I only really hang with the same group.

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doady: Offline gaming is just an outdated gimmick to appeal to casual gamers. Hardcore gamers, real gamers play online only.
Woot, in that case I'm proud to be casual. I don't always feel the need to save the world...of warcraft
Post edited October 30, 2012 by Thunderstone
Posted October 30, 2012
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Braussie: I know there are more, but I thought I'd share... cause I love playing local multiplayer with friends/family! I have a very poor friend who's family can't afford getting the internet right now. They love it when I visit with games like those.
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jamyskis: How'd you get Magicka, Deathspank, Worms and Lara Croft running on their PC then, just out of curiosity? You need Steam and an internet connection to get them going.
I downloaded them onto my PC, then brought my PC over to their place :)

Once you get them on your computer, they work without being online. I downloaded the games, set steam to "offline mode" and broght my pc over to their place. All of those are local hotseat, so you just need 1 pc, and can all play them. I have a 36" TV I brought over (I know it's not big compared to others) that gave plenty of room for us to play on one screen. I also hooked up a few logitech gamepads and we had plenty of fun. Almost all of my games work in offline mode, Since I'm not a huge online multiplayer fan (though I enjoy TF2 on occasion).

Trine and Megabyte Punch are two mroe games I thought of.
Posted October 30, 2012
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StingingVelvet: That's a good point actually, and I could see my future children playing games with my girl and I. My family was never into such things though, so I don't have that experience myself.
Funnily enough, neither did I, as my family was always very anti-gaming (the sometimes viciously conservative German rural regions tend to view gaming as the downfall of society), but conversely, we do have nephews, nieces and two godchildren who find gaming together with PS Move or Rayman Origins huge amounts of fun. Hearing my girlfriend's goddaughter's hysterical laughter when she hands my arse to me on a plate in Start the Party beats anything that can be said over voice chat.

These sorts of exercises are as useful to family bonding as any board game or outdoor sports. Kids will play computer and video games if they are so inclined, and the choice is with the parents whether they choose to get involved or let their kids isolate themselves from them.

Besides that, nothing beats Friday evenings with friends, finger food, beer and the PS3.
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Braussie: I downloaded them onto my PC, then brought my PC over to their place :)

Once you get them on your computer, they work without being online. I downloaded the games, set steam to "offline mode" and broght my pc over to their place. All of those are local hotseat, so you just need 1 pc, and can all play them. I have a 36" TV I brought over (I know it's not big compared to others) that gave plenty of room for us to play on one screen. I also hooked up a few logitech gamepads and we had plenty of fun. Almost all of my games work in offline mode, Since I'm not a huge online multiplayer fan (though I enjoy TF2 on occasion).

Trine and Megabyte Punch are two mroe games I thought of.
Ah, I get you now. I assumed you were bringing copies to play on their PC :)
Post edited October 30, 2012 by jamyskis
Posted October 30, 2012
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doady: Offline gaming is just an outdated gimmick to appeal to casual gamers. Hardcore gamers, real gamers play online only.
I hope you're being sarcastic.
Posted October 30, 2012
no

And I was there at the very beginning.
Posted October 30, 2012
I can't stand online multiplayer, even if I could get rid of the crippling lag I experience over my internet connection, I have little to no interest in playing against random people online, and If I want to play with friends, I'd rather play lag-free with them via PC LAN or console split screen.
Post edited October 30, 2012 by ReynardFox
Posted October 30, 2012
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ReynardFox: I can't stand online multiplayer, even if I could get rid of the crippling lag I experience over my internet connection, I have little to no interest in playing against random people online, and If I want to play with friends, I'd rather play lag-free with them via PC LAN or console split screen.
Plus, if your local-playing-with-friends are being overly obnoxious, you can just smack them or poison their snacks.
Posted October 30, 2012
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ReynardFox: I can't stand online multiplayer, even if I could get rid of the crippling lag I experience over my internet connection, I have little to no interest in playing against random people online, and If I want to play with friends, I'd rather play lag-free with them via PC LAN or console split screen.
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dae6: Plus, if your local-playing-with-friends are being overly obnoxious, you can just smack them or poison their snacks.
Haha, indeed.
Posted October 30, 2012
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ReynardFox: I can't stand online multiplayer, even if I could get rid of the crippling lag I experience over my internet connection, I have little to no interest in playing against random people online, and If I want to play with friends, I'd rather play lag-free with them via PC LAN or console split screen.
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dae6: Plus, if your local-playing-with-friends are being overly obnoxious, you can just smack them or poison their snacks.
When I was in the military, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel all over the world. I had a ton of fun, and had some incredible experiences and now have some unforgettable memories (unless I get Alzheimer's or something in the future). Having said that however, some of my fondest memories are of just going to LAN parties in the 90's. Yes, it was a pain in the ass to set everything up back then (we'd have switches and hubs all over the place; floor covered in cables), but it was worth it. That era of LAN gaming with stuff like Quake and Duke3D is long, long gone. Plus we had fun doing other stuff when we weren't gaming at the LANs.

That's just something you can't get out of gaming anymore if you just play games online instead of with people you actually know.

And come to think of it, we didn't even have broadband back then. Imagine setting up a big LAN party today, and then BAM, internet goes out - now you can't even have your LAN party because you can't play your games that require the internet to play =(
Posted October 30, 2012
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doady: Offline gaming is just an outdated gimmick to appeal to casual gamers. Hardcore gamers, real gamers play online only.
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Thunderstone: Woot, in that case I'm proud to be casual. I don't always feel the need to save the world...of warcraft
Hahah... me too...
Posted October 30, 2012
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Qwertyman: And come to think of it, we didn't even have broadband back then. Imagine setting up a big LAN party today, and then BAM, internet goes out - now you can't even have your LAN party because you can't play your games that require the internet to play =(
Indeed.
Posted October 30, 2012
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keeveek: I've heard that LAN parties are pretty common still, in working offices.
Not only offices: me and my friends have even special «dedicated» gaming router for such parties. And «gaming router» means just «router with damaged WAN port because of thunderstorm» =)
Posted October 30, 2012
Know what I miss? Hotseat. I WANNA KICK MY OWN ASS, GDI! :3
Posted October 30, 2012
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LiquidOxygen80: Know what I miss? Hotseat. I WANNA KICK MY OWN ASS, GDI! :3
Demon Lo Pan Style.
Posted October 31, 2012
I don't miss LAN support. I miss acting as a game server. The connection can then be TCP or letters or whatever is available.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Do you miss local offline multiplayer?(73 posts)(73 posts)
(73 posts)