Split-Screen is Dying...and I'm Okay With That

At one point split-screen ruled the world of cooperative gaming, but with the rise of online games the format is dying off. Is that a bad thing or a good thing? 411's Jordan Williams takes a look in this week's Working Title rant.

[Der_Kommandant]

Well I'm not...

Twisted metal 4 split screen is awesome

[darthv72]

in place of split screen I would like to see more lan play. Not online co-op or multiplayer but actual multi-console in a home being able to play the same game.

i have 2 360's and I know there are a few games that support lan play without the need to be connected to live. Still multiplayer in the sense but not restricted to live gold requirements for multiplayer.

[kcuthbertson]

F that..my friends shouldn't have to drag over their PS3 or 360 just because some developers don't wanna take the time to add split screen.

Plus with split screen, I don't need 4 TV's and 4 PS3's that make my electric bill skyrocket. SS needs to make a huge comeback IMHO.

[Hovis]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooo split screennnnnnnnnn!!

Seriously though. Killing your friend who had come round to your house with split screen just cannot be re-created by online play.

I'm not trashing online but hey guys my internet is down wanna play some online? Oh wait no I can't cos you known the whole online thing rest on the basis that I need internet.

It's the same reason why you should make your single player campaign good because at the end of the day if something happens to the online aspect of the game (internet is down, internet is slow, servers are being moved, servers crashed etc) the the gamers still have some sort of you know, game to play

:)

[dedicatedtogamers]

It's a sad day when game "journalists" take the time to praise the decline of videogames.

I have real friends. At least 75% of my multiplayer gaming is done on the same TV. At least 95% of my multiplayer gaming is done in the same room (different TVs). Why would I praise the decline of split-screen?

[lastdual]

Not to mention those who live with brothers or sisters, or parents who want to play with their kids.

"Sure, I'll play with you son, when you get off your ass and move into your own place!" says the father to his 10 year old son.

Maybe someone should do a sociological study on the decline of splitscreen in relation to the declining size and stability of the nuclear family...

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

Couch co-op will always be the best co-op. Much cheaper and your partner is in choking distance if he or she decides to hoard all of the ammo......

[Lord_Sloth]

Split-Screen shouldn't even be on the decline!

It's not like we have no friends at all as the devs seem to believe! Local Co-op FTW!!!

[Bakkies]

What is it with "dying" articles these days? Is gaming journalism dying? Nope, it's already dead.

[360GamerFG]

As long as there's Gears of War, Halo, Forza, CoD split screen isn't going anywhere.
Xbox 360 is home of the split screen campaign.

[Gildarts]

This^^

[gillri]

I gotta say the 360 is damn good for split screen gaming

[TheFirstClassic]

Yeah I perfer ps3 but I really wish there were more splitscreen games on it. How come Resistance 2 and 3 didn't have split screen deathmatch even though R1 did? The inclusion of split screen co op in Uncharted 3 and Killzone 3 looks to be a step in the right direction, but why can't I play split screen bots in K3 or K2 when it was in K1? I hope splitscreen comes back, not dies.

[banjadude]

This is extremely absurd.

[ninjahunter]

I doubt i would touch a console ever again without split screen,