How do you feel about online gaming?

[WeaponX2099]

How do you like it so far, and what would you do to improve it?



This is for a college class paper, so make it good.

[miniarnold]

I really like it so far. From MMORPGs, to Sports, to Fighting, to FPS, it's all been fun.

The biggest thing I would like to see change is I'd like to see more companies design games that allow PC and PS2 players to play together (like FFXI). I would think that this would not be too hard to achieve if it was designed that way from the ground up. All a server is doing when you are playing online is streaming data to your PC/PS2. Standarize the data stream, and they should both work. OOP baby, OOP!

[bankson]

The easier the company makes it for me to play with people I know, the more willing I am to play online. For instance the ideas being used in Halo 2 where you choose your team, and you stay together the entire night while opponents are chosen for you. This allows for us to all play together without worrying about there being enough room like we had to in Socom, when someone wanted to play but the room was full, so they had to sit out and maybe even end up on the opposite team.

[Eclipse]

Its a fun way to blow off time. =) Fps's all the way. MMORPG's disrupt your daily life cycle.

[Rig]

I'm a big fan of online gaming. I have both my Xbox and PS2 online. The one thing I hate is some 12 year old bastard trash talking the entire game. That is, of course, until he gets the crap kicked out of him! :)

And BTW, I have nothing against 12 year olds. That was just an example.

[gamereviewgod]

I hate it. Reasons here:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/13/013847.php

[Sartori]

Personally, I'd prefer online gaming didn't make its way to the console realm.

Actually, let me be more specific and reasonable: I don't mind "plug and play" online play (see: Dreamcast). When it becomes centralized (X Box), I'm no longer a fan.

It should be essential that the software feature the capability to create games on a peer to peer basis.. but it's not.

[int80h]

There is no point to multiplayer gameing unless your in the same room as the people you are playing with.

[greendc27]

I like it as long as you don't have to pay more for it. The cost associated with playing Final Fantasy is ridiculous.

[bignick]

Its the next step for gaming. Its awesome.

[Rig]

I like it as long as you don't have to pay more for it. The cost associated with playing Final Fantasy is ridiculous.

Also true to me as well. I will not shell out money each month to play certain games.

[Kaijufan]

I would be all for it, except I dont have broadband, and I doubt I will be getting it anytime soon. The only thing I would not do is pay for MMORPGs. I dont mind the once a year fee for something like Xbox Live that will allow me to play all Xbox games, but Im not paying for each game.

[zewone]

Its the way of the gaming future. I'm sure in a couple of generations if not sooner all games well have some sort of online play mechanic.

[Trakan]

I don't really like it, and I believe the reason I don't like it is because I don't have it. If I had it, I'm sure I'd love it. I think it is the future of multiplayer gaming, and hopefully I am able to play people online sometime soon.

[Alpha2]

I'm split.

on one hand I like being able to play games with people I know who arent in the same time zone as myself.

on the other hand I'm sick and tired of games going broadband only when I only have 56k and I have no choice in switching. I really wish all this Online game would slow down untill we have no other option but broadband for a price that dosent have the tag "*for the first 3 months."

Plus I dont feel I should have to pay more for a game just to do it, if I'm already paying for Broadband then I shouldn't have to pay more just to play my game online unless I'm getting the MMORPG experience with constant maintainace, updates, expansions and service packs. If I'm just playing a racing game which dosent get updated from month to month its a rip off.

[zewone]

Broadband has actually gotten cheaper. I pay less now for my SBC Yahoo DSL than I use to pay for my AOL 56k. $21.95 a month for SBC to $31+ a month for AOL.

[levi333]

I say it should mostly stay on the PC. Too much time is catered toward it in the console realm. It should be more about the games than trying to beat companies in the online race. A little is good, but i say mostly stay away. IMO Nintendo is basically on the right track.

Unfortunatly these opinions wont make companies money, so they will never happen.

[KingDox]

I love it, if an xbox game doesn't have some type of XBL function I really have to think about getting it. I hope that xbox 2 has online games from launch, I don't want to be playing games on my xbox then having to wait 6 months before I can play my xbox 2 games online.

[sblymnlcrymnl]

There is no point to multiplayer gameing unless your in the same room as the people you are playing with.

True. I just got live, though I've only used it for downloadable content.

[evilpenguin9000]

I like the ability to do it, but often I'm annoyed with the people I am forced to play with. It's nice if you can find some cool people, but if it's left random it's irritating.

[jalu6]

There is no point to multiplayer gameing unless your in the same room as the people you are playing with.

True. I just got live, though I've only used it for downloadable content.

I dont agree. I use xbox live to play against friends from college that moved away after graduation. Just becasue they arent in the same room doesnt mean we dont have fun.

I think the key is playing with peopel you know, wherever they are. Playing with randoms is what gives it a bad name. Thats when you get the pain in the arse loudmouths and all.

[Mafia]

I'm indifferent.

On one hand, it can add infinite replay value to a game, especially if you don't have a lot of opponents readily available.

In the middle, I understand that bandwith isn't cheap, so more companies will start charging for services. Although if the ping is fine, I say just set up a server and allow P2P, much like FPS's do on PC's.

On one downside, I don't like Microsoft's current attempts abuse of it's Live fanbase. Many people are already paying for Xbox Live, most of us don't want to shell out another $5 for premium content. I also don't like it when certain features are online only, such as custom multiplayer careers for Rallisport Challenge 2. Something such as that would work out well in a system link setting.

Biggest downside is the level of attention paid to online servers. More needs to be done in the coming years to keep cheaters off and let the winner be decided to skill and luck. Xbox Live has done well in this category, while PS2 games, from what I've read, aren't quite as well equiped.

If nothing else, online gaming has made great strides in the last few years, particularly in this current generation of systems. Now it's really up to publishers to continue to strive forward to make a better online product just as they have made better offline products.

[dafoomie]

Personally, I'd prefer online gaming didn't make its way to the console realm.

Actually, let me be more specific and reasonable: I don't mind "plug and play" online play (see: Dreamcast). When it becomes centralized (X Box), I'm no longer a fan.

It should be essential that the software feature the capability to create games on a peer to peer basis.. but it's not.
I disagree. Xbox Live beats out ps2 online, hands down. Centralization is the key to their success, its what makes it good. And you do have the ability to play peer to peer with Xbox games, if they have system link capability. But to only have a peer to peer function and not something centralized would make it impossible for a lot of people to find players to play with and against.

I hate it. Reasons here:
I highly disagree with you... I don't even know how to respond to you, you're just wrong on so many levels. Aside from FF11, none of the games you mentioned are online only. PSO is primarily online but has a single player mode. The rest of them are primarily offline, so your point about the game disc being worthless is completely false.

Your point about price is flawed. Xbox Live costs $50 a year. You can't include the cost of games, console, and internet on top of that, because you'd probably have those things anyway if you were going to get XBL, and you'd have to still buy a console and games if you didn't want to play online at all, and also pay for at least dialup if you wanted the internet at all. The cost of gaming on the cutting edge (new releases on the newest consoles) prices out people in itself without the online component. This is nothing new. I actually find the price of XBL to be quite fair, and a good value, since it averages out to $4.17 a month. You can't get basic cable with just your locals for that.

You seem to have a problem with playing games, or interacting with, people you can't see or touch. People made this argument about the telephone, and movies, and television. Also I find your username to be somewhat arrogant, but thats just me.

There is no point to multiplayer gameing unless your in the same room as the people you are playing with.
Why? Why is there no point in playing against people that are in other places? Why then is there no point to that, but there is a point to conversing on a message board with people not in the same room?

One of the things people seem to be afraid of is abandoning single player in favor of multiplayer. But I don't think thats the case, if anything it adds value to games that you've already beaten. Look at Mechassault. Good game, not great, you'd play the single player campaign once and never play it again. Now look at the multiplayer aspect, its still to this day one of the more popular XBL games. I've played that game for hours a day almost every day. Thats value right there.

Also I don't think the "premium content" will catch on, since in order to use it, you and the people you play with and against all must have it. Unless its really, really, really good, people won't buy it simply because they'll have little oppertunity to use it.

[Mafia]

I wish Microsoft would release some info about Premium Content, such as total number of paid downloads compared to number of players that have actually played on Live, etc. And it would be interesting to hear how much profit is actually made on premium content. Who knows if content is actually made fresh for that release or is just scraps taken off the cutting room floor.

[jngx80]

I have DSL but I choose not to play online games because

1. the extra fees and accessories that companies charge
2. I don't really like the games MMORPGs, FPS, fighting that are online capable --> means I would need lots of time to practice so why would I want to pay to get beaten by someone. This is also why I don't play at arcades.
3. I have more fun when the person's in the same room. I've played the "primitive" yahoo games online even with my friends but it doesn't feel the same.

I rather have companies spend more time on 2 player co-op style gameplay - I'm glad to see more and more games coming out with this option.

[Nephets]

I have DSL but I choose not to play online games because

1. the extra fees and accessories that companies charge
2. I don't really like the games MMORPGs, FPS, fighting that are online capable --> means I would need lots of time to practice so why would I want to pay to get beaten by someone. This is also why I don't play at arcades.
3. I have more fun when the person's in the same room. I've played the "primitive" yahoo games online even with my friends but it doesn't feel the same.

I rather have companies spend more time on 2 player co-op style gameplay - I'm glad to see more and more games coming out with this option.

Unreal 2K4 is the best online game ever, I'm sure you'd like it if you gave it a chance.

[BlueStorm781]

I haven't played any game online, although I have a good number of online enabled games. It's not that I don't want to, I would. It's just that I really don't have the resources for it. To go on Xbox LIVE, you need a broadband connection, and we don't have that (right now), plus if you do have broadband, you need to pay more to use the service. It's not cheap. Sure, on the PS2, you can play most games online for free (as long as you have a connection). But more of those games are becoming Broadband only and some companies are charging service fees.

I think that an online component is great for extending replay value, and give you a chance to play with other people from around the country and the world. I don't think it should be used as a crutch or be the real "meat" of a game. Games should be designed offline first, then online. Also, online gaming isn't a great of a substitue for actually having people in the same room playing with you. The competitive nature is much better when everyone is in the same room.