The Rise of Online Multiplayer Games And The Collapse of Couch Co-Op

StarCraft 2’s Betrayal on Kerrigan trailer is one of the company’s most emotional creations. The cinematic is heartbreaking whether you are a fan of the series or not, but it hits home particularly hard for old school StarCraft fans. The trailer offers gamers a view from the ground as Kerrigan is betrayed by her own commander and left alone to be infested by the Zerg. The legendary betrayal takes place in the original StarCraft and this retelling of the hero turned villain’s last moments of righteousness even borrows the original dialogue from the classic

More revenue. Another, less benign, reason for this shift to online multiplayer is money. Many distributors cite piracy as a major cause of declining profits , and increased DRM restrictions make sharing games with friends much more difficult. Decreasing the amount of local multiplayer means that friends who want to play together need their own copies of the game, their own system, and their own subscription. The result is increased costs for gamers and increased revenue for distribut

Better graphics capabilities. There are a few big reasons for this shift to online multiplayer. The first is purely practical : as the quality of graphics and gameplay increases, more resources are required. If you’re already running a MOBA Game Ranking Guide that requires a lot of power because of technical specifications, imagine doubling, tripling, or quadrupling that for split-screen modes. That kind of local play functionality may require a downgrade in graphics—a sacrifice many gamers just aren’t willing to make for local multiplayer modes. That’s part of the reason games with simpler graphics— Super Smash Bros. , Mario Kart , or any of the numerous rhythm games—most frequently include local multiplayer. It’s less of a strain on the system, and gamers generally don’t sit down to play Mario Kart for a realistic virtual experie

When games made the leap from public arcades to private homes, multiplayer continued to be a prominent feature. In 1987, MIDI Maze for the Atari ST allowed players to play together with up to 16 people. Many NES games also incorporated multiplayer—the original Super Mario Bros . allowed players to swap between Mario and Luigi, and Ice Climber allowed simultaneous co-op.Technology advancements allowed the inclusion of split-screen modes for racing games and shooters. It didn’t stop there. As games got more complex and began incorporating online play, LAN parties and internet cafes enabled gamers to play locally with friends, minus the risks of lag and other side effe

Oddly enough, it’s said that Nintendo actually got their name for the protagonist from a lawyer that successfully defended them in a case against Universal Studios over a dispute regarding the name ‘Donkey Kong’ back in 1984. The lawyer’s name? John Ki

“This was a project full of firsts for me. It’s been incredibly frustrating and educational trying to finally accomplish this cosplay. This was my first time making armor with Worbla, and I only have one burn scar… so far! In fact, this was my first time using automotive primer, Bondo, silicone molds, resin casts, and a whole lot of other stuff. I’m a kinetic learner, so the only way I really get a handle on stuff is by getting my hands on it and going for it. I messed up a lot, but I learned a lot. You really just have to take every little thing in stride. I had been pushing to try and get this cosplay ready for a specific convention, and nearly drove myself mad trying to do it. Instead, I’ve learned now to just sit back and enjoy the experience. It’ll be done when it’s done, and I’ll be proud of the finished produ

First things first: The CW’s attempts at launching characters, subplots, or larger universe-changing factors like superpowers or magic have not always gone off smoothly, often sapping momentum from individual episodes or existing storylines. Thankfully, the decision to introduce Vandal Savage (Casper Crump) – who will soon take the role of ‘big bad’ for Legends of Tomorrow – in The Flash actually shows the kind of elegant cross-universe storytelling fans have come to hope

**The Flash ** crossover continues on Arrow with “Legends of Yesterday”, with regular programming returning next Tuesday @8pm with “Running to Stand Still”. Watch a preview of the crossover’s conclusion be

It’s hard to forget the first time the world familiarized itself with the now iconic pink puffball known as Kirby. Yes, Kirby’s Dream Land marked the debut of Nintendo’s lovable glutton and his popularity has kept the franchise trekking ever since. Immediately appealing to children the world over thanks to his smile-inducing demeanor, the first iteration of Kirby was a smashing success for Ninte

Everyone here at Game Rant would like to wish the inanimate, mass-produced, nostalgia-inducing Game Boy a very Happy North American Birthday. While it can’t reciprocate the love many gamers still have for it, it revolutionized an industry that we still care about all these years la