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Today, more and more games are giving LAN (Local Area Network) support the cold shoulder. Because with this current generation of consoles we’ve seen robust online services such as PSN & Xbox Live become incredibly powerful in regards to connecting people and allowing them to play with each other from different states and even countries. I think LANs are here to stay.
Infinity Ward’s biggest first person shooter, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, is one of these culprits. I can split-screen with 3 other players on a single console fine, but if I wanted to connect with another console on the network and have 4 versus 4, I couldn’t. Modern Warfare 2 only allows one player per console on a system linked match. Blizzard Entertainment’s Starcraft 2 will not support LANs at all; instead, it requires you to log into their online service, Battle.net. And let’s not forget to mention Sony’s Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. Does anybody throw LAN parties with those?
Halo does LAN much justice.
Bungie’s Halo series stays true to LAN capabilities and has a large fan following partly because of it. Games with great multiplayer game play and communities are only bettered with the function to play across a LAN. It is sad to see so many developers today disregard such a popular function.
Are the days of bringing your console or computer over to your chum’s place and gaming late into the night long gone? I think not. Online services are convenient and easily accessible because, today, anyone who owns a console is likely to have an internet connection. It’s a staple feature for this generation and the generations to come.
LAN parties will forever hold a special place in my heart for one simple reason: people in the flesh. Humans are social creatures by nature. With most online gaming, the most you’re going to get out of another person is their voice. Simply put, you’re missing a huge chunk of what could be a greater social experience.
Split-screening on single screen is great, but you’re usually limited to 2-4 people. Now imagine split-screening a game of Halo 3, on multiple screens with about 11 other people. Sounds like chaos, but oodles and oodles of fun often entail such an event. This is what a LAN party can do for you.
Victim of Tea-bagging.
Talking to friends over the web is one thing, but having them physically around you is completely different. The human connection is complete when you come face to face with a person. Oh, and tea-bagging a friend, or enemy otherwise, is so much more gratifying when done in their presence. Kodak moments, anyone?
Online services are great and I love them. I just don’t think LAN capabilities for some video games and consoles should have hit the chopping block so soon.