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[mclem]

It doesn't really depend on whether it's GPU bound or not. The broadcaster sends out 60 fps regardless of the game's framerate. If the frame doesn't change every 1/60 of a second, a duplicate frame is sent. When two gamepada are used it alternates the frames sent. So, they would always be 30. just means on player sees each frame slightly later than the other.

Yes, but if the overall framerate is below 30fps and GPU-bound, it's entirely concievable that it won't recieve an *updated* frame at that point, which is rather the point.

 

[mclem]

I love LEft 4 Dead/2

But I may be mistaken, you can't do that in couch play?

No, my point was that with the premise you outline, you could have the GamePad player take on the role of the AI director. Expose the 'tension' mechanic it uses behind the scenes as a means to allow the director to spend points on special infected.

 

[Aostia]

put me down with the people who have minimal interest in the wii u if it doesn't permit each player to have a tablet controller. my interest in playing local multiplayer dungeon keeper is not high.

It will support two tablets, in the future.
Otherwise, is one gamepad + other controllers (remote + nunchak or Ccpro controller)

This configuration will still allow for classic interactions between player 1 and others, and for classic interaction in 2player modes once the 2 gamepad titles will be on the market.

I think that adding the asimmetrical gameplay to the normal mode and to the 2gamepads mode is offering more, not less

 

[Davey Cakes]

Heh.

I just thought this topic was a strange coincidence, as I had people over for Rock Band 2 for the first time in a year this weekend. Booze and local multi is always welcome fun.

The Wii had the Rock Band games too, though.

It's not about "which system doesn't have which game" or "which system has the most local multiplayer games."

You guys are kind of losing the point about the relationship between local multiplayer and Nintendo. I, personally, still consider my Wii to be the go-to local multi machine, but I've already said that all the systems have vast arrays of games that support the function. Nintendo in particular re-invigorated local multiplayer, putting the emphasis on four-player simultaneous play, as well as one- or two-player games that are allow for easily switching off and sharing between players, so that no one feels excluded. An early game like WarioWare supported up to 12 players at once in its multiplayer mode because you could just pass the Wiimote around. This was happening while other companies and other games were omitting local functions in favor of online ones. Obviously the situation has gotten better, but Nintendo was there to keep same-room play alive when it was looking bleak, and their efforts have been greatly influential. Sadly, they sacrificed having strong online functions, but at least they held up one side of the equation. Let's hope they address the other side better with the Wii U.

Everyone has something to offer in the local multiplayer realm, but Nintendo is associated best with it because they put so much into it from the get-go. At this point, their experiences are entirely distinctive from anything else, even with all the copycat software out there. With Wii U, Nintendo's once again changing things up by adding the Gamepad to the mix, and this will re-invigorate local play for people (especially considering 5-player support). Nintendo with the Wii U is just adding their own twist to everything, so that the wheels of both untraditional multiplayer (Wii, Kinect, Move) and traditional multiplayer keep on turning.

No one is necessarily downplaying local multiplayer options on non-Nintendo systems. Speaking for myself, I'm just excited that Nintendo as a key player is continuing its contributions to same-room play and is taking a new angle on same-room philosophy with the incorporation of the Gamepad.

 

[mrklaw]

Nintendo emphasise local multiplayer, but that doesn't excuse them for not supporting online multiplayer

Sony/MS emphasise online multiplayer, but that doesn't excuse them for not supporting local multiplayer.

All three companies need to improve in this area.

 

[Vinci]

Nintendo emphasise local multiplayer, but that doesn't excuse them for not supporting online multiplayer

Sony/MS emphasise online multiplayer, but that doesn't excuse them for not supporting local multiplayer.

All three companies need to improve in this area.

Agreed.

 

[kdash7]

I love playing fps 4 player splitscreen with my friends and thats what gaming for me is all about. If Wii U can improve that experience in any way..i will buy the console in a jiffy!!

 

[Lyude77]

First and foremost, the perception exists because hundreds of millions people played wii sports with the 90 million wii owners who got the game. Add few dozen more millions with NSMB Wii, Mario Kart, Wii Sports Resort or SSMB...

Wii was certainly the most played console on local multiplayer games this gen.

Wii U is reusing what made local MP so played on wii - AAA party games development and wiimotes - while adding a core multiplayer element to the mix, with the GamePad. It's a party game machine at its core. Nintendo is trying to explain it through its branding, its book reference, its "together" philosophy, its launch lineup, etc.

Yeah, true. My thinking was more of an alternative reason than the actual main reason.

Definitely agree on the Wii U portion.

Also agree with Rash, mrklaw.

 

[theBishop]

Sony/MS emphasise online multiplayer, but that doesn't excuse them for not supporting local multiplayer.

All three companies need to improve in this area.

In the beginning of the generation, there was clearly priority on building technology first, and split screen support was a 2nd-tier priority. Nintendo deftly avoided that problem.

But those issues are largely gone. There are many options for local multiplayer on both 360 and PS3. For e-rated retail, Sony has LittleBigPlanet, the 4-player coop Ratchet and Clank adventure All 4 One, Modnation Racers, the Buzz series, and coming soon LBP Mario Kart and Playstation Smash Bros.

 

[marc^o^]

For e-rated retail, Sony has LittleBigPlanet, the 4-player coop Ratchet and Clank adventure All 4 One, Modnation Racers, the Buzz series, and coming soon LBP Mario Kart and Playstation Smash Bros.

This list puts OP gamesdar's quote into context.

the Wii U gave me more clever, fresh, invigorating local multiplayer fun in one afternoon than the other HD machines of this generation have given me in five years.]

 

[Mr. B Natural]

In the beginning of the generation, there was clearly priority on building technology first, and split screen support was a 2nd-tier priority. Nintendo deftly avoided that problem.

But those issues are largely gone. There are many options for local multiplayer on both 360 and PS3. For e-rated retail, Sony has LittleBigPlanet, the 4-player coop Ratchet and Clank adventure All 4 One, Modnation Racers, the Buzz series, and coming soon LBP Mario Kart and Playstation Smash Bros.

Yep, it's been a while since I did not have the option to play local multiplayer along with online multiplayer. That maybe wasn't the case for a year or two in this generation, but that trend died rather quickly thanks (most likely) in part to consumer opinion and xbla/psn titles.

For the Wii, local multiplayer has already been a thing with no need for a second televsion. Be it mario, wii sports and other mini-game compilations, donkey kong, etc.

This emperor's new clothes aren't new.

 

[marc^o^]

Just got confirmation from the Wii U french demo in Paris that Ubisoft "Sports Connection" allows a 5th player to play karting in fullscreen LAN

I suppose then that with a 2 player session, each one can look at a fullscreen, one on the TV and one on the GamePad. Let's say goodbye to truncated views!

 

[plagiarize]

Just got confirmation from the Wii U french demo in Paris that Ubisoft "Sports Connection" allows a 5th player to play karting in fullscreen LAN

I suppose then that with a 2 player session, each one can look at a fullscreen, one on the TV and one on the GamePad. Let's say goodbye to truncated views!

that's awesome. i really hope Colonial Marines offers this, but i'm not going to be surprised if it doesn't.

 

[hatchx]

Just got confirmation from the Wii U french demo in Paris that Ubisoft "Sports Connection" allows a 5th player to play karting in fullscreen LAN

I suppose then that with a 2 player session, each one can look at a fullscreen, one on the TV and one on the GamePad. Let's say goodbye to truncated views!

Great news.

that's awesome. i really hope Colonial Marines offers this, but i'm not going to be surprised if it doesn't.

Games with high graphic fidelity will most likely have problems streaming a separate player to the gamepad. It's probably MORE taxing on WiiU to stream the second player to the gamepad than it is to spit it on the TV.

I only expect games with more basic graphics to take advantage of the extra player on the gamepad. Mario Kart, I'm looking at you.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

The Wii had the Rock Band games too, though.

It's not about "which system doesn't have which game" or "which system has the most local multiplayer games."

You guys are kind of losing the point about the relationship between local multiplayer and Nintendo. I, personally, still consider my Wii to be the go-to local multi machine, but I've already said that all the systems have vast arrays of games that support the function. Nintendo in particular re-invigorated local multiplayer, putting the emphasis on four-player simultaneous play, as well as one- or two-player games that are allow for easily switching off and sharing between players, so that no one feels excluded. An early game like WarioWare supported up to 12 players at once in its multiplayer mode because you could just pass the Wiimote around. This was happening while other companies and other games were omitting local functions in favor of online ones. Obviously the situation has gotten better, but Nintendo was there to keep same-room play alive when it was looking bleak, and their efforts have been greatly influential. Sadly, they sacrificed having strong online functions, but at least they held up one side of the equation. Let's hope they address the other side better with the Wii U.

Everyone has something to offer in the local multiplayer realm, but Nintendo is associated best with it because they put so much into it from the get-go. At this point, their experiences are entirely distinctive from anything else, even with all the copycat software out there. With Wii U, Nintendo's once again changing things up by adding the Gamepad to the mix, and this will re-invigorate local play for people (especially considering 5-player support). Nintendo with the Wii U is just adding their own twist to everything, so that the wheels of both untraditional multiplayer (Wii, Kinect, Move) and traditional multiplayer keep on turning.

Off the top of my head, games I own with local multi that aren't on Wii:

Halo 3
Halo Reach
Gears 3
Kinect Sports
Dance Central 1 & 2
Kinect Adventures
Hard Corps: Uprising
TMNT 1989
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Tekken 6
Resident Evil 5
Splinter Cell Conviction
Forza 2 & 3

Local multiplayer being dead or dying or scarce is only a problem of perception, some of the best online games have amazing offline play. I feel that Nintendo fans have created a false dichotomy that "Nintendo does offline better because they suck at online."

No one is necessarily downplaying local multiplayer options on non-Nintendo systems. Speaking for myself, I'm just excited that Nintendo as a key player is continuing its contributions to same-room play and is taking a new angle on same-room philosophy with the incorporation of the Gamepad.

Lots of people are doing this though, especially in that recent Pikmin 3 thread. There are those who argue that the existence of multiplayer ruins SP.

 

[marc^o^]

that's awesome. i really hope Colonial Marines offers this, but i'm not going to be surprised if it doesn't.

Myfriends and I would grow 20 years old again if Nintendo released a 5 player Wave Race.

I feel that Nintendo fans have created a false dichotomy that "Nintendo does offline better because they suck at online."

This thread about Wii U local multiplayer also shows some people have a hard time accepting this console is designed to do things better than theirs, don't you think?

 

[plagiarize]

Lots of people are doing this though, especially in that recent Pikmin 3 thread. There are those who argue that the existence of multiplayer ruins SP.

how does that translate to people downplaying local multiplayer on other systems? it doesn't. adding multiplayer can take sometimes away from the single player budget of game sometimes, though clearly not always. all i was arguing in that other thread personally was that adding online play would require more time and money, which it would.

if it didn't have offline MP adding that would require more time and money too.

Nintendo doesn't do offline better because they suck at online, they do it better because they believe it's the better experience and put more time and money into offline MP than most other developers. anytime online is brought up, you hear their opinion on offline MP. the whole idea of the Wii (and the Wii U) is to get families playing together.

their flagship exclusives are often focussed on offline MP. that's not a good thing or a bad thing necessarily... but i don't think anyone is going to argue with it. MS and Sony focus on the online, do it better than nintendo though still have games with good offline. Nintendo focus on the offline, do it better than Sony and MS though still have games with good online.

i don't think that statement is controversial. their offline MP titles sold much better than the offline MP titles on other systems. Wii Sports and NSMB Wii were designed with a focus on the offline play, where the CODs and the Halos have a focus on single player and online play. Kinect's big titles only allow two player simultaneous offline play (though Happy Action Theater doesn't have such limits and is awesome).

The Wii has more games with more players, and more games where offline co-op was the focus of the design.

 

[marc^o^]

Read a nice Gamespot article this morning about Nintendo's take on social co-op play.
http://www.gamespot.com/features/nintendo-social-gaming-and-why-i-quit-my-job-6382663/

Only one company at E3 2012 still talked about "social" as something requiring physical proximity: Nintendo. While Wii U games weren't particularly impressive visually, many of them were very interesting physically. At a time when every bleak, brown-hued, gritty, throat-punching, M-rated action game is boasting online multiplayer whether it really warrants it or not, the Wii U gave us the tiniest glimpse at something that I really hope becomes a thing: existential gameplay.

That may sound like a grandiose label to give something so simple, but I think it's an important trend that needs to be embraced by game designers in a variety of forms, but thankfully the Wii U gamepad has the potential to act as a convenient focal point.

At best, the majority of same-screen co-op game experiences tend to require the same behavior from everyone playing. We compete, we race, we fight, we shoot. With the Wii U gamepad in the mix, an additional element is added: external influence. One of the players can impact the game in unexpected ways and change the overall experience. Not only that, but possession of that controller becomes part of the fun too. The players need to acknowledge a social dynamic that exists outside of the primary game experience and are free to make an additional game out of who "deserves" that control along with the ability to disrupt the normal flow. Do you pass it around? Take it in turns? Give it to whoever "wins" or "loses" a level? This requires a level of trust in the players that video games have increasingly moved away from over the course of the past 20 years.

Hopefully what we're starting to see now is a glimpse at the future and that the true meaning of "next generation" when it is inevitably unveiled next year will be far more than just more impressively bleak, brown-hued, gritty, throat-punching, M-rated action games. Instead, let's hope for a next generation of "social" gaming that acknowledges the fun that we have when we are truly together.