Death of the 4 player co-op

[Death916]

...... It's dead because everybody hates split screen. Just play Left 4 Dead.

Wow you must have alot of spare time to have interviewed everyone.

I still don't understand why they don't program split-screen. Pretty much everyone I know can't can't a current-gen console and internet,

Not really. I'm just god. I'm all knowing like that.

OKAY! Let me ask. WHO HERE -LIKES- squinting to see on 1/4th the screen space the game was designed to display on while a bunch of shit that doesn't involve you goes on distracting you in your peripheral vision?

Thats the cost, not the benefit. What you're doing is saying the only attribute of drinking is the hangover.

The better question is, who likes having 3 mates over to play?

me

 

[I20I3]

it's dead because the games are to big to have 4 people on one console. hell some games even have trouble with one player (gta4)!

Simple fix, make a smaller game for 4 people, they are all doing pretty much the same thing, so how can it be that much bigger.

 

[Simriel]

...... It's dead because everybody hates split screen. Just play Left 4 Dead.

Wow you must have alot of spare time to have interviewed everyone.

I still don't understand why they don't program split-screen. Pretty much everyone I know can't can't a current-gen console and internet,

Not really. I'm just god. I'm all knowing like that.

OKAY! Let me ask. WHO HERE -LIKES- squinting to see on 1/4th the screen space the game was designed to display on while a bunch of shit that doesn't involve you goes on distracting you in your peripheral vision?

OOOH! That's on my list of awesome things just under ear rape (literally being molested in my ear) Having all my teeth pulled and replaced with spikes into my gums so that every time i chew i get PAIN! and Hugh Jackman (i actually like Hugh Jackman, its just a noticed that this was a dr Coxesc rant.)

See people do like it, he's proof. Even if that person does like odd things aswell.

DON'T RAIN ON MY EPIC RANT!

Oh I will rain wherever i want to, because, you see you have proven "god" to be fallible therefor making him none existent. So the mere fact that there is no god means that rain will fall where rain wants to, and its not god doing any of it. Therefore your request is to rain, which is not listening, and will fall where it pleases. Unless you are suggesting that I control rain, and that I am god. In which case i would never admit to, but simply let people know about me in bizarre and mysterious ways, and let them decide. Except because you have called me out so directly, I shall give you a zit. Happy popping.

If you are god, Then you exist. Therefor you don't. because proof deny's faith

 

[I20I3]

...... It's dead because everybody hates split screen. Just play Left 4 Dead.

Wow you must have alot of spare time to have interviewed everyone.

I still don't understand why they don't program split-screen. Pretty much everyone I know can't can't a current-gen console and internet,

Not really. I'm just god. I'm all knowing like that.

OKAY! Let me ask. WHO HERE -LIKES- squinting to see on 1/4th the screen space the game was designed to display on while a bunch of shit that doesn't involve you goes on distracting you in your peripheral vision?

OOOH! That's on my list of awesome things just under ear rape (literally being molested in my ear) Having all my teeth pulled and replaced with spikes into my gums so that every time i chew i get PAIN! and Hugh Jackman (i actually like Hugh Jackman, its just a noticed that this was a dr Coxesc rant.)

See people do like it, he's proof. Even if that person does like odd things aswell.

DON'T RAIN ON MY EPIC RANT!

Oh I will rain wherever i want to, because, you see you have proven "god" to be fallible therefor making him none existent. So the mere fact that there is no god means that rain will fall where rain wants to, and its not god doing any of it. Therefore your request is to rain, which is not listening, and will fall where it pleases. Unless you are suggesting that I control rain, and that I am god. In which case i would never admit to, but simply let people know about me in bizarre and mysterious ways, and let them decide. Except because you have called me out so directly, I shall give you a zit. Happy popping.

If you are god, Then you exist. Therefor you don't. because proof deny's faith

I never said i was, you did, and we all know how many people say they know but don't...

 

[Simriel]

...... It's dead because everybody hates split screen. Just play Left 4 Dead.

Wow you must have alot of spare time to have interviewed everyone.

I still don't understand why they don't program split-screen. Pretty much everyone I know can't can't a current-gen console and internet,

Not really. I'm just god. I'm all knowing like that.

OKAY! Let me ask. WHO HERE -LIKES- squinting to see on 1/4th the screen space the game was designed to display on while a bunch of shit that doesn't involve you goes on distracting you in your peripheral vision?

OOOH! That's on my list of awesome things just under ear rape (literally being molested in my ear) Having all my teeth pulled and replaced with spikes into my gums so that every time i chew i get PAIN! and Hugh Jackman (i actually like Hugh Jackman, its just a noticed that this was a dr Coxesc rant.)

See people do like it, he's proof. Even if that person does like odd things aswell.

DON'T RAIN ON MY EPIC RANT!

Oh I will rain wherever i want to, because, you see you have proven "god" to be fallible therefor making him none existent. So the mere fact that there is no god means that rain will fall where rain wants to, and its not god doing any of it. Therefore your request is to rain, which is not listening, and will fall where it pleases. Unless you are suggesting that I control rain, and that I am god. In which case i would never admit to, but simply let people know about me in bizarre and mysterious ways, and let them decide. Except because you have called me out so directly, I shall give you a zit. Happy popping.

If you are god, Then you exist. Therefor you don't. because proof deny's faith

I never said i was, you did, and we all know how many people say they know but don't...

I didn't mention god till you did.

 

[Brett Alex]

The lack of split screen is stupid. I got 3 of me mates over once, and fired up GoW 2.

The console immediately started bitching as soon as number 3 got signed in, complaining that we were an evil bastard for daring to have more than two profiles on one console playing GoW 2.

Yeah I really don't get that. The game clearly supports more than 2 people, is marketed towards more than 2 and everyone talks about how good it is playing with more than 2 people, and then it goes and stomps and your nads as soon as you try four player horde.

We ended up carrying an extra TV, 360 and buying another copy of the game before we could it properly. And even then, 2 people had to play on the small 17'' with split screen, while the other two got the luxurious 60''+ plasma.

The worst part is, I can't stay angry. Because it was so worth it.

 

[Some5]

The problem with 4 player split-screen depends on the current trend of games and hardware. Let's see, the current trend of games is anything graphically intense: FPS, RTS, RPG, Sports, Racing. The current hardware is (not including the Wii) something that can output the most detail and highest polygon count at the highest resolution.

So when the current games are trying to use the current hardware to its full potential then you get issues with resizing and re-rendering 4 seperate instances of the same game.

I think with the rate that both TV and console prices are dropping and LAN being as blazingly fast as it is, LAN gaming can only be a positive step towards the future of 4-player local play. How many of you currently have more than 1 HDTV (size doesn't matter) in your home? How many of you currently have more than 1 new console in your home? With the current prices of new consoles and HDTVs, in my country, Canada, you only have to work for 8 days at minimum wage in order to get enough cash to play 4-player coop in most FPS games:

minimum wage = $8.75 CAD (Ontario)
37" HDTV = $600 CAD
XBOX 360 = $200 CAD (Arcade/20GB)
Game = $50 CAD

 

[I20I3]

...... It's dead because everybody hates split screen. Just play Left 4 Dead.

Wow you must have alot of spare time to have interviewed everyone.

I still don't understand why they don't program split-screen. Pretty much everyone I know can't can't a current-gen console and internet,

Not really. I'm just god. I'm all knowing like that.

OKAY! Let me ask. WHO HERE -LIKES- squinting to see on 1/4th the screen space the game was designed to display on while a bunch of shit that doesn't involve you goes on distracting you in your peripheral vision?

OOOH! That's on my list of awesome things just under ear rape (literally being molested in my ear) Having all my teeth pulled and replaced with spikes into my gums so that every time i chew i get PAIN! and Hugh Jackman (i actually like Hugh Jackman, its just a noticed that this was a dr Coxesc rant.)

See people do like it, he's proof. Even if that person does like odd things aswell.

DON'T RAIN ON MY EPIC RANT!

Oh I will rain wherever i want to, because, you see you have proven "god" to be fallible therefor making him none existent. So the mere fact that there is no god means that rain will fall where rain wants to, and its not god doing any of it. Therefore your request is to rain, which is not listening, and will fall where it pleases. Unless you are suggesting that I control rain, and that I am god. In which case i would never admit to, but simply let people know about me in bizarre and mysterious ways, and let them decide. Except because you have called me out so directly, I shall give you a zit. Happy popping.

If you are god, Then you exist. Therefor you don't. because proof deny's faith

I never said i was, you did, and we all know how many people say they know but don't...

I didn't mention god till you did.

You said i could control rain, I know of few other things that control that sort of force short of god. anywho wayyyyyyy off topic.

 

[Simriel]

...... It's dead because everybody hates split screen. Just play Left 4 Dead.

Wow you must have alot of spare time to have interviewed everyone.

I still don't understand why they don't program split-screen. Pretty much everyone I know can't can't a current-gen console and internet,

Not really. I'm just god. I'm all knowing like that.

OKAY! Let me ask. WHO HERE -LIKES- squinting to see on 1/4th the screen space the game was designed to display on while a bunch of shit that doesn't involve you goes on distracting you in your peripheral vision?

OOOH! That's on my list of awesome things just under ear rape (literally being molested in my ear) Having all my teeth pulled and replaced with spikes into my gums so that every time i chew i get PAIN! and Hugh Jackman (i actually like Hugh Jackman, its just a noticed that this was a dr Coxesc rant.)

See people do like it, he's proof. Even if that person does like odd things aswell.

DON'T RAIN ON MY EPIC RANT!

Oh I will rain wherever i want to, because, you see you have proven "god" to be fallible therefor making him none existent. So the mere fact that there is no god means that rain will fall where rain wants to, and its not god doing any of it. Therefore your request is to rain, which is not listening, and will fall where it pleases. Unless you are suggesting that I control rain, and that I am god. In which case i would never admit to, but simply let people know about me in bizarre and mysterious ways, and let them decide. Except because you have called me out so directly, I shall give you a zit. Happy popping.

If you are god, Then you exist. Therefor you don't. because proof deny's faith

I never said i was, you did, and we all know how many people say they know but don't...

I didn't mention god till you did.

You said i could control rain, I know of few other things that control that sort of force short of god. anywho wayyyyyyy off topic.

Cheesecake. Just taking it more off topic here.

 

[scotth266]

Like most people have already said, split screen is a pain unless you have a gigundo tv. But I'm pretty sure Halo 3 had 4-player co-op. Besides, 4-player co-op is a rarity is camparison to 2-player, so this arguement is moot.

 

[King wiL]

...... It's dead because everybody hates split screen. Just play Left 4 Dead.

wow thats wierd because when i'm playing verses, theres more often a player with a +1 (guest on split screen not signed in to a gamnertag) then there isn't. hmm strange how your accurate statement of everybody hates split contradicts my actual fact there huh...

 

[chunkynut]

Just a theory (could be way off), but I think part of it is the computing power required for HD graphics. You can't have one console render it all twice (or three or four times) and maintain the same level of graphics. For example, in L4D, split screen dramatically reduces the game's draw distance. For example, in the elevator in No Mercy, you can't see the button panel next to the door unless you're in the front half of the elevator. And this is a distance of maybe 15 in-game feet we're talking about. In Gears 2, I've noticed that a lot of the cover destruction effects are dumbed down, or even removed, in split screen.

This is true, I first noticed this when playing split screen campaign in R6 Vegas (first one) with my brother and then playing terrorist hunt online with friends, some of the textures were what I'd have expected from Quake 1! (well they were awful for todays standard anyway)

And I generally hate split screen, especially when they split veritcally rather than horizonatlly, your vision area is greatly reduced. However we used to have 'Halogeddon's round a freinds house where 12 to 16 of us would play over 4 or 5 Xboxs and that was a blast

 

[DoW Lowen]

Does anyone else find it strange that finnally large ass TVs are now cheap enough for the normal person that the split screen has become less popular... The TV's are finally big enough it might not be such a bad thing.......

No matter how big the screen is, a game is just better when you have the screen to yourself. This is true for Gears of War and CoD5, it just looks BETTER on one screen. Plus you generally play better as well, in CoD5 I couldn't tell if I was shooting an ally or a Japanese, I wasn't able to tell until the guy got close enough to bayonet me. And my screen is huge.

 

[stiver]

Split screen has never been a problem for four people wanting to ply a game.

The reason co-op on one console is diminishing is because Xbox live is such a cash cow for microsoft. IF you can get developers to cut the cost of making a 4 or even 2 player co-op, you can just provide that same feature over Xbox live. For an extra price.

 

[Antiparticle]

It's true that it's kind of a pain to have only a quarter of the screen for yourself, but I think it's more than made up for by the fun of playing with three others in the same room with you. So it's too bad that 4-player splitscreen is becoming more and more rare, I didn't even bother to buy a third controller for my 360. Well, at least there are still a number of 2-player splitscreen games, even though also less these days than I'd like.
I think it's because of the growing popularity of online gaming, online is just the place to be nowadays it seems.

 

[DirkGently]

Do you know why they aren't bothering with split-screen gaming anymore? Because split-screen sucks. Fucking seriously. While there is no reason for games that don't need to split-screen (sports games, castle crashers, etc) to not have a four person gaming mode, I really wouldn't want to play four-person split-screened Halo or Call of Duty or even Left 4 Dead on my TV. If I had one of those sixty inch behemoths, maybe, but on my 32" TV? Hell no, even split screen on Gears 2 was uncomfortable.

 

[Bertruam]

Well the last game I actually played four player was Guantlet: Dark Legacy for the gamecube.
It was cool that all of us could work toghether to kill that Genie boss, but sharing the food and waiting for someone to hurry the hell up kinda watered down the experience.

 

[Acaroid]

Does anyone else find it strange that finnally large ass TVs are now cheap enough for the normal person that the split screen has become less popular... The TV's are finally big enough it might not be such a bad thing.......

No matter how big the screen is, a game is just better when you have the screen to yourself. This is true for Gears of War and CoD5, it just looks BETTER on one screen. Plus you generally play better as well, in CoD5 I couldn't tell if I was shooting an ally or a Japanese, I wasn't able to tell until the guy got close enough to bayonet me. And my screen is huge.

lol I remember back in the day playing golden eye 4 player split screen on an old 15inch... but seriously you had problems? I understand wanting the whole screen but maybe you should of sat a little closer? I dont know, could just be the game?

 

[Fraught]

I would definitely like to see more of the 4-player co-op on the same screen, like Secret of Mana, and (only that it had 2 players) Fable II.

 

[I20I3]

Split screen has never been a problem for four people wanting to ply a game.

The reason co-op on one console is diminishing is because Xbox live is such a cash cow for microsoft. IF you can get developers to cut the cost of making a 4 or even 2 player co-op, you can just provide that same feature over Xbox live. For an extra price.

This is my point exactly, if they think that they can get more money out of you, they just wont give it to you. It is this that has made the fun 4 player times a thing of the past.
It almost seems as if you have to be in another house to connect to someone.