Consultant Predicts The Death Of Single-Player Experiences

big6
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 3:30:38 PM
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Three years will be just in time for Uncharted 4, no?
I hope Uncharted can, at least, maintain its single player awesomeness.

4 up, 0 down

maxpontiac
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:41:16 PM

I wouldn't worry about Naughty Dog or Uncharted.

5 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 3:33:30 PM
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Yeah, well the month long PSN outage proves the fallacy of such statements. If the single player campaign/story mode was no longer part of games, a network outage could become extremely painful, and also be extraordinarily limiting on gamers without reliable or available network connectivity.

I have also yet to see any multi-player game with a compelling multi-player narrative. Open world games perhaps, but nothing with a focused and progressive narrative. Single player games are no more likely to die out as suggested than the novel is.

But, I'll tell you this. If this ever comes to pass, I will yank the cord on my console, and put it away and find a good book to read, a paper book, the kind with pages and a binding, not the crappy kindle kind.

30 up, 4 down

Fabi
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 3:37:13 PM

Exactly. This is ridiculous.

6 up, 1 down

Killa Tequilla
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:06:37 PM

I'd just continue...

Cant beat em' join em'

1 up, 7 down

Claire C
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:17:21 PM

Soooooooooo ridiculous... =O

4 up, 1 down

maxpontiac
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:42:58 PM

I am with you on that Highlander.

I mostly play singleplayer games. I do enjoy the multiplayer games as well, but the bulk of my gaming experience is by myself.

2 up, 1 down

Dancemachine55
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 6:09:22 PM

If single player games die out, my game collection would shrink by about 90%.

I actually enjoy fun multiplayer games like GT5, Motorstorm, LBP 2, Gears 2 and Halo Reach, but there are very view games that excite me like a great single player game. Mass Effect 3 is the most popular game preordered amongst me and all my friends, what does that tell you?

If single player were to die, I'd play games far less than I do now. Most likely I'll watch more movies or read more books for my story fix, and just play online with friends once or twice a week whenever they are free.

2 up, 0 down

GuyverLT
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 6:51:23 PM

That is something you and I can agree on Mr. Highlander. I play nothing but the single-player part of games, I literally never touch Multi-player, so if the that dreadful day ever comes I'll find a new hobby......

I've been looking into the whole male escort thing for older women........ I hear it pays well also....

Er!! Did I type that out loud???? Well just scratch out that last part then and prtend you never saw it.

Peace

Last edited by GuyverLT on 8/17/2011 6:52:36 PM

5 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 3:05:04 AM

Highlander:
"Single player games are no more likely to die out as suggested than the novel is." -> Exactly. That's how I see it too. No discussion there.

But you mention something I'd love to discuss a bit further:
"I have also yet to see any multi-player game with a compelling multi-player narrative."

This is a huge challenge indeed, and most multiplayer games have no narrative whatsoever for this very reason.

But I would like to point out that there is light at the end of the tunnel: Many multiplayer coop games follow the storyline regardless of being played single or cooperatively. And some of those are pretty well executed in that particular aspect.
Games like Mercenaries 2, Fear 3, Borderlands and Lost Planet 2 comes to mind, and the best of them all imo: Saints Row 2.

In all these games the storyline is the exact same being played single or with a friend. Cut scenes, scripted events, all the narratives remains.

And to use Saints Row 2 as the proof of concept here: The missions are cleverly made so that they can either be solved both solo or cooperatively, or a npc takes the place of your buddy when playing single, just like in any other game. During coop play neither of you feel "obsolete", the missions all have that extra room for you in the events.

Also I'd say the single player experience do not suffer from the coop option at all - actually it may be quite the contrary. The added efforts put into the making of the coop play may have dribbled down also to the SP.

And the cut scenes are done using the game engine, so each player see their own ingame custom character as the main character from their perspective of the story.
I guess it sounds weird how both players then feel like playing the main character of a story with only one main, but really, it works!

By all means, none of the mentioned games are nowhere *near* anything like the dramas in Mass Effect or <insert your fav here> when it comes to storytelling, but then again, the business is not that experienced with creating multiplayer narratives. I remain cautiously optimistic in these regards.

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/18/2011 3:16:38 AM

2 up, 1 down

Paolo Kutaragi
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 7:26:38 AM

"But, I'll tell you this. If this ever comes to pass, I will yank the cord on my console, and put it away and find a good book to read, a paper book, the kind with pages and a binding, not the crappy kindle kind." Says TheHighlander. Thanks a lot. That's what I'm planning to do as well.

0 up, 0 down

telly
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 9:28:06 AM

Agree completely. I think online components will be more or less standard fare -- they are already -- in all games, but single player narratives aren't going anywhere. I think what you may see is the OPTION to have more co-op in "single player" games. For example, imagine LA Noire 2 lets you play as Cole Phelps, as did part 1. But the game gives you the option of having a friend play as your partner on any given case or cases, which would allow the two of you to crack cases together. Or, you can forego that option and just do everything on your own. Things like that sound just fine to me.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 10:44:37 AM

Beamboom says;
Games like Mercenaries 2, Fear 3, Borderlands and Lost Planet 2 comes to mind, and the best of them all imo: Saints Row 2.

Beamboom, you need to stop confusing genre.

Mercenaries 2 - Open world, sandbox, shooter
Fear 3 - horror, shooter
Borderlands - 1st person shooter prentending to be an action RPG
Lost Planet - Shooter
Saints Row 2 - Open world, third person shooter.

They're all shooters, open world shooters, sandbox shooters first person shooters, third person shooters. Note the commonality, shooters. Sorry, but I don't see why you're bothering to mention any of these games as some kind of counter to my point. The point presumably being this - "I have also yet to see any multi-player game with a compelling multi-player narrative. Open world games perhaps, but nothing with a focused and progressive narrative. "

None of the games you've mentioned counter what I'm saying. They're all shooters with single and multi-player modes that do not rely principally on the single player mode of the game. They're built to be multi-player shooters. What they lack is that focused, progressive narrative that you see in a single player focused game like Uncharted. Uncharted is a third person action/shooter. But the primary game mode is single player, and it has a very focused and progressive narrative. The game is focused on this story, and not on the multi-player action.

Without the single player experience, there's nothing, literally nothing, in the game for me at all. Each of the games you mentioned has single and multi-player modes, and the story (such as it is) plays out in those single player modes.

So, I'll say again;

I have also yet to see any multi-player game with a compelling multi-player narrative. Open world games perhaps, but nothing with a focused and progressive narrative. Single player games are no more likely to die out as suggested than the novel is.

But, I'll tell you this. If this ever comes to pass, I will yank the cord on my console, and put it away and find a good book to read, a paper book, the kind with pages and a binding, not the crappy kindle kind.

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 2:39:43 PM

I don't understand... What exactly do you mean by "multi-player game" then? You say "ANY multiplayer game", and I reply with shooter open world games where the narrative is the same playing it single player or multi player...

Sorry, I just do not understand...!

Also I do not try to counter anything you say, I try to contribute to the topic by saying that maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel, and try to come up with examples that might indicate so... That maybe it is possible to feature a good narrative also in multi player games.

That's all...

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/18/2011 2:44:30 PM

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 3:57:41 PM

You and I come from completely different schools of thought if you think that those games have the kind of narrative I am talking about.

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Friday, August 19, 2011 @ 2:42:43 AM

I actually rather think this is a rare case of me being more optimistic than you! :D

I don't mean to say that I think you should play the mentioned games. Not at all. Actually I'd not recommend a single one of them to you :)

I just think there is hope ahead, and that these games illustrate a small step in that direction.

For example, Uncharted, as you mention. I see no reason why those games could not have featured coop play. You usually have a companion anyway, and he/she is also participating in solving the puzzles. Why not let that character be playable as an *optional* feature? That would not affect the narrative in any radical way?
This is what I try to say: I believe a good narrative *and* a good multiplayer coop feature can be combined. One does not necessarily kill the other. Yes it does complicate things, yes it is a challenge, but it is doable. Or so I claim. But I may be wrong.

Like a wise man once said: It's hard to make predictions, especially of the future. :)

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/19/2011 3:05:01 AM

2 up, 1 down

mastiffchild
Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 10:19:21 PM

SP games will NOT be going anywhere and it's daft to imagine that they will. Definitely the level of importance that currently sees a lot of games try to do BOTh SP and MP will die down as developers learn which games suit which and some don't suit both modes.

Also, there's SP and there's SP. While there's online for games like Demon's Souls it's still BASICALLY a SP game and most RPGs will remain that way. Hell, unless you play PvP a lot of MMOs are still REALLY SP experiences.

I think the sales of games like Enslaved are what push things like this article but, remember, the SP in that game only had a story-there wasn't any gameplay. Combat was stiff and dull and the platforming? Don't get me started.

Anyway, a LOT of gamers want SP experiences while I imagine it'd be cheaper for devs to get people buying and sticking with MP games but even then I mostly like some SP meat to provide a frame of reference for my MP anyway.

Another thing is the games which have been KILLED by co-op lately. i love co-op and think it has it's place but it's not in games like RE and not in LP2 as AI(friendly AI esp) isn't up to the supporting role and we aren't at a place in time where online conections are stable enough to rely on full time either so what do you do if you have no Wifi? Waht if your ISP is down? What if Live/PSN/Steam fail?

Sure, online and co-op is more import5ant today but just as we all still like to play some classic game types(SMB is still as highly loved today as it ever was)there will always be a massive market for escapism of the lone variety. Even more so with the advent of better handheld gaming-look at the number of JRPGs on DS/PSP and iOS? Look at MGSPW? Look at the RE games for 3DS and, likely, for Vita? Look at Uncharted Vita?

For games to die out in three years as SP experiences we'd have to lose about a half of those gamers that buy more than two games a year. It's stupid.

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 3:47:48 PM
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

8 up, 1 down

Claire C
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:15:17 PM

XD

2 up, 0 down

Neo_Aeon666
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 7:16:49 AM

He snapped? XD

1 up, 0 down

OPHIDIAN
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 3:56:46 PM
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I will predict his death if he continues to make illogical statements.

2 up, 1 down

Kiryu
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:00:10 PM
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hehe that's funny Mr.mark kerny

3 up, 1 down

cthulhu_spawn
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:01:29 PM
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Surely in a way though he's also disproving his own point. It's well known psychologically that people, though a social animal at heart, also need solitude and their own space as part of keeping a balanced and stable state of mind from time to time. In a digital age where everyone is so connected all the time by phones, computers etc the single player campaign allows people to escape from the enlarged and ever encroaching crowding of society and work through in private and disconnected from the throng and enjoy some much needed alone time

11 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:46:02 PM

Very much so. As the world becomes ever more 'always ON' it becomes more and more necessary to find some 'OFF' time, besides sleep.

But besides that, I'm utterly sick of the constant intrusion of the online world and it's 7.4 billion pairs of eyes watching my every move. There's a reason I don't use Facebook, Twitter or any of those other online fart counters. I don't want to feel like I am being watched. i don't want people asking me why I'm playing a game at 3am, it should be perfectly obvious that either the game is great, or I have trouble sleeping, either way, it's NONE of their business.

Yes, I called Facebook, Twitter, and the rest "online fart counters". It's a perfect description of the level of drivel that makes up the vast majority of utterances on any of these social sites.

11 up, 1 down

TheAgingHipster
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:03:52 PM

Don't sugar coat it, Highlander, tell me how you really feel!

3 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 1:35:12 AM

@cthulhu_spawn: So true. Also, it's funny that even the Facebook games has "single player experiences" - that goes to prove what you say here.
I play Mafia Wars practically entirely as a single player game. I just do "npc quests" and level up, spend my points and don't give a rat's ass about the rest of my "mafia" (guild).

@Highlander: Others don't know you are playing at 3 in the morning any more on Facebook than your friends do via the PSN friends list ;)
You can turn off your online status in Facebook just like you can log off PSN.
So your farts are not counted unless you want to share them with us. And please, don't. :D

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/18/2011 1:38:19 AM

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 10:51:16 AM

You can turn off your status, you can block this and that. But then there is the trail of breadcrumbs from the game you play. Facebook in particular is bad for this because all those games want to publish the trivial achievements in your game on your wall, so no matter what you do, it's there.

Fundamentally, I see your point that you can restrict the eyes from following yo, but you and I both know it's not that easy to block all viewing eyes, and you and I also both know that's not really the point.

In security you can set up a firewall one of two ways, open everything and only block those things that become a problem, or block everything and poke holes in the wall for what is absolutely necessary. I view my privacy in a similar manner. I prefer the block all approach, but the majority in society seem blissfully unaware that they're running an open firewall.

0 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:02:12 PM
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i really dislike cryptic predictions like this becuase i think there will always be enough room in the market for compelling sp experiences. games like la noire demonstrate this. it sold 4 million copies and is a new ip as well.

4 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 1:39:37 AM

Exactly. These predictions are just bullshit. As long as there is a market for it, it will be made.

0 up, 0 down

Killa Tequilla
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:10:17 PM
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I mean... with almost every new game you guys get you always complain about it one way or another for the most part...

2 up, 14 down

Highlander
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:47:00 PM

You do not understand us, or what we're talking about. Have fun with your connected future when you can't escape the scrutiny of every friend of a friend of a friend on your friend's friend list.

7 up, 3 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:06:48 PM

Without the market pointing out flaws and praising positive accomplishments the games would all become crap. We, the consuming public, serve a purpose in our exhortations. If we didn't, then developers like Square Enix and Bioware wouldn't be so interested in altering their products to suit fan's desires.

It always adds up to better games, even if it means the game we complain about dies out so something better can come along. Each person maybe just a small voice, but together we can change gaming for the better even by whining at our computers.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/17/2011 5:07:37 PM

8 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 1:40:40 AM

Post of the month right there, WorldEndsWithMe.

0 up, 0 down

telly
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 9:35:01 AM

And also World, it's fun to have frank and homnest conversations about things you care about.

0 up, 0 down

Claire C
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:16:34 PM
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I guess I can consider all the PS1 RPG collecting I've been doing as planning for the future. :/

6 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:31:43 PM

Those artifacts will be worth something someday.

6 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:47:32 PM

Indeed - both of you. Time to start collecting, even if I don't play right now.

3 up, 0 down

Warrior Poet
Friday, August 19, 2011 @ 12:09:48 AM

I'm collecting them to play now, lol. Really, even if these horribly improbable predictions came true, we have decades of single-player games to play. Even if the entire games industry crashed tomorrow, we still couldn't play all the greats.

0 up, 0 down

cthulhu_spawn
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:25:15 PM
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I spose in its simplest form my view would be this. If ya wanna interact socially-turn on facebook, ifya wanna game socially-play world of warcraft, ifya wanna play and challenge yaself with a game-turn on the ps3, ifya wanna game but do feel abit lonely, get some mates round with afew beers and play single player games passing the controller round the room and mock ya mates when you get to watch their little faces distort when they get stuck and have some proper interaction :-) All have their merits and all should be accepted and be allowed to thrive

3 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:28:52 PM
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Extinct? An endangered species maybe but never extinct!

If he were the first to say this then I would see why he is making the statement. But, he is not the first and definitely won't be the last. Another monkey seeing others and doing as they do.

Those making this statement have a point. But having a point does not make it correct. If the industry limits or eliminates single player experiences my gaming will be cut by 99% and I may lose interest altogether. If this tragedy does happen it would not last. Years later people would be sick and tired of the "Always Connected" lifestyle and will yearn to "DISCONNECT". They will crave the single player experience again and we will cycle back to where we are now.

It's the year 2021. Hey did you hear..? There is a new game coming out that is single player only. It does not utilize online at all. Wow! Such innovation!

6 up, 0 down

SixSpeedKing
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:40:27 PM

Yes great thinking. I agree and hope you are right.

0 up, 0 down

Bjorn77
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:40:28 PM
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Facebook this, Twitter that... I don't have any of that! If future gaming means no singeplayer then I stop playing games. Don't like it, don't want it.

It is dumb, I think a great amount of money in the gaming industry is coming from people as myself. Educated people with expandable cash which they can waste on games. In my teenage years I had like 5 or 6 games which I played a lot... now I own 40+ games which I play hardly at all.

I don't think they can survive on the facebook generation in 3 years... it is a dumb remark. They are young, they are in school and have no money whatsoever. It takes at least 10-15 years imo.

5 up, 0 down

Warrior Poet
Friday, August 19, 2011 @ 12:12:03 AM

bah, I'm 16 and I make money selling retro stuff on ebay. My friends chop wood for old people. It's not that hard to make money in high school...but yeah, I understand.

1 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:47:09 PM
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I think other SP mode gamers will agree when I say......

"Go straight to hell, Mark Cerny"!!!!!!!

Besides, if & when that day comes, so far I've already got 2120 "psychical" based cartridge & disc games in my collections that I'll just go revert back too....
Burgertime, Starfox64, Urban Strike, Frogger, Crazy Taxi, Bloody Roar, anyone?

Last edited by BikerSaint on 8/17/2011 5:01:22 PM

6 up, 1 down

Clamedeus
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 5:59:10 AM

<3 Starfox, <3 Bloody Roar. :D

1 up, 0 down

Karosso
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:47:17 PM
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Not as long as Sony and its 1st Party Studios have any saying on the matter. It might happen, but not that soon.
I will start buying HD collections of PS2 games games I haven't played and also get all the cheap PS3 greats I missed and save than for the rainy day, just in case :)

4 up, 1 down

KNG201
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 4:59:28 PM
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"And perhaps, when that does does come, I drop the controller forever."
Me too....

2 up, 0 down

Teddie9
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:10:12 PM

yeah I'll probably do the same after I clean out my backlog.

Some of the most memorable and beautiful gaming moments were meant to be experienced alone. If nearly all games had a prominent multiplayer aspect (and I mean having more importance than the single player) that would create too much competition for the multiplayer-oriented gamers. Most developers wouldn't be able to compete in that market against a publisher like Activision for Example.

For the record Demon Soul's has a unique multiplayer aspect but it has nothing really to do with connectivity. You can't speak with your co-op partners or hook up with specific people conveniently, It was designed so that you primarily still felt that you were alone on your journey - it was part of the atmosphere. Such a multiplayer experience wouldn't be accepted in this world that Mr.Cerny is predicting.

5 up, 0 down

Cuetes
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:00:40 PM
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I predict this guy will be unemployed in 3 years and anybody who listened to him will be as well. Solo gaming made this hobby (arcades helped), so it's not going anywhere anytime soon. If it did go this way I'm putting my controller down for good.

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:02:56 PM
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I agree with this man for the most part, but not on the 3 years thing. I think even the greatest SP experiences will feel the pressure to add some kind of multiplayer integration. I think Demon's Souls has set the bar for how it will work too. So long as these games still function WITHOUT online then little will change for me.

But if it all went to capture the flag crap like CoD then I'd be done with gaming too.

3 up, 2 down

jimmyhandsome
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:24:05 PM
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Maybe single player games will be more and more "connected" like the Demon Soul's example, but certainly not gone completely. I think of single player games as telling a good story like a movie or book. Those are still standing. Industries just adapt to whatever is trending (Movies: 3D, Books: e-readers like Kindles and Nooks).

5 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:46:53 PM

I think that's exactly what he means. They will be different, so in that way the old way will be gone.

3 up, 0 down

SixSpeedKing
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:36:36 PM
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Ha! Yeah right! Keep dreaming Cerny.
Anyway I personally think this will never come to be as too many people love single player games AS WELL AS multiplayer. It's just impossible, but if it were ever to come to be true then I would most likely never buy another game and only play all the old single player ones. Perhaps even quit gaming all together.(Though it would be a major decision to be pondered over for a long while)

0 up, 0 down

Agent_47
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:39:23 PM
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Hahhaha....if this Ever! Came to past..I will hunt this guy
down and beat his @zz and then hang up the controller!

0 up, 1 down

Bloodysilence19
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:39:59 PM
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SP gone never going to happen. Really its the most key factor of what makes the game tell the story and expand the universe of that game. The two best example imo is UC and Assassin Creed. If those games didn't have sp the games would be worthless. UC is probably the best when it comes to overall story driven experience. Assassin Creed gives you that experience of mystery of what happen back in the earlier ages and question your mind of possibility of history early secrets(like the divinci code). Plus without sp people could never get into each character and like and hate certain ones and so forth. So im going to have disagree with this guy.

2 up, 0 down

Helghast
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 5:43:12 PM
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I agree with that closing statement, the day single player dies, is the day I stop playing video games. As long as quality single player games such as Heavy Rain, Red Dead, Assassins Creed, and Uncharted are around, I will be happy. I do love the multilayer aspect of some games, but what I really look forward to at the release of a game is the single player.

4 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 6:03:05 PM
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I'm sorry, but I completely disagree.

I think there will be a stronger multiplayer presence, perhaps new ways to go about designing multiplayer! Single player games may adopt some multiplayer design, however, the dedicated fanbase for single player experiences is quite large!! Just look at all the most hyped games this year and next!!

Batman Arkham City
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Uncharted 3 (more hype over single player)
The Last Guardian
Mass Effect 3
Bioshock Infinite

All of these games are considered the "big ones" and all of them are about an incredible and engaging single player experience. So long as developers strive for those game of the year awards, single player games aren't going anywhere!!

6 up, 0 down

Claire C
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:01:56 PM

I agree, and love your avatar. :)

2 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:23:02 PM

Haha, yeah, this pic of Elizabeth cosplay really stood out to me. Loved it the moment I saw it. I think the roses she's holding were a nice touch. :)

1 up, 0 down

gangan19
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 6:13:34 PM
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the first thing that popped into my head was F**K you! to the title of course, not the author.

I play allot of single player games, the most time spent on multiplayer games were resistance 2 and killzone 2.

0 up, 0 down

sirbob6
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 6:34:03 PM
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Well, What about the gamers without a decent internet connection or ones who have limits?

Would companies let them just miss out on gaming as a whole and loss out on a whole bunch of sales?

No! Well, at least I hop so.

3 up, 0 down

XmnMetal
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 6:45:24 PM
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This is the most dumbest thing I've ever heard.

2 up, 1 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:23:56 PM

Most dumbest?

4 up, 0 down

Claire C
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:29:48 PM

Suppose to be dumbestest or more dumbest. :o

4 up, 0 down

XmnMetal
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 10:56:01 PM

This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. *edit*

2 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 7:36:30 AM

LOL!!

First time I've seen a comment section correct someone on grammar!! I love PSXextreme!!

2 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Saturday, August 20, 2011 @ 7:24:31 AM

Underdog and I often serve as the grammar police.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 8/20/2011 7:25:28 AM

0 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:24:51 PM
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So long as there is a large enough audience wanting single player experiences, there will be single player games.

Who knows? Even if multiplayer and online gaming dominates, single player stories may become a fad which goes in and out every few years. I doubt it will disappear completely though.

1 up, 0 down

gumbi
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:25:42 PM
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Oh get real Cerny. It'll never be gone, jeez. Clearly the multiplayer boom has taken a strong hold over the industry, but to say that single player experiences will be gone inside 3 years is pretty ... wel... stupid.

The day they stop making single player games will be the day I stop buying video games.

Last edited by gumbi on 8/17/2011 7:26:03 PM

1 up, 0 down

StangMan80
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:30:10 PM
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As long as there is Sony producing a PlayStation there will always be SP.
Sony fans love there SP campaigns and missions.
When that "Bites the dust" So does the Playstation.
I know I won't play video games if there is only online play.

Not everyone is connected to the internet anyways..

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 12:07:57 PM

"Not everyone is connected to the internet anyways.. "

Exactly, and after the PSN outage, it's clear that consumers will face outages of online services again in the future. Not a welcome thought if games go completely multi-player.

1 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:31:02 PM
Reply

I think the guy is generalizing way too much.
Though, I do expect to see an increase in online connected games, competitive or not. I'm fine with games like Demon's Souls, or perhaps even Bethseda RPG's having some sort of "connected" components to say team up and cooperatively attack some side quests together etc. Other games, like highly story and content driven titles like Heavy Rain, Final Fantasy, etc, really don't seem fitting at all for any kind of direct integration of online play within the core of the game. How can they tell a good story like that?
I don't think its unrealistic to see future CoD or FPS titles foregoing the campaigns, as I'd imagine a lot of expense comes from single player spectacles. But that's the idea behind Warhawk, MAG, UT, and even good old Quake 3 Arena... So... don't know what this dude is smoke'n
Really, what kind of anecdotal attribution is this? "In a world with Facebook I just don't think that's going to last."

Haha, yeah, nice correlation there dude.

1 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 7:46:44 PM

hehe, I keep busting up about his statement there.

Like, yeah, I don't run by myself anymore, just in marathons, I need the social interaction, because we live in a Facebook world, ya know? =p

0 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 8:38:13 PM

i know exactly what you mean temjin. i hate it when gaming and facebook are brought up in the same sentence.

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Eld
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 8:20:07 PM
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I can't believe anyone would take people like him seriously. And he gave exact number, 3 years, meaning next generation of consoles will have no sp games?

But, if it does happen, with all extra free time I would be able to sit down and start making my own game using decades of experience. And guess what, I'm sure I wouldn't be alone.

2 up, 0 down

tridon
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 8:42:48 PM
Reply

Well, if that's the case, then I retire from gaming in three years. I enjoy the experience of going through a story, not playing with immature brats online.

0 up, 0 down

Crabba
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 8:57:42 PM
Reply

Or maybe, just maybe, the whole facebook/twitter bubble will finally burst... sooner or later when those kids grow an iq point or two.

Last edited by Crabba on 8/17/2011 8:58:04 PM

2 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 1:57:09 AM

It's a long, long time since it was just kids using twitter and facebook, Crabba. FB got around 750 million active users.
Dwell on that number for a while. Seven hundred and fifty MILLION users.

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/18/2011 1:58:35 AM

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 10:52:22 AM

And half of those facebook users were created to have Farmville friends to help others out...

2 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Friday, August 19, 2011 @ 3:31:42 AM

Interesting insight from someone who does not use FB.
Careful now dude, remember what you've said about people judging jrpg's without having the required understanding of the phenomenon? ;)

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/19/2011 3:34:22 AM

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, August 19, 2011 @ 10:24:04 AM

My wife plays facebook and Cityville all the time, as do many of her friends on facebook, they have innumerable secondary accounts between them. One of my co-workers is/was hooked on both Farmville and Cityville and similarly has 'secondary' users to help populate in-game friends lists. You should know by now I'm not going to say something if I can't back it up.

2 up, 0 down

AshT
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 10:53:16 PM
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That'll be the day i stop playing games

1 up, 0 down

Heartless Angel
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 11:08:16 PM
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He must think we all like first person shooters. I don't seeing this happening. Online games like MMORPGs have been around for a long time but I don't see any horde of people playing them.

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 12:31:17 AM

Ah well there's this little thing called World Of Warcraft that house 10 million active players or thereabouts... Not sure if you've heard about it. It's not a shooter either. :D

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/18/2011 12:31:50 AM

2 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 12:30:30 AM
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Don't worry about it guys. This is nonsense. Just look at what history tells us:

Back when the TV came there was plenty of analysts saying it would mean the death of movie theatres. Radio should be long dead too, according to some back then. The book should have been dead even longer.

Thing is, people want diversity. That's why the small independent directors survive in the world of movie blockbusters. It's why radio is one of the few media segments that experienced an *increase* in media share last year. The movie theatres still stand. There are still authors can earn a living by writing books.

So this whole idea of *every* game all of a sudden shall turn into clones of eachother, offering one kind of experience, the player versus player experience: Well, it is nonsense I tell you. Pure nonsense.

There will still be innovations, sure, and there will be many blends and variations of offline and online elements to games made possible when more and more of us are connected via broadband. We should welcome this, that is evolution and will keep gaming exciting.
But that will be addons, not replacements.

Hell, there is still even 2D platformers being released!

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/18/2011 12:34:55 AM

6 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 7:40:36 AM

Absolutely agree there Beamboom, you are absolutely spot on with that comment.

Radio is used more than ever.

Cinemas are popular social entertainment places.

TV is adapting with internet features, but still just as important.

Comic books, graphic novels, all seen a huge rise lately with comic book film adaptations becoming popular.

It's not the death of something when something new is introduced. It's not gonna replace it, it's just gonna open up another option to experience it.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 12:13:45 PM

This things adapted in terms of the delivery mechanism, but not in the fundamental dynamic of their consumption. Movies are still seen in movie theaters, Radio is still listened to in the car or on the move via a portable device, just like the first transistor radios. TV is consumed in the same manner by viewers whether it's broadcast, cable, satellite, Internet or DVR it's still shown on a rectangular screen in the living room. Books are a read by individuals whether they are on a screen or a page.

Talking about single player modes dying out and being replaced by multi-player modes is completely different to the evolution of radio, TV, movies or books. That evolution has almost entirely been in the media or delivery mechanism used. Books have not become multi-reader. Movie theaters are not solo viewing experiences, radio is as it always has been, despite being delivered digitally over a smartphone, or through a satellite.

Changing the fundamental dynamic of games is not an evolution it's a revolution in that it completely changes gaming and the basis of games. Not at all the same things.

3 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Friday, August 19, 2011 @ 3:17:52 AM

Evolution, revolution, call it what you want, what I say is that the single player experience will NOT die. That's my entire point: Single player experiences will not go away because of multiplayer. They will continue to coexist.

But just like radio, movies and tv has evolved over the decades there will be an ongoing evolution of games of *all* genres and categories.

What direction will they take? We do not know. But I am 100% convinced that what we treasure about the single player experiences will not go away. They might only just be delivered in a slightly different form, but the effect will be the same: An amazing story enjoyed while playing solo.

I mean, it's not like multiplayer is anything particularly *new* in the history of gaming. It's been around since the late 90s. And if we say computer gaming as we know it today began around 1980 that means multiplayer has coexisted with single player for approximately half of the entire history of gaming so far!

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/19/2011 3:29:04 AM

1 up, 0 down

Gabriel013
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 1:22:26 AM
Reply

I never play multiplayer games even though all my friends do. It just doesn't interest me. There's ne sense of moving forward, no sense of achieving anything.

It becomes a cycle of blank character kills blank character rinse and repeat.

If the multiplayer games focused more on an overaching story I may take more of an interest but still unlikely. I like my AI opponents thank you very much.

3 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 1:50:16 AM

Have you ever experienced being listed on top after a multiplayer round? That is one big sensation of achievement right there, man. Every single time.

In my opinion one simply can not compare single player and competitive multiplayer. It's like comparing a sports game with a reading a book. It is two entirely different things, both with their own sense of achievements.

I mean, you can easily say that a football match is rinse and repeat on the same field, right? Still, that is entirely missing the point.

Same thing with mp. It's not rinse and repeat, it's practice to master.

0 up, 1 down

Ludicrous_Liam
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 2:52:06 AM
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Yay! Write a long comment and it didn't upload. Gotta love it when that happens. :/

1 up, 0 down

Ludicrous_Liam
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 2:59:02 AM

Anyone think people will tire of Facebook? I mean it's gotta happen at some point right? I hate the thing..clogged up with boring things about boring people. That and its another on of those 'me too' things.

About the topic at hand, I just don't see singleplayer experiances going anywhere, no matter how big the multiplayer 'boom' gets; games are singplayer experiances at heart. But I don't think you guys should hate so much on multiplayer; it can bring out the best in games. For example, I would be no-where near as good as I am now at UC2 had I not tested my skills against other people, I wouldn't be able to improve my creating skills had I not played the masterpieces out there on LBP2 (if any of you have it, you have to play 'Paris is for lovers' - quite possibly the most artisitc level I've ever seen)[mostly in regards to UC2, I guess LBP was always an online-centered game).

- what I can remember. :P

1 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 3:21:41 AM

People will tire of Facebook just like they tire of all games too. Things evolve, and only one thing is for certain: Facebook will be overrun by another, better service just like Google made Yahoo search obsolete and Yahoo caused AltaVista to die before that.

1 up, 0 down

Axe99
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 3:19:27 AM
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Hmmmph. If this really does come to pass, I'll just have to take up coding and make good quality SP games m'self. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. Take heart, they'll never die, Cerny's just living in a bubble. They may never be 'top dog' again (although God of War III did just fine as a SP-only experience, as did LA Noire and the first two Assassin's Creeds), but they'll survive, there's just too much demand for them :).

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Beamboom
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 3:56:01 AM

Do it! There's always room for another good coder in this world. :)

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/18/2011 3:56:22 AM

0 up, 0 down

___________
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 4:09:53 AM
Reply

ya, and im having dinner with jesus christ!
the day the campaign dies is the day gaming dies!

1 up, 1 down

Fane1024
Saturday, August 20, 2011 @ 7:35:34 AM

Make sure you ask for seconds. You can always get another plate-full when you're dining with Jesus. Another carafe of wine is also easily provided.

0 up, 0 down

Godslim
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 4:55:49 AM
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im dont think sp will go at all people still value it......remember the days when mp was just a bonus

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bloody_rootz
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 6:35:05 AM
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Just the thought of this makes me feel ill

1 up, 0 down

Kingharris
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 7:11:58 AM
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Yeah, because games like the Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Dragon Age are all dead franchises..

6 up, 0 down

Paolo Kutaragi
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 7:23:17 AM
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I as well will drop gaming all together if this happens. I'm not saying that I don't care about multiplayer, I actually play one multiplayer game per year! For example, I've been waiting to play Uncharted 3; the franchise is my favourite this generation (Of course because of the breathtaking adventure) and I know that I'll keep playing its multiplayer for more than a year, but that's Uncharted!

Look to the list of the games that I've played since May 2011 and what I'm planning to play till the end of 2011 (Perhaps I'll add a couple of games later, but the following games will surely be mine Insha2 Allah):

1) inFAMOUS 2
2) God of War III
3) God of War
4) God of War II
5) God of War: Chains of Olympus
6) God of War: Ghost of Sparta
7) Ico
8) Shadow of the Colossus
9) Catherine
10) Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

So what a gamer like myself (I'm an old one by the way) has to do with himself if the time of stories and adventures (I prefer those terms to single player expereience!) come to an end?! I will seriously put an end to my story with gaming. It will be a sad end, but I'll never forget the days I spent enjoying those great adventures.

Last edited by Paolo Kutaragi on 8/18/2011 7:24:28 AM

3 up, 0 down

CanadianGuy420
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @ 10:38:07 AM
Reply

Dear mr Cerny.
GFY!
sincerely TheCanadianGuy.

1 up, 0 down

Warrior Poet
Friday, August 19, 2011 @ 12:15:22 AM
Reply

I think these predictions are starting to get ridiculous.

Multiplayer is popular, and it's a good way to practice Street Fighter. And let's not forget multiplayer with someone who's in the same room!

Singleplayer isn't going anywhere. Even if no more SP-only games were made, there are already thousands of them out there. We won't get bored!

2 up, 0 down

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