Why Have 4 Player Co-op Games Been Disappearing?

[Crash 9000]

This is something that's really been grinding my gears, so to speak. I've noticed fewer games are being released with 4 player offline co op. While online is fun, and you have a bigger screen, it NEVER compares to chilling on a couch with 3 other buddies, covering each other's back, eating junk food, etc. There's plenty of 2 player still around, but seeing as I only rarely hang out with less than 3 other people, this is a problem. Do any of you agree with this? For the sake of discussion, why do you think this has happened? Or do you totally disagree with me and think that 4 player offline co op is a-boomin'?

And because we're all thinking it, and personally I don't see it as sufficient reason, you don't have to bother mentioning the smaller screen size.

Oh sorry, I don't have time to read what you just said, I am too busy playing L4D2 and Borderlands.

 

[Neon Jackal]

I'm going to be honest I don't think there were ever a lot of 4 player split screen coop games. Even back in the N64 days. Can you even name that many?

Maybe not co-op but definitely 4-player.

EDIT:

Oh sorry, I don't have time to read what you just said, I am too busy playing L4D2 and Borderlands.

Obviously, because he's talking about offline...

 

[Acaroid]

This is something that's really been grinding my gears, so to speak. I've noticed fewer games are being released with 4 player offline co op. While online is fun, and you have a bigger screen, it NEVER compares to chilling on a couch with 3 other buddies, covering each other's back, eating junk food, etc. There's plenty of 2 player still around, but seeing as I only rarely hang out with less than 3 other people, this is a problem. Do any of you agree with this? For the sake of discussion, why do you think this has happened? Or do you totally disagree with me and think that 4 player offline co op is a-boomin'?

And because we're all thinking it, and personally I don't see it as sufficient reason, you don't have to bother mentioning the smaller screen size.

You know ive said this many many times, espically here on escapist.

I thought ti was strange as it is now really affordable to get large screen TV's so split-screen you would think would be boooming? but no, with the net it is dropping and split screen is left for "casual" games *cries*

I remember playing Goldeneye 64 VS on this tiny 15 inch screen with 4 friends XD back in the day

 

[coldshadow]

the frame rates wouldnt take that much of a dip as the system isnt redrawing the game world for each player.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

It basically amounts to this: 4 player co-op= 4 players, 1 copy of the game whereas 4 player online co-op= 4 players, 4 copies of the game. More copies sold=more $$$$

 

[Suveck]

and with the left for dead thing, no it still only has two which is dumb because 4 p offline would be great in that i mean really a game made for coop that doesn't have good offline coop i would to that the game is a failure

 

[nYuknYuknYuk]

It basically amounts to this: 4 player co-op= 4 players, 1 copy of the game whereas 4 player online co-op= 4 players, 4 copies of the game. More copies sold=more $$$$

Yeah, that's pretty much it in a nutshell unfortunately.

 

[ShotgunShaman]

Borderlands is a good, recent, 4 player Co-op

READ THE DARN THREAD. BORDERLANDS ONLY HAS 2 PLAYER OFFLINE CO OP.

and with the left for dead thing, no it still only has two which is dumb because 4 p offline would be great in that i mean really a game made for coop that doesn't have good offline coop i would to that the game is a failure

Welcome to the Escapist. Use better grammar if you want to stay alive.

 

[Swaki]

boy there sure are allot of people responding before reading the thread, i think there is a number of reasons why games stopped having 4 player offline co-op.

1. i know you said that it isn't a "sufficient reason", but it is, most people don't have 60 inch tvs, they have tvs in the 20s so for most of the consumer's playing 4 co-op would be a pain, like watching a movie on a iPod, and since developers have made it quite clear they wont spend any time trying to satisfy a minority of their fans, they didn't bother.

1½. most people don't have 4 controllers, of all the gamers and people whit just madden i have met in my life i have never seen anyone have more than 2 controllers, so unless its a planned event it wont be possible.

2. no, i don't think me listing tons of reasons will help, more and more publishers/developers yank up their prices, make shorter games and remove things that take them too long, if dedicated servers get over looked and games like Rogue Warrior get made there are no hope for 4 player co-op, and after being burned by rogue warrior i think we are facing another black era of gaming, but who knows, maybe when the third coming arrives 4 player co-op will be one of the things to rise again.

 

[polygon]

I think the reason 4 player offline co-op games are disappearing is because 4 player offline co-op games never existed in the first place. Seriously, the N64 was all over that 4-controllers-at-one-time shit and I can't think of a single game where you actually had 4 people all working towards the same goal rather than eachother's horrible demise.

Hell, I would say that because New Super Mario Bros. Wii was released recently the 4 player offline co-op genre is statistically at a high point.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

i agree, 4 coop was great, and must be insisted to be added.

 

[Misaek]

Co-op in general is becoming less frequent and whats even worse than co-op is games that seem like they have co op but don't (call of juarez) or games that just have online co-op but not slpitscreen (ghostbusters)

 

[Sketchy]

Yeah, I think the decline of Co-op games in general is sad, because if I go to a mates house, or they come to mine, we want to be able to co-op something.

Very few games give you that opportunity these days.

 

[mrhappyface]

Because 4 is too little for many developers,(why make 4 when there are going to be 125 player teams in MAG?) and does not encourage as much cooperation as 2 does (Resident Evil 5).

 

[AceDiamond]

I think the reason 4 player offline co-op games are disappearing is because 4 player offline co-op games never existed in the first place. Seriously, the N64 was all over that 4-controllers-at-one-time shit and I can't think of a single game where you actually had 4 people all working towards the same goal rather than eachother's horrible demise.

As an N64 owner with 3 friends who were also N64 owners I can pretty much confirm this. I mean yeah there were 2-player co-op modes in Perfect Dark and a couple other games but never 4 player.

I really think New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the only good game I can immediately think of with 4-player offline co-op.

 

[Sven und EIN HUND]

Well, it isn't co-op but me and my mates occasionally get together and fuck around with COD4/WAW

 

[Kimarous]

The topic title is deceptive... last I checked, four player co-op was actually on the rise. Then I come in here and see it talking only about LOCAL 4p Co-op.

 

[twcblaze]

I honestly wouldn't care if there were at least more games that had 2 player offline co-op, I mean... really, what the hell is wrong with splitscreen? why do I HAVE to connect to some jerk-off in Wisconsin to play a game on a console that clearly has the ability to sync 4 controllers or even just two?