SSX Fans Annoyed: Where'd Our Split-Screen Multiplayer Go?
SSXThere's no denying that SSX is a great game.
But many critics will tell you the game would've scored higher had it featured what we assumed to be a standard option: traditional split-screen multiplayer. A staple of "old-school" multiplayer and the franchise in question, it's gone in the reboot.
In its place is a solid online mechanic that features many different events and RiderNet, which continually puts you in touch with other boarders around the world. Well, that's great and all, but many of the long-time followers just can't get over the omission of split-screen fun. If you check around the Internet; visit some forums and communities, and read comments on reviews, you'll note that this downfall is one of the most irksome for established followers.
You know, in this age of constant connectivity, I think developers believe all gamers always want to be connected, that they would always prefer to play online. And it's certainly true that having a whole screen to yourself feels more dynamic and natural than that old-fashioned split-screen option. But David Jaffe once said there's nothing quite like having someone sitting next to you, playing the same game; it's just one person (there aren't 30 or 100 or something), and you each only get half the screen, but it's still superior in a very particular way. That way, of course, involves the more personal connection you have with your opponent or co-op partner.
I also don't believe such an option would be difficult to implement. In fact, I'm willing to bet it's pretty damn easy. So really, why should split-screen ever not exist? And especially when we're talking about SSX, a potentially great party game; by the way, when I say "party," I'm not talking about a digital party, but one where people are actually in the same physical place at the same time. Yeah, you know, like congregating? If you think that's the same as an online lobby...you're a deprived, borderline robotic individual.
Related Game(s): SSX
Tags: ssx, ssx multiplayer, ssx fans, ssx sequel
3/5/2012 10:26:48 AM Ben Dutka
Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter
Comments (16 posts)
BikerSaint
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 10:53:19 AM
Reply
And if so, then it should also be a "FREEBIE" for those who want to co-op it.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 10:54:38 AM
0 up, 1 down
Beamboom
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 11:02:07 AM
(But could of course be unlocked with a dlc).
Last edited by Beamboom on 3/5/2012 11:03:33 AM
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 10:58:16 AM
Reply
Personally I prefer online multiplayer, but local gaming sure can be fun with games like LBP, Lego and Rayman.
Last edited by Beamboom on 3/5/2012 11:09:54 AM
0 up, 0 down
bigrailer19
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 11:08:30 AM
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 3/5/2012 11:10:23 AM
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 11:11:49 AM
0 up, 0 down
dillonthebunny
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 10:59:29 AM
Reply
i really couldnt care less for split screen.. now. but ten years ago I would be up in arms.
so, perhaps its a generation thing, and unfortunately for gaming the generation that is making these decisions for things like split screen are of the old generation, maybe they just dont think any one does sit around with mates any more?
..or perhaps its just too expensive, because i can imagine its a lot of work to sort out with fine tuning, lag and general playability, and with deadlines looming, things get cut.
I would like to see it in SSX, yeah.. but because i do very little sofa socialising, it really doesnt affect me in the slightest.
but like I said, rewind ten or so years ago, I probably would of been really pssed off.
1 up, 3 down
bigrailer19
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 11:09:05 AM
Reply
It's a toss up, is it good to have? Sure! But when developing maybe the question comes up, would it be good to use development time, to implement something that may not get used as much as the online features? At that point is where it probably gets canned. I don't know, but for me, it's not a huge deal.
2 up, 2 down
Ludakriss
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 3:10:52 PM
Reply
There you go. That's exactly why you can't enjoy old skool. Pretty soon you'll just be entombed or "connected" with the rest of the gamers.
The fu** is this generation going? Look at the whole non-sense of Mass Effect not shipping to Game and Game Station retailers in UK and you've got yourself a link...or greed over funk.
I might be gullible and ignorant about the game industry. It might, actually cost as much as they say, to develop a game. But surely mature, creative minds who give us these creations, know of a word - compromise?
0 up, 0 down
dillonthebunny
Tuesday, March 06, 2012 @ 11:46:01 AM
0 up, 0 down
Xbox_Killer
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 4:04:32 PM
Reply
4 up, 1 down
Ishkur
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 5:13:19 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
SmokeyPSD
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 5:20:42 PM
Reply
Splitscreen makes a social game. Online, makes it... An online game...
You can have a social game online don't get me wrong, but it is always, ALWAYS just best with people you know. The people you pass a controller to if you could. What the fu** is wrong with developers now that they want to destroy every remnant of picking up and playing a game. That includes multiplayer. Patching, DRM, logging in, trophies, the list goes on. Splitscreeen should NOT be touched, it is not some age old bastion of age old past, your just freaking sitting down playing with people in the same room. There is nothing aged about that at all, this is fu**ing ridiculous, it really is with some of the language and phrases I've been hearing in my opinion.
1 up, 0 down
___________
Tuesday, March 06, 2012 @ 3:07:46 AM
Reply
and you people are to blame!
everyones been so heffed up about graphics this gen, developers have had to make a choice.
piss people off and risk loosing sales because our game looks a little outdated, or piss people off and risk loosing sales because they went with co-op over better graphics.
1 up, 1 down
Nerull
Wednesday, March 07, 2012 @ 12:56:02 AM
Reply
the ghostbusters game was a good example, would have been twice as good with splitscreen.
Online is a poor substitute.
For certain high-resource games it could difficult to implement but overall I see it as lazy development.
It does cut down on the screen real estate but think of it this way, how come none of us seemed to mind when the average tv was 27" or less and with standard def?
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Reply
Monday, March 05, 2012 @ 10:44:24 AM