Back in the day, there was no internet. If you wanted to play video games with your friends, you booked it down to someone’s house and grabbed a spot on the couch. You called next, you could slug the other guy if he did something cheap or started trash talking. You shared chips. You brought back sodas from the fridge for everyone. On the couch gaming was social in a very real, physical way, and split-screen games made it work. Now, split-screen games are being replaced by online multiplayer. Sure, more people can play that way, but they aren’t right next to you. Online multiplayer leaves us all alone in our dark rooms, rotting while an empty house closes in around us. Maybe that’s not so good. VentureBeat has the story.
On the couch gaming is the best gaming. What’s better than sharing that excitement with someone right next to you? Great games were made that way. Some of my favorites. Contra, Double Dragon 2, Rock Band, New Super Mario Bros Wii, Super Smash Bros Melee, Twisted Metal 2, TMNT 2… Good times.
It’s hard to share much of anything with a cold screen and an empty couch.