You don't seem to understand how things work. Online games got popular ONLY because enough people prefered playing online games to single player ones. There is no conspiracy its simply supply and demand. The type of games most people buy are the type of games that are more likely to get made. There is nothing you personally can do about the way the industry is heading. Just buy the type of games you enjoy and ignore the ones you don't. There will always be an audience for single player and multiplayer games. 

As for the threadstarter's complaint, most online games still have splitscreen. I myself have played lan battles of halo 3 and nazi zombies with a bunch of friends by bringing a bunch of tvs and xboxes to one person's house. I agree it makes the game a lot less competitive and a lot more about having a good time. There is nothing stopping you from still doing that. Infact recently more and more games that have once restricted splitscreen have been adding that feature.

And to those thinking single player experience have gone down the drain, you simply aren't looking hard enough. Yes there aren't as many retail games that are completely focused on the single player experience, but there is a ridiculous amount of quality indie games with amazing single player experiences that rival the best retail games.

I have been wanting to make this thread for a quiet sometime now. As most of yall well know, This Gen has been dominated by shooters and online games in general. I remember when i was younger if i wanted to play with one or more of my friends online on my PS2, We would meet up at one of our houses and bring both our PS2 and 22 inch tv's with us and a small suitcase. This is not the case anymore...

I know technology is helping us for the better and all, But i kinda miss the days where you and your friends were in one place at one time playing the same game together and actually having fun together. Now days it seems people play online for competitve reasons and take gaming in general WAY to serious. I mean its good to try your best playing a game since most people dont like to lose and all, But i think people need to just sometimes let loose and play games just to have some fun and some free time from reality.

I'm not bad online I just feel sick when competing with people who take gaming serious. I'd personally prefer playing must of my mutliplayer games on co-op where the goal isn't to butcher each other... and where petty egos don't usually collide and cause drama... (But thats just me)

Long Story short. It seems like most people are not having as much fun playing games anymore for the fact that they take it to serious. I also really feel bad for the younger generation of gamers as they probably very rarely get to spend actualy time playing games with there friends over each other places.. 

Let's get back to playing games to have fun please!!!

(I miss this game so much... Sega at their prime)

I agree for the most part, online is ok for some games, but it should not force devs to consider the online as a fundamental part of each game. I would rather ask devs to focus on gameplay and story than online.

Edit: Offtopic... who's the girl waving and sending kisses on your sig? I am getting in love the more I see her :)