Everyone likes multiplayer gaming and you only have to take a look at the Ready Up forums to notice the bag full of multiplayer sessions being organised.
While I do enjoy the benefits the current crop of systems have offered us in terms of expanding our gaming horizons, it has started to direct us away from a critical element. Multiplayer gaming is no longer about getting your mates around and having an all night session but logging into your console’s online system and playing from the comfort from each other’s homes.
This is no doubt great for those living across the country, continent or even other side of the world (let’s face it, a round trip across hemispheres for a session of Left 4 Dead is a bit much) but it does have its draw backs.
I’ve just had my friend come stay with me for a while and we’ve done the traditional abuse the console(s) until their LEDs bleed virtual tears of pain from overuse and the fun level sky rockets.
The battlefield of the past.
While playing together over a set of fibre optic cables is good fun, there’s just nothing that can beat playing together in the same room, after all when your mate gets that last minute goal in Fifa instead of calling him a jammy sod over voice chat you can turn to him and (a) launch a nearby object or (b) give him a dead leg when he’s not looking.
Nothing will take away gaming with people online, and nothing should, it has made its place in the world of gaming and it’ll be here for quite some time yet. But let’s not forget – when possible do get your mates around. It may be easier to sit in nothing but your pants on your own sofa, but throw in a combo of a take away (delivered obviously) a few drinks and a couple of good games and you’ve got yourself a winning recipe for a great evening.
The social aspects of gaming are all there but I think every now and then it just gets a bit blurred; with it we forget about the days when consoles had no internet connectivity and we all crowded around our massive 16 inch TVs for those four player GoldenEye sessions.
So next time you have the chance, remember that while it’s good to talk, it’s even better to be within arm’s reach of your opponent.
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May 19th, 2009 at 11:06 am
And with wireless controllers nowadays there’s not the option to “accidentally” pull out your friends joypad from the console port – for those that did that sort of thing – not me, honest.
Gamong with friends is great, there’s no denying the banter you can have, however, Live does give you access to a whole new set of friends. All those I play over Live with just happen to be RU people but friends none the less.
May 19th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I had some fun times at uni playing Goldeneye and Mario Kart. Unfortunately nowadays I don’t know any gamers “in real life” so XBL gives gaming-loners like me a chance to actually multiplay ^_^
May 19th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
It just means that when you do manage to get together to game it is fun… And not just because someone switched off the Xbox just as Van was strutting down the living room about to proclaim his victory at Trivial Pursuit :D Oops ;p
May 19th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
That was cruel though!! Funny… but cruel :)
May 19th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Ditto with Goldeneye and Mario Kart at uni. It does happen less and less nowadays, but I think it might be because I’m getting old and see friends less and less. Sob.