single player games Archives

2015: The Year That Proves Single-Player Is A Timeless Staple

Ben-Dutka April 8, 2015 PS4 6 Comments

For a while there, it really looked like multiplayer wanted to dominate the world.

Some could argue the online multiplayer explosion had a profoundly negative impact on the quality of single-player campaigns. I don't believe that, personally, but I do know that when a developer has a limited budget, and they obviously spend the majority of it on multiplayer, it's clear to all.

This year, I think we're starting to see a single-player resurgence. We're fresh off the release of one of the most accomplished and satisfying single-player-driven experiences out there; Bloodborne can be played with others but as everyone knows, it's best experienced solo. Interestingly enough, although it was a missed opportunity, I think Visceral Games did put a lot of effort into the Battlefield: Hardline campaign.

And people can whine all they want about The Order: 1886 ; it remains a linear, narrative-driven adventure the likes of which we haven't seen in some time (and due to the critical reception, might not see again). There are more examples coming in 2015; The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Batman: Arkham Knight are right around the corner, and those titles will also thrive on single-player entertainment. Toward the end of the year, there are games like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Final Fantasy XV as well.

I just like to see things finally leveling out, you know?

Gogogic CEO: “Games Are Meant To Be Played With Others”

Ben-Dutka October 29, 2012 Archive 41 Comments

In some ways, I get his point. In others, you really can't say the single-player mechanic is a "gimmick." …that just comes out the wrong way.

In a recent [a]listdaily interview with Gogogic CEO Jonas Antonsson, we find that some game designers believe all games should be social, whether they're being played simultaneously with others or not.

Antonsson admits that the hardcore still appreciate the single-player campaign style, but the game really has to be special to capture widespread attention. He also said that all games were initially supposed to be multiplayer, anyway, but they just didn't have the technology to make it happen.

"I also think that it is worth to note that the single player mechanic is a gimmick – games are meant to be played with others and it doesn't matter if it's in-person or online. The first games were designed as multiplayer experiences, but when computer and console games became a thing there was a need to construct an antagonist and/or a protagonist for commercial purposes. You couldn't depend on people coming together to have a synchronous experience over a game. That would have simply stifled sales. And since there was no reasonable way to connect people in other ways – the arcade was the only serious attempt – it became an industry need to project the game as the other player. Playing a game is a multiplayer activity and can easily be seen as such when you watch young toddlers play by themselves. They invent someone to play with, someone that they talk to and interact with."

One note, my friend- It is a much greater artistic challenge to create a magnificent and memorable single-player experience because it requires writing, character development, and things of that nature. Multiplayer may require more technical expertise but that doesn't encompass every aspect of interactive entertainment. Furthermore and to be blunt, to say single-player is a "gimmick" is not only inaccurate at this point in time, it's just downright asinine. Sorry, but that has to be said.

Overstrike Is Now Fuse, Insomniac Done With Single-Player Only

Ben-Dutka September 12, 2012 Archive 19 Comments

Insomniac's new multiplatform game was originally announced as Overstrike , but it has since been re-branded as Fuse , and it's coming to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in March 2013.

We'll be taking a closer look at Fuse in the weeks to come but in the meantime, we're interested in what Insomniac CEO Ted Price told GameSpot about leaving single-player-only projects behind for good.

The studio that brought you Ratchet & Clank and Resistance has not only gone multiplatform, they've also embraced multiplayer for the future. Said Price:

"I can't imagine that any game we'd do from here on out will be single-player-only. The [game industry] has changed. As gamers, we have always been social, but thanks to the way technology has evolved, it's much easier for us to play together. And it's much easier for developers to create experiences where you can play together. So we want to encourage that with all of our games because ultimately, in my opinion, it's often more fun to play with a friend."

Of course, this doesn't mean the team is abandoning campaigns for their future titles, as the upcoming Fuse will boast both single-player and multiplayer action. Price reminds us that many gamers are simply interested in having both and as a developer, they don't have to "skimp on either side." It's just about having that balance. Finished Price:

"We understand that a large portion of players are interested in that single-player experience. A lot of us gamers are interested in both. I love single-player games but I also love multiplayer games, and I think that Fuse offers you the opportunity to do both without having to skimp on either side."

Some could argue that if a team put all their time and resources into a single-player-only game rather than splitting everything up to incorporate multiplayer, we'd get a superior campaign experience. …but that may be a moot point in this day and age.

Related Game(s): Fuse

EA: All Our Games Must Include Online And Digital Services

Ben-Dutka September 5, 2012 Archive 29 Comments

We've known for a while that multiplayer gaming is huge. Some fans of single-player entertainment worry that multiplayer will eventually, inevitably dominate.

Well, there's a lot of money to be made with such widespread appeal, and most of the major publishers realize they can't even release a single title without multiplayer possibilities.

Take Electronic Arts, for example. In a new promotional pamphlet that discusses the future of cloud gaming, EA Labels president Frank Gibeau made it plain:

"I have not green lit one game to be developed as a single-player experience. Today, all of our games include online applications and digital services that make them live 24/7/365."

Of course, we can't forget that EA publishes a ton of games, including RPGs where the single-player experience takes center-stage (BioWare's products lead the pack). That being said, it's clear what Gibeau is saying: His company simply won't produce a game that doesn't have some semblance of multiplayer attached to it, and that's that. It's amazing how quickly things can change in this industry, isn't it? Rewind just five or six years to the start of this generation, and such a philosophy wasn't so widespread. Rewind ten years and it makes zero sense.

Yes, the dinosaurs (that's me!) have difficulty keeping up.

EA: Single Player Only Experiences “Finished”

Ben-Dutka December 8, 2010 Archive 145 Comments

It's a hot-button issue amongst veteran gamers, many of whom remain convinced that the multiplayer boom has had a noticeably negative effect on single-player adventures.

Many – including yours truly – dreads the day that single-player campaigns become obsolete and everyone only cares about online multiplayer. And although many designers and developers say there will always be a place for the solitary gamer, EA isn't buying it. In speaking with Develop , EA Games president Frank Gibeau said his company will remain focused on "connected gameplay experiences," and that the era of single-player entertainment is slowly dying away. Said Gibeau:

"Online is where the innovation, and the action, is at. I volunteer you to speak to EA’s studio heads; they’ll tell you the same thing. They’re very comfortable moving the discussion towards how we make connected gameplay – be it co-operative or multiplayer or online services – as opposed to fire-and-forget, packaged goods only, single-player, 25-hours-and you’re out. I think that model is finished."

Gibeau does clarify that he's not merely talking about multiplayer gaming, but other forms of "connectivity" with interactive entertainment. An example of that might be Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit , which doesn't require online connectivity but with the Autolog feature, it certainly encourages a player to be online. But of course, there are still plenty of quality titles out there that don't bother with multiplayer, including the recent Vanquish and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West , as well as premier, measuring-stick titles like God of War III and Heavy Rain .

But what concerns many is that the most popular games tend to be very multiplayer-driven; Call of Duty is only one example. Furthermore, the sheer amount of time players put into online multiplayer is reminiscent of…well, obviously, of the MMO mentality, which contains certain addictive elements. This may be what's driving the multiplayer explosion these days, but there's one thing of which we're certain: if EA is right (and we don't think they are) and the single-player campaign dies…millions of gamers – yes, millions – might stop playing tomorrow. Including me.