Do you miss the days where games has 4 player multiplayer locally I mean when was the last time you play a pc multiplayer via system link Lan up to 20 players?

no

I miss 4 player splitscreen.

I've heard that LAN parties are pretty common still, in working offices.

I miss the choice as well as dedicated server. Match making playing with randoms was the death to multiplayer for me.

Who told you that there are no dedicated servers anymore? Maybe you play wrong types of games...

I never said or implied like they disappeared, more like match making is becoming more popular. It doesn't really matter, I don't play multi player that much so it's not an issue for me.

I find it amusing that as laptops have become more and more viable, powerful and widely used, the games industry has shied further and further away from spawn installs and other local MP features. Esp since those were introduced at times when computers were very expensive and laptops even more expensive still.

Local lan is more viable now than ever before, heck it seems most of the developer studios do local MP events themselves! That said most places where you can do local MP you can also connect to the net (offices/cybercafes/student halls etc..) so keeping that in mind its no surprise that the idea of spending resources developing local MP features is falling behind.

So, so, so very much, for two reasons:

1) We used to have a blast playing co-op games like Baldurs Gate Dark Alliance, X-Men Legends, Champions of Norrath, etc in the same room, with some pop and snacks, good times had by all.

2) I always enjoyed the mechanics of multiplayer games, but was rarely good enough to compete with those serious about them. I enjoyed games like Perfect Dark and Timesplitters, were I could replicate the experience with programmable bots, whose behavior patterns I could shape with an easy to use interface.

The REASON these two died was because Microsoft, in their infinite wisdom, starting "encouraging" developers to have multiplayer features available only via xbox live during the original xbox era, and I will never forgive them for it.

Not at all.

Actual LAN parties are a dying breed though. My old LAN party group ended up dissolving for good this year after 12 years of existence because the mass of online-bound multiplayer titles made playing in an internet-free shooting club hut impossible, because half the members had abandoned PC gaming for console games out of DRM-related frustration.

I've also been hearing about how LAN parties here in Lübeck used to be a common affair, and how they've all died out in spectacular fashion over the past five years.

But yes, I do miss traditional single-PC multiplayer gaming. It's the few games that do support it that make you realise how massively inferior online gaming with complete strangers is. I love playing Rayman Origins, Mario Kart Wii and Worms with friends, and there's nothing to beat having them with you in the same room enjoying some beers together.

Quite a lot of games still support LAN-play. I just recently played Men of War: Assault Squad over a virtual lan because GameSpy is a horrible piece of *censored* that refused to accept my CD-key, and has no support what so ever (seriously, they don't even have an email), and the publisher claim that the problem is with GS.

Some games have moved over to "online only" but enough games still offer local lan play for lan-parties to still be viable.

On consoles I miss it so much it hurts and it stops me from buying games. SSX and Forza Horizon are 2 recent games I haven't purchased because I can't sit on the sofa and play with my girlfriend... unless I buy another xbox 360, another tv and another xbox live gold subscription. On pc though I never really utilized it as it tended to be hassle.

Because of the lack of splitscreen, gaming has become more and more anti-social for me and I feel guilty if I want to dig into a game as it means silently sitting and ignoring her whilst she finds something else to keep her occupied (we don't live together but she stays for days at a time.)

Rayman Origins is great for local play! My 8 year old stepson, wife, and I all enjoy playing it together.

Here are some other "newer" games that offer local hotseat multiplayer/splitscreen:
Lara Croft and the Guardian
Worms Ultimate Mayhem
Lego Batman (and all the other lego movie games)
Deathspank
Magicka
Jamestown

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.

No. In my opinion, going back to that would be like going back to the dark ages.