Multiplayer Overload

Multi Player Overload

Video games are a source of entertainment, whether for the single player adventurer or the allure of multi player mayhem. Both types of gaming can be enjoyed by all, when implemented truly. Since the inception of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and the exceedingly popular online gaming platform it seems as though we are being force-fed games which are half finished, all in the name of cash. This unfortunate occurrence has sent the general mainstream video game industries into a state of desperation that I can only call a syndrome of, and forgive my use of cliché here, “Jack of all trades, master of none”.

Now it seems every game being released is given the post-production overhaul of features, which in my humble opinion is detrimental to both the game quality and the company's reputation. As a gamer it feels like being baited with a bottle full of promises only to have it crash down upon my skull. To slap on modes of play which feel as if they were never intended in the first place is what can only be described as lazy development at it's worst. A prime factor in this movement has been the rise to power of the Call of Duty series, primarily off the back of the immensely popular online multi player. The cash rolled in for the franchise and other developers took notice, now it seems almost every game must have a multi player of some sort.

I'm not against multi player in any way, I love sharing the experience of the game I loved with another. The point I am trying to make is it now seems like for every game it has become a necessity to add, regardless of the quality of it. Evidence can be found in this years release of games, almost all of which are sequels, which now have multi player implemented, when it wasn't before. It is painstakingly obvious in some games that multi player is hacked on just as a selling point, as if no one will play the game unless it has online functionality. My SNES didn't have online functions but I sure as hell enjoyed playing “Donkey Kong Country” for hours on end. Why is multi player such a necessity these days to sell a game?

We can look on the other side of the coin at the newly released F.3.A.R, a horror/first person shooter for those who do not know. This game series has had strong single player campaigns backed up by strong multi player capabilities, until this edition. Let me explain, the single player adventure is a “whopping” three to four hours long, yes you did read correctly. This begs the question of why did they even bother adding a half-assed single player if all they were going to do is focus on the online multi player aspect. Frankly I don't find my COD copy death matches frightening, even in a horror/fps.

On some rare occurrences both multi player and single player modes have meshed beautifully, forming the games which people speak of as the games of the system. These rare wonders include Super Mario Bros. Wii and..... By gosh I genuinely can not think of any modern day games which the single player campaign is just as strong as the multi player. It seems that unless focus is zoned in on one mode, we are left with ugly half breeds which should not be shown the beauty of daylight.

While yes I do understand a need for some games to implement online functionality and multi player, I would much rather it add to the experience. In the current climate all the developers are doing is adding the features for show, effectively dragging a great single player game down to an average multi player game or vice-versa. Developers releasing half finished projects only confirms the slippery slope our community is following from once proud creators of quality, not quantity.