Before I get started I am fully aware that split screen EXISTS in games, i just question its implementation.

Recently there seems to be a shift towards online play, I appreciate that, but it seems everyone has forgotten how much fun they had playing split screen multiplayer on the older consoles. Although it is still implemented it never gets talked about on the same level as online play, and it seems that many developers are missing what, in my opinion, makes multiplayer games fun.

I live in a house with 4 other guys, we share a TV and get a pretty shitty reception on it, so gaming is pretty much the only fun we can have in the living room. The ONLY game we play anymore is Halo 3, not because its the best FPS, not because its even that good of a game, but because it has split screen multiplayer ONLINE.



The most fun I have had playing a game is playing 4v4 against strangers in Halo and having the whole of my team sitting in the room with me. You can laugh, shout, have a beer and enjoy yourself. Sure playing local games is fun, but there is something about competing as a team that is really enjoyable.

I bought COD 4 not too long ago and played through the single player, only to realise there wasn't much value left in it for me. I can't play single player games very easily because of the shared TV. This isn't just happening now, I have had this problem since the SNES, I always had to play with my brother, I could never play on my own.

Judging from the amount of people I see as guests playing Halo 3 this happens all over the world, yet developers seem to ignore it. People ask questions on the internet as to whether a game supports split screen online, and in most cases they don't.

I understand that in cases like Call of duty the game is graphically intensive so 4 players online would be a struggle for the 360, but why not do what halo does, gimp up the graphics a little for split screen. You could reduce smoke animation, texture quality, and polygon count and no-one would really be bothered because there would be added value.

Anyway, that was my first rant, expect more!