First Thoughts

On the Difference Between Multiplayer Video and Board Games

Whatever happened to the good multiplayer video games? The short answer is that they have moved online. However, this means that those of us with friends in real life have increasingly diminishing choices. It almost feels as though game developers are telling us to forgo playing with our friends face to face and instead forcing us to use their games and systems as a conduit. Personally, I find this rather annoying and not just because I like to see the expression on my friend’s face when I get that perfect headshot, but it seems almost pointless to have purchased four controllers for a system in which most games only support one or two at a time. It seems that only Nintendo has embraced the party console idea and actually develops games that allow all four controllers to be used regularly. However, I find Nintendo’s game library rather lacking and wish the concept of the party game could expand to other platforms.

To make up for this, I have found myself playing more non-electronic games. Settlers of Catan has been making a major resurgence and I have been contemplating getting into Magic or Dungeons and Dragons. These are games that allow that close personal interaction that is not currently available from behind the anonymizing veil of the internet. Although gaming through the internet is great for meeting new people and staying connected with old friends, I feel there is too strong of a focus on the online gaming world as a separate world from the “real” one. The term IRL (in real life) even demonstrates that many people believe interactions on the internet to not be part of their “real life.” People and developers need to realize that the online world and the “real” one are the same and equal attention needs to be given to each.