Remind me again why online multiplayer matters.

[Akvod]

richardhutnik said:

Akvod said:
Because humans are way more sophisticated than any AI.

When you think about it, that's really the issue with a lot of games. The challenge doesn't really come from the enemy being more skilled than you, but always something I consider to be "cheap".

In the Total War series for example, the AI can't manage finance for shit, so they're given free money. In a lot of shooters, you're fighting alone against numerous enemies. Bosses have special abilities, etc.

The qualities of a good multiplayer is what makes multiplayer more fun than singleplayer IMO:

1) Balance
2) Options

Balance forces everyone on the same level field, and rewards skill over stats. Options makes multiplayer dynamic and fresh with every game.

Whereas in single player there's one optimal strategy (get X item, level up to this, follow this exact path), multiplayer is a constant cat and mouse game.

Note I said ONLINE multiplayer.  And I was primarily talking about matchmaking systems where you get matched up with people you don't even know.  I did tip a hat to cases where you are long distance from people you know and it is difficult to get together.  As I said:

I wil add here, if you have friends remotely, it is nice to be able to play with them.  But beyond this, I don't get it.

As KylieDog said, convenience? 

I think the point you're making is that playing with people you know is fun in and of itself. Even games we normally would find boring, become fun solely because we get to play with friends.

 

Few points:

1) True, friends do make things fun. But that's not just restricted to game. Doing stuff with friends in and of themselves is enjoyable.

2) But that fun is a seperate, mutually exclusive fun. Playing with strangers still offer fun because of what I've mentioned.

3) Like KylieDog said, when you get older, you get busier. When you get home 5-7PM, and have only a few hours left before you need to go to bed (and you have a whole bunch of stuff you need to do, cook, eat, bathe, do other shit) you don't have the time or energy to go to your friend's house and game for a long time (to make the trip worthwhile).

 

We're not fucking grade schoolers, that's why.