And you'd probably think "But your here every day commenting, often in the most long winded way possible!" and yeah, thats totally true, but look at how often I come back and respond to how someone commented back: Its very rare, and its really never because I've been beaten in whatever game of wits people feel like their in when they come online. And it's because the confrontation of it eats me up, even if its in good natured back and forth. It's just easier for me to leave my thoughts here, and if you disagree, thats cool, your entitled to -I'm really not going to fight with you over it. I'd LOVE to talk (or even debate) more, but I don't know, its all mental blocks for me.
It's even worse when it comes to completely random online encounters with people in games, people who often don't find any problems in simply ripping into you for the slightest mistakes. And you'd' probably say "But you said before, in some of your comments, that you've played MMO's for years!" And you'd be right, I have, but I've also played most of them almost completely solo, and when I have put my neck out to join a guild with other people 99% of the time its always ended bad for me, for a plethora of reasons. Random/pick-up dungeon/raid groups have been spotty at best, but usually leave me feeling like crap at the end because of someones attitude, or feeling like I underperformed somehow -why put myself through that? Why would I do that on the 360, where someone not even half my age will make me feel like I want to puke.
Mr. Andy knows (I think) that I've said that I'd like to play more multiplayer stuff with the community, and I've had at least 1 attempt at a cblog at some point where I've voiced wishing I felt comfortable enough to keep doing it , without feeling like I'm doing something wrong.. But I've pretty much chickened out every time I really could have done either of those things. Again, its all mental blocks, even when it means that I could be making friends with all you really cool people in this community.
And I know for sure that Andy doesn't know how hard it was for me to ask him, our lovable boner factory of a community manager, for help with Borderlands a few months ago, when I did (because up until now I've never voiced this.. problem, I guess.. I have.)
And yeah, its all in my head, and I may have totally just comped to what's probably considered a pretty bad psych issue.. But it is what it is. I don't feel like I'm really antisocial, I think I can get along with people fine, I'm just not looking to sit there and get bitched out endless my some person I really don't know, even if they don't mean it in the "its the internet" sense, or are just being "competitive".. If I wanted that I could do a number of other things that didn't include the one escape I usually have from the people like that in my life. If I kept getting shoehorned into situations where I have to be with other people, I'd probably have to give up the one hobby I've ever given a consistent damn about in my life, and that right there is REALLY sad for me to think about.
I really don't think many companies who think multiplayer is the answer to everything even bothers to think of people like me (and there are -there just has to be- many more out there just like me, who aren't/won't speak up), who they're alienating. Its a disability (at best, one that I'm finding a little more debilitating every day), and I highly doubt they (or really very many people) even think of it in the same way they would colorblindness or even missing a limb. Like another article (I think today) mentions, working against the disabilities of a subset of people -specially one THIS easy to actually work with- is going to cut into a publishers potential profits..
Overall, I'm not against multiplayer at all, I'm happy people who do like it can do it, and I think you can even tell I wish I was up to putting myself out there to partake in it.. I just don't think it should be forced into a game, specially if it makes the game worse. I also don't believe it should be stuck into what should be a single player game experience to hang over your head like the one that got away, like it feels like they're doing with Dead Space (a series I love and am really excited for another sequel of) or Dragon Age (A series I like, and hope they can hone a little better)
"EA has his imagination in a little jar now, up on the mantelpiece next to BioWare’s soul and John Madden’s elixir of youth."
This made me laugh out loud pretty hard.
(In response to the picture of Axton):
Even though I really like the idea of Zer0, I'm pretty sure I'm going to pick Axton for the same reason I played Roland -I'm going to solo the game (or a majority), like I do just about everything else and the only partner I want with me is a turret.
But I'm calling mine Vera (10pts to whoever gets the reference).
I love my singleplayer experiences, (I'm looking at BMS as my latest run, and I've been playing Just Cause 2, Portal 2, and MGS4 again recently,) but there's nothing wrong about playing with other people. For a successful multiplayer experience in my eyes, three conditions must be met: I need to be able to find a server with people I could get along with in a game, the gameplay needs to be complex yet concise (I'm looking at you, Warzone in KZ2/3,) and weapon mechanics need to be equally damaging across the board (one/two shot kills need not apply.)
I happen to have bought a few games just because of splitscreen, either being introduced to the game while at a friend's place when we both wanted to play something together and would rather not have to trade off the game between us or because I wanted to play something with my brother and knew it was fun to coop a certain game.
Seriously, with few exceptions (like Journey) I don't wish to go online with some random person to play coop for a variety of reasons
-they might be the type that runs off ahead or doesn't follow along
-they can screw you over and suffer no consequences
-I don't have a mic for the PS3
-if the coop is story mode than I'd rather not have to deal with someone talking over something important
-back to the PS3, my apartment mates own 360s only (though they also have better comps so I'm excluded there), so I can't play any games with anyone I know (well I could try to work with my brother back home, but our schedules don't work so well together these days)
-360 side of things, the fanbase is... well yeah there's pretty much a 50/50 chance you'll hate the person you end up with
-also 360, achievement focus versus progress focus will almost never match up with your partner
-there's no telling when an online community will be up for playing with you at anytime well after the game has launched
-There's still nothing in the ToS of either PSN or XBLive that bans playing music into your mic because you think you're a goddamn DJ. It's low quality on the other end, breaks the mood, and you're an asshole for doing it.
The games industry more than any other creative medium is one of trends. There's a reason why we see so many modern warfare FPS games, third person cover based shooters, space marine based games, dark fantasy games, and romance subplots. The games industry typically looks at the top dog and copies that and what they are seeing now is COD is the top seller because of its multiplayer therefor everything should have multiplayer. Until we get a great game that has incredible sales without multiplayer comes along I expect that we will continue to see multiplayer in as many games as possible
Great read, too. While I have started to get more into the online shooters like Tribes: Ascend and TF2, I still enjoy single-player games far, far more. Video games are my outlet; I love escaping into another world just for that little while and immersing myself in the story. And like you said, that illusion is most often broken by introducing someone else into your experience.
However, I agree with just about everything you said here. Well done, sir.
MP really works in some games but not EVERY game, way too many games have it forced in and generally I'm much more interested in a solid singleplayer experience than tacked on MP.
I actually preferred the predictability and accuracy of a bad AI over someone who would join my session and rush me through a story, not knowing if they're good or terrible. In survival horror, the part of your objective is to explore - so when you have someone who has more restrictive aims, it's a hassle.
"No, I don't give a toss if you want me to skip a cutscene. It's my first go and I'm trying to pay attention to the plot, thankyouverymuch!" - True story.
Which is why I'm feeling the same about Dead Space 3, just like you. Here's the kicker, of course - there's more content in co-op, more reason to pay for an online pass. Charming.
I'm all for narrative multiplayer, and when its tailored/balanced for that very purpose, like Left 4 Dead, Dead Rising 2, Borderlands, and Kane & Lynch, its a real joy to play. But you have to be comfortable with the other person, and hope they're wanting the same experience.
This is why I'm glad of the Dtoid community. We can all group together with similar skillsets and find that cohesion that a sudden random lacks. I've defo got my money's worth with other Dtoiders in tow.
I'm actually dreading how Aliens: Colonial Marines will turn out with its drop-in/drop-out co-op and emphasis on recreating a cinematic storyline. I want it to work, but it's going to be a tough sell as a "first go" experience.
Brilliant
made me LOL pretty hard
"I love my singleplayer experiences, (I'm looking at BMS as my latest run, and I've been playing Just Cause 2, Portal 2, and MGS4 again recently,) but there's nothing wrong about playing with other people."
True... as long as it's YOUR choice, not the devs forcing you into it.
Also, congrats on the front page. ;)
As far as Co-op goes I don't mind going through the campaign with others after I have already completed the game by myself. I also like to take my time and explore around the environment and look at the scenery. Seems like when I play with others they are always rushing to get to the next checkpoint.
That exception aside, I'm definitely with you; I don't want multiplayer shoehorned into a franchise that's supposed to be about a single-player experience. Do the exceptions of BioShock 2 and, say, Portal 2, justify the practice overall? No, but I'm still trying to reserve judgment on Dead Space 3, especially since I have a friend who loves Dead Space even more than I do, so I've definitely got someone I can do the co-op with and see if it's as bad in practice as it is in theory.
It's one area of the industry that annoys me to hell - this being all things to all people. You either get middle-of-the-road pap (like EA are so fabulous at "creating"), or you get your example - things being shoehorned in for no good reason.
It beggars belief why there are still so many people in the industry who still believe that spiel from some years ago "online play is the next big thing". It's not; it's a new genre, in effect, and should be treated like that. Some games are great for online play, some should have it anywhere near it.
I have a friend who kind of sums all of this up for me, in that he 'cannot understand why anyone who has xbox live would not want to be playing multiplayer all the time, because it's more fun than being sad and playing on your own'...and this is a grown man speaking, someone who is otherwise at least reasonably intelligent.
Like many others commenting here, I have always preferred the solo experience when it comes to games - it's my way of relaxing and detaching from the real world for awhile and throwing myself into something imaginitive, impossible and fun. There's no catharsis to be had with someone screaming in your ear or sending constant messages saying do this, do that.
Having said all of that, I did enjoy the multiplayer aspect of Dark Souls, except for the occasional invasion at the worst possible time. Oh, and Red Dead Redemption - I was lost to that for a good couple of months, but only because I loved the singleplayer aspect of the game so much that multiplayer became my only option when I completed everything else.
Man, Cory Davis (who btw did a great job with his team in Spec Ops: The Line) just nailed it with the same words I've been saying this entire generation. Multiplayer is the cancer of gaming.
We'll likely see a resurgence of SP only games when the suits finally see this shoehorning shit doesn't work in the long run but the "in the meantime" part we're experiencing now is depressing when you think about it.
Thanks for making me laugh s little between the tears!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaDDMj-T6F8&feature=fvwrel
The only single player experience I really still enjoy is getting out my old gen consoles and the good stuff from XBLA. However I would love to see something that would give the classics an online multiplayer; Secret of Mana, Super Mario Kart, Starfox 64, or Kirby's Dream Course. Sega games have most of this treatment, but Nintendo need to sort this.
Nice blog thou, we all feel the pain.

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