Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Games with Friends: Because Multi-Player Does Exist

Video games are often considered a solitary activity. Everyone knows the image of the loner in the dark basement, playing from sun up to sun down, only interacting with people in the real world when it becomes absolutely necessary. Many believe that the obsessive gamer who avoids social interaction is the only kind of gamer that exists. These people tend to overlook the fact that multi-player titles can bring people together just as easily as the most popular single-player games can tear relationships apart.

People don't play games like this anymore...on computers like that...

For example, games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl can turn strangers into friends and the closest companions into bitter (but loving) rivals. With the right group of people, this classic can erase the stress of even the most difficult day. It's the game of choice when it comes to my friends. If someone suggests we play video games, they only ever have one title in mind...Many of our late nights get-togethers have been filled with laughter and the struggle to get the Smash Ball and come in first place.

Instant party: Just add friends.
Some of our favorite inside jokes have been inspired by the random things that fly out of our mouths in the heat of battle. The longer we play, the more incoherent we become. My favorite Smash Bros. related quotes include these amazing gems:
"Pikachu used Thumber!"
"Oooo, food!...Oh no, it's a trap!"
"You think you're SO HAPPY!"  
"Not the sparkles!...Keep your sparkles away from me!"
This only scratches the surface of our insanity.

And don't think that things like this are for hardcore gamers only. Even my friends who've never picked up a controller can simply watch us play and still feel included in the madness. The fun that it creates is just that universal.

Video games don't belong in a basement. They are meant to be shared.

So, what do you pull out when your favorite group of gamers gets together? Do you prefer to play alone or with friends?

6 comments:

  1. Yeah, I love a good multiplayer game, but I feel they are far and few between (the good ones, that is). Just Dance was fun for maybe a couple of days. Same with NBA Jam. Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart are the only two series I can think of that ever stick with me for very long. Ironically, I think the Mario PARTY (PARTY they say!) games are exceptionally boring. There's just not a sufficient amount of depth to them.

    For me, the Pokemon series has always been the ultimate social device. My brothers and I all choose a game to play. Dave plays XD on GameCube, I play Diamond on my 3DS, and Joe plays HeartGold on our younger sister's DS, or even a borrowed DS. All together, even though we're all playing different games. But then, through various means, we battle each other and transfer Pokemon back and forth to evolve them or to simply further our Pokedex. Best family bonding time ever, though Super Smash Bros. Brawl does come in a close second.

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    1. I loved the first few Mario Party games...the second will always be my favorite. I tried to jump back into the series after my mom randomly bought me 8 but the way that you could win almost every mini-game by shaking the controller like an idiot was absolutely annoying. Total waste of money.

      I've always wanted to get into Pokemon...many of my friends play together and at one point the games were really popular on my campus. But they just don't hold my attention for very long, which I think is the biggest downside to a lot of multi-player games.

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  2. Ah this is a lovely post! I love that you have inside jokes as well, I think that's one of the best parts of playing multiplayer games, you all get experiences within the games you've played to make these jokes nobody else gets apart from your group.

    I'm very mixed with multiplayer, I did used to like League of Legends, Battlefield bad company 2 and Halo Reach as multiplayers... then it moved onto Team Fortress 2 but recently I've not had friends to play with... so I guess I've had little choice but to go back to Skyrim and enjoy my own company with Jizago. XD

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    1. Thank you! I think the hardest thing about multi-player is finding a group to play with. And then there's always the problem of finding a game everyone actually enjoys...But there's nothing wrong with adventuring alone with a computer character from time to time...That's what they're there for.

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  3. Aloha,
    Happily following you now from the "friends" hop. I'd so love it if you'd join me at Localsugarhawaii.com where we're riding the wave of life together, one adventure at a time.

    I wanted to personally invite you too to join me and our beautiful team for An Aloha Affair-- it's a new sort of way of being/ growing together in a more meaningful way and we're truly committed to you having a great experience-- I hope you'll join us... save ya a spot?...

    xo,
    Nicole
    localsugarhawaii.com

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for stopping by and following!

      Delete

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