According the ESA (Entertainment Software Association),  more video gamers (59%) play with other gamers in person than play online (44%). Both numbers are rising although online gaming is rising faster. Even though these statistics were gathered by a consortium of leading game developers to help in planning, local split-screen game support seems to be an endangered species. The one exception is the Wii where local multiplayer is alive and well compared to the HD world, although some outstanding games like Halo 3 and Resistance 2 are bucking the tide.

Where do you stand?
 Is split-screen multiplayer important to you?
Is the lack a deal breaker?
Are HD developers making a mistake in phasing it out?
To what extent do you think that the popularity  of the Wii is based on its better support for local multiplayer?

Here is a sampling of comments about Split-screen VS Online from previous VGChartz postings:

For Local Split-screen Gaming

kutasek said (about Killzone 2):
I know the game is gonna be great, but considering that it doesn't include split screen, is disappointing, I would take split screen over graphics any day.

Vetteman94said:
No split screen means once the game's initial release hype dies down, the sales flatline as well.

The Resistance2 Game Developer said:
One of the biggest feature requests for the game was that we implemented split-screen online play.

 Khuutra said:
 Playing Halo online simply doesn't compare to playing it with three or twelve of your dumb-ass friends all sitting next to each other, hooting and hollering and headbutting each other.

Wfz said:
Contrary to ignorant belief, not everyone has a fast enough internet to play games online. ... It's a whole different experience, and some people just don't like it, or don't even have the option to do it.Also, you can't have much of a party with people you're playing online, since they aren't even at your place.

Squilliam said:
I took my Xbox360 down to a friend's house and I bought along my copy of Halo 3 for some split screen fun, and I went to three local rental places to check out what other games to grab and apart from CODIV I couldn't see a single game that interested me for local multiplayer. We had a great time with that one game - it was awesome being in the same room and blowing each other away, very personal and probably some of the best fun I've ever had on a console.
But my question is - where are the OTHER games? ... It feels like this mode is dead for now. ..Its quite disappointing and its probably one of the reasons why the Wii is so popular.... I think for the future I'll have to buy 2 more controllers, 3 nunchucks and a few more games because it seems that Microsoft and Sony aren't even aware of this social aspect of Consoles.

Benga Benga said:
I prefer splitscreen over online every day of the week. It's much more fun to beat the person that's with you in the room than some idiot 12 year old screaming F-bombs in your ear. 

Chrizum said:
So you mean, having fun with a couple of friends gaming on the sofa with some beer and snacks was getting old? Playing on your own against people on the net you don't know is "splitscreen evolved"?
I f'ckn want to play some splitscreen games on my PS3, I f'ckn bought a second controller, but not ONE game I'm interested in features splitscreen anymore. ..Conclusion: this sucks monkey balls, and don't take this as a fanboy comment, but: the Wii is the only next-gen console in this respect. PS3 (and I would guess 360) are last-last-last gen (you know, SNES era) because they don't even feauture f'ckn multiplayer, something that was there on every f'ckn N64 game!

Superwrxsti said:
Oh my god!! I'm so excited others feel this way. Sure, online is fun.. But, there is nothing like having all your friends huddled around playing on one screen and having an absolute blast when you see your friends TRUE and genuine reaction. I want and LOVE split screen. It's the multiplayer I prefer.

The_vagabond7 said:
There needs to be more focus on actual interaction with friends. Playing Halo 3 online can't begin to compare to 4 player split screen Golden eye. I dunno why they are moving away from actual human interaction. All I can say is "I can't wait for brawl! Online and in person!"

LISMDK said:
I went and bought Motorstorm and I expected to play my friends in my living room. Then I bought Burnout Paradise, great game but no splitscreen. The PS3 doesn't seem to have nearly as many good splitscreen as the Wii.

Gamerace said:
People who buy a Wii do not buy it to play games alone.  They get it to play together so splitscreen is a must for Wii FPS IMO.

For On-line Gaming

OkeyDokey  said:
Who wants split screen in a shooter these days? Besides, it totally ruins the fun being able to see what your enemy sees. Not to mention being limited to four players and a fraction of the screen.

BurnOut Game Developer said:
"We're not doing splitscreen. Splitscreen is too much "PS2".

Esa-Petteri said:
I guess there are some who prefers splitscreen. I don't get that either, online is so much better. The only people who want splitscreen multiplayer seem to be those who are longtime nintendo fans.

Troll Monster said:
The best multiplayer games are those that are not split screen, such as Powerstone2 and SSBM, cause dividing a screen into smaller quadrants is stupid especially with smaller tv's. I myself used to think that I needed to have split screen but in all honesty I much prefer online/lan multiplayer,

misteromar mk4 said:
If you want to play games with friends buy a Wii and if you want to play games online get a 360.

Goddbless said:
Sure I had fun back in the day with all those old multiplayer games that had splitscreen, but we always wished we could have our own screen... I don't mind that most games are going away from split-screen gaming. Especially racing games! I want my whole screen to see the road. Then again I guess because all of my friends have Xbox Live it makes things easier

dgm6780 said:
Splitscreen is old school, and your level of play diminishes on the cramped screen

Reasonable said:
Split screen co-op requires more horsepower as two different renderings are required. Even with the drop in resolution, etc. it normally requires more power. Few, if any sandbox games have or are likely to have it, for current HD consoles. If graphics/detail levels/particle effects continue to go up for PS3/360 then its likely we'll see more and more games drop split screen co-op in favour of online only. Personally, I prefer online co-op as I don't like looking at a much smaller screen area.

IllegalPaladin said:
Co-op isn't really a deal breaker for me. That isn't to say it's not fun in games like Gears of War, but a lack of co-op isn't going to kill me.

famousringo said:
Mario Kart has 4 player splitscreen, but it has simple graphics and still takes a frame rate hit with 4 players. Conduit leaves out splitscreen altogether because the goal is to push as much detail as possible into a single camera at 30 FPS. They can't afford to take a framerate hit to render all that detail four times over.Most HD games are being made like the Conduit. Put in as much detail as possible at 30 FPS, because you need those shiney graphics to sell your game. Nobody wants to show off a game which doesn't look as nice because it was built to render four cameras

Local multi-player is the best reason to own a console, if you also own a gaming PC (in my opinion, which should go without saying). I've only ever bought consoles for the express purpose of local multi-player.

I leave single-player/online gaming for my PC and my DS when I'm travelling.

Just as the trends for internet adoption are important, the other trend for increasing TV size to 32->40->50->60+ inches makes split screen even more viable in homes.

To be honest if the Xbox next comes out in 2010 with no unique games but promises to give me 4 player split screen when applicable I will buy it day one.

The only games that I've played local split screen on this gen are: Halo 3, Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Bros. Brawl (which isn't split screen), and Gears of War 1. I actually do enjoy local games, but in this day and age, finding the time to play with someone is a chore. Schedule conflicts, different gaming skills, and different tastes in games are all factors. With online, you start a lobby, wait a minute, and have a blast. It's too simple!

Online for the win.

System Link co-op > Splitscreen co-op > Online co-op > Online

LOL, I was quite angry when I made that post. I still feel the same though, it's ridiculous developers think splitscreen is last-gen.

Depends. When my cousins are around (which is rarely), I miss splitscreen but when I'm the only gamer around (more common), online FTW!

I prefer playing split-screen games myself. It's just a different atmosphere when you've got friends over playing - an environment that I prefer to online play.

i prefer split screen over online also, it's better to have the person right near you while ur gaming so ur not talking to ur mic by yourself in a room

Im forced to buy the games that don't support it simply for the single player aspect

There are making a big mistake years from now people who have been playing online with others will further ruin are already ruined society

Online gaming in my opinion has a negative impact on someones mental and social health

Split screen kinda blows IMO cuz the screen gets so small. But still, playing with a friend is often funnier than playing against anonymous internet peopl even if it's in split screen.