Couch Co-op Cop-out? (Is local multiplayer gaming in decline?)

As long as there has been home console gaming, there has been co-operative gaming. Numerous early platforms games were developed with the specific intention to be played by more than one individual (...and were often poor or exceptionally difficult if played alone, Contra anyone?) Now as the medium continues to grow and grow, the scope for multiplayer has exponentially increased with the development and uptake of online gaming. The popularity of multi-million selling franchises such as, Call of Duty and Battlefield originates from the competitiveness of online multiplayer action, where players can test their skills against the best the game has to offer. As these online multiplayer games continue to grow, the inverse seems to be true of local multiplayer gaming. But is local multiplayer actually dying out?

In an editorial on just this issue back in 2011, Co-Optimus (A website devoted to multiplayer gaming) argued that statistic show that local multiplayer gaming was not dying out, but had steadily grown between 2007-2011. The misconception or myth that this was the case could be attributed to the faster and far more rapid growth of online gaming making it seem the case. Of course this was back in 2011 which in the rapidly developing world of home gaming can seem a generation ago, (indeed given the release of the WiiU, Xbox One and PS4 it actually is.) and multiplayer gaming has certainly undergone some changes since.

A issue not raised in Co-Optimus' overtly positive study on the issue was the range of video games available for multiplayer gaming. While certain genres of games such as, sports and first-person shooters naturally lend themselves to co-op, other genres such as role playing games and action-adventures have to be more intelligent in the way they incorporate multiplayer gaming. An argument can be made that as games themselves become more intricate and complicated this becomes an even finer issue. Multiplayer gaming on a single console is more taxing for the processing ability, this can effect frame rate and slow down the game. (as was an issue in Left 4 Dead 2.) This often means there is a need to restrict what multiplayer gaming can do whether it means to force the players to stay close to each other, or remove it from certain games completely.

There is no doubt that online is the present and future of the gaming industry, as companies continue to guide their products to support a level of online functionality. This gives these games a bigger selling factor and more replay-ability, not to mention an avenue for more profits through online micro-transactions. (I'm looking at you EA) Still for many gamers, me included, there is a place for local multiplayer (and maybe even offline, perish the thought) gaming that isn't a kick about on FIFA or shooting people in the face on Call of Duty, we just have to hope that AAA games studios can keep recognising that were still out here and not rely solely on indie developers who have been the main source of quality local multiplayer gaming over the last few years. We live in hope.

Until Then.

Sources:
http://www.co-optimus.com/editorial/940/page/1/is-couch-co-op-gaming-dying.html