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[watershed]

Yeah single player games and single player modes will be around forever. Of course multiplayer has grown a ton, even most Nintendo platformers include some form of optional multiplayer, but there will always be single player only games.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

I remember when talking about the future of the videogame industry was fun and exciting.

 

[Truespeed]

You need to be pretty dense about the history of video games to not know who Mark "Marble Madness" Cerny is. Just sayin...

 

[Danielsan]

The stupidity in this thread is simply astounding.

Yeah single player games and single player modes will be around forever. Of course multiplayer has grown a ton, even most Nintendo platformers include some form of optional multiplayer, but there will always be single player only games.

This is not the point he is trying to make. When you play Super Meat Boy you are playing a single player only game, but guess what, the game isn't a traditional single player game. It has leaderboards, online replay video's and allows you to download new levels. It's a connected single player experience.

 

[Barrett2]

Can we please stop posting the views of random gaming 'analysts' on GAF please?

If I was a mod I would ban you so fast. Goddamn.

 

[RaidenZR]

He's making observations based on evolving standards/trends and it's being wrapped in sensationalist headlines... Life goes on.

 

[Boombloxer]

Still don't see him on the same level as John Carmack, Peter Molyneux, Will Right, Bill Roper etc. And those are the legends.

As someone mentioned earlier, they would probably disagree.

Guy sure has an over-inflated opinion of himself. So many mid-tier devs thinking they can predict the whole future course of the industry.

Again, as been said before, he is not mid-tier. Top-tier, easily. If you don't know, then say that, but to say basically "Who?" and the other bullshit makes you look ignorant.

I don't see Bethesda having to incorporate social or MP aspects into their games to sell millions of copies, and remain on the top played games charts for months.

So those games will never evolve? Please.

I think a lot of people in this thread are just butt-hurt over a highly-respected dev saying their single player games are going the way of the dodo...when if you look deeper, what he's saying isn't really that crazy.

No one is saying there will be no more RE4/Infamous/RDR/Assassin's Creed, etc in 3 years. It's more what those will evolve into--suppose the next RE introduces an invasion element where you are facing a player controlling the monster rather than A.I.? That's the the type of gameplay we should want--dynamic, forces you to get better while always being exciting.

Shit, Assassin's Creed's Facebook game had you training your assassins in the console version, it's not some great leap to go forward and send those assassins to help a friend.

 

[Margalis]

Cerny is on the money. If the 'traditional single player game' is one where you can't share your scores, your in game achievements or progression with others (ie the 8 and 16 bit eras), then yes, that is dead to dying.

Every arcade game in the late 70s and 80s had leader boards.

 

[Zoramon089]

The stupidity in this thread is simply astounding.


This is not the point he is trying to make. When you play Super Meat Boy you are playing a single player only game, but guess what, the game isn't a traditional single player game. It has leaderboards, online replay video's and allows you to download new levels. It's a connected single player experience.

Mmm, I don't view high score competition as somehow making games "connected". After all, those harken back to the days of arcades and no one would argue that single play arcade games are actually "connected single player experiences" just because they have leader boards. I also don't think watching replays (which might as well be someone recording their games on youtube) or DLC make games any less single player experiences

 

[Deleted member 81567]

I remember when talking about the future of the videogame industry was fun and exciting.

It still is

Spoiler

Kinect

 

[watershed]

This is not the point he is trying to make. When you play Super Meat Boy you are playing a single player only game, but guess what, the game isn't a traditional single player game. It has leaderboards, online replay video's and allows you to download new levels. It's a connected single player experience.

I'm aware of that, which is why I mentioned how some single player games have different multiplayer or community components but look at games on the ds or 3ds or smaller DD titles, there are a lot of single player only, not connected experiences. I think there will continue to be single player games that don't have leaderboards or any shared/multiplayer components.

 

[AgentChris]

I haven't seen this amount of stupid in one thread, ever.

 

[Domcorleone]

Single-player is, have always been and will always be, more important than multi-player.

And any social, online, look-at-my stats-and-send-me-cute-message crap, will always be a minor afterthought to single-player.

Congrats to Cerny for finally getting to be a household name by spectacularly clowning himself. Mission accomplished, I guess.

and why is your opinion more valid than his? A man who is well respected and is IN THE INDUSTRY? You can certainly disagree with him, but to say he is clowning himself especially when you are clearly seeing online being integrated more and more into every game that comes out is a bit ignorant.

 

[DidntKnowJack]

edit: Screw it. Not worth it.

 

[nVidiot_Whore]

So those games will never evolve? Please.

I never said that.. but they don't need to.. open world RPG's have been selling better and better w/ absolutely zero online component.

They certainly don't need to "evolve" to include quirky "online" features or social media features.

And co-op wouldn't really be an evolution of the RPG anyways.. as it's been a part of many RPG's for a very long time.

I think a lot of people in this thread are just butt-hurt over a highly-respected dev saying their single player games are going the way of the dodo...when if you look deeper, what he's saying isn't really that crazy.

No, I just think he's exaggerating.. and trying to hype gimmicky Demon Souls features because he works for Sony.

I'm all for these features being added to games.. why not? As long as they don't detract from the core experience.. but they are far from a REQUIREMENT for a successful game, and they alone aren't going to make any game succesfull.

 

[nickcv]

i'm sorry but i cannot see how some genres (like graphic adventures) could ever work with any sort of MP

 

[obonicus]

i'm sorry but i cannot see how some genres (like graphic adventures) could ever work with any sort of MP

Well, take LA Noire's hint system. One of the options connects you to the community to see how each person answered each question, and shows you the percentages.

 

[flyinpiranha]

*sees thread title, reads OP*

Hmm, that makes sense. Sounds like everything else I've read about "Social is the next big thing".

*reads 4 pages of "this guy's full of shit"*

Yep, that's GAF for ya. Use your brains folks. I won't say 3 years, but in 5 years the only people that won't be using some sort of connected experience is Nintendo. Oh wait, hi there streetpass, how are ya?

The future is inevitable, resistance is futile, prepare to be assimilated, etc. etc. Oh and yeah, totally patent that "mingle-player" shit, that's gonna be the go-to phrase.

I was reading through comments to post but this sums it up.

He has a point. He's not saying that you crusty single player nerds will have to socialize, but that you Metallica t-shirt wearing basement dwellers will be playing games with online and social interaction interlaced in them.

For instance:

The funny thing here is, we don't even know what to call this. Is it single-player or is it multiplayer? We don't even have the words. It's kind of Orwellian. If you don't have any word for freedom you can't have a revolution. How can you be talking about design when we don't have the words to describe it? Yet, that will be the standard, I believe, in 2014."

Sitting alongside Cerny on the panel was Sony president of Worldwide Studio, Shuhei Yoshida, who said that in the future, all games will have social elements because hardware will be connected. "I believe almost every electronics device will be connected," he said. "It's going to be very natural to have the social connectivity behind your game. So, whether or not it's a real-time, synchronous, head-to-head game or traditional single-player game, you could be connected to the world." "A game without the presence of other players in it – you go out three or five years, I believe that is unthinkable given how connected we're becoming

They both have great points. I think with Shadow Complex and NFS these are great examples of how you aren't playing multiplayer but you get pop ups of how your friends are doing and such. The Trophy system and Achievement system already are close to this.

I'm pretty sure he doesn't mean "everything is co-op" ...

It's a panel. It's just people shooting the shit about what they think about the industry, it's not rehearsed, they aren't giving speeches. It's funny to see people blow up over every little thing somebody says and makes a post about.

 

[nickcv]

Well, take LA Noire's hint system. One of the options connects you to the community to see how each person answered each question, and shows you the percentages.

but what about completely classic style graphic adventures? (a vampyre story, broken sword, myst clones, etc...)

what can you really do with those?
leave other players clues to how to solve a puzzle (see demon's soul)? that could totally kill the game


divide the game in section and implement leaderboards that show how much playing time it took you to pass from a section of the game to the other? that would just encourage the use of walkthrough.

i'm sorry but i can't really see it

 

[flyinpiranha]

but what about completely classic style graphic adventures? (a vampyre story, broken sword, myst clones, etc...)

what can you really do with those?
leave other players clues to how to solve a puzzle (see demon's soul)? that could totally kill the game


divide the game in section and implement leaderboards that show how much playing time it took you to pass from a section of the game to the other? that would just encourage the use of walkthrough.

i'm sorry but i can't really see it

You could do many things, for instance if you were exploring a house you could see the shadow or ghost of somebody else for just an instant much like DS does.

Depending on the context of the game some things could be user created within the context of the game like LBP and using in game assets to design levels or puzzles. I'm not a game designer, it's not my job to think of these things ... but it doesn't just have to be a "pop-up" or a "hint". There are different ways to make a game social. I honestly think DS was a huge step in that direction.

 

[elfinke]

And you REALLY think people bought Demon Souls for the "clever and different form of MP"?

Or did they buy it because they love RPG's?

I don't see Bethesda having to incorporate social or MP aspects into their games to sell millions of copies, and remain on the top played games charts for months.

No, but they do still have achievements built into their games.

What he's saying is interesting, I just think he's missing the point. Online features are cool, and can add to games.. but compared to the core game-play experience they are mere gimmicks.. I don't care if a game is tweeting everything I do in the game, or I can pee messages to other players in the snow.. if the core gameplay and content isn't there, it's not going to get a purchase.

Games like Alan Wake have been relative flops, but not because you are isolated in your SP experience.. but because gamers expect far more content.. more time to be spent.. and are favoring less linear gaming experiences.

The one thing I'll agree with is that co-op has become a good feature for any game that would normally be "single player" to add.. but that is far from a "new" concept in gaming either, and adding co-op to console games isn't either.

I'm not talking about the merits or sales of these titles, and neither is Cerny. I bought Alan Wake because I like Horror games, and I bought DS because it looked awesome and the OT here was amazing.

You're making a good point (about the worth of adding these social aspects into SP games - I agree with you), but it is an aside to what Cerny is saying, at least in this brief article.

This is not the point he is trying to make. When you play Super Meat Boy you are playing a single player only game, but guess what, the game isn't a traditional single player game. It has leaderboards, online replay video's and allows you to download new levels. It's a connected single player experience.

This guys gets it.

Every arcade game in the late 70s and 80s had leader boards.

No shit, which is why I specifically pointed to 8 and 16 bit consoles. But even if I agree with your statement prima facie, an isolated arcade cabinet in some parlour's leaderboard is not the same as a global leaderboard on XBL, which is my point.

I might get a high score in NBA JAM:TE, and enter 'ELF' on the leaderboard in a local arcade, but I contend that Cerny's point is being able to do this on a global scale, immediately, for all to see and try to beat is shifting what is known as a 'traditional SP game' (shit, just look at the GAF iOS weekly challenge for an example of wide reaching single player games and always connectedness for an excellent example).

 

[Lazy Jones]

You need to be pretty dense about the history of video games to not know who Mark "Marble Madness" Cerny is. Just sayin...

Not really.

 

[Shig]

No, I just think he's exaggerating.. and trying to hype gimmicky Demon Souls features because he works for Sony.

The fuck? What is his stake in deploying some stealth-marketing scheme for Demons' Souls? His segment of the company never published it and doesn't have rights to the 'sequel'.

 

[nickcv]

You could do many things, for instance if you were exploring a house you could see the shadow or ghost of somebody else for just an instant much like DS does.

Depending on the context of the game some things could be user created within the context of the game like LBP and using in game assets to design levels or puzzles. I'm not a game designer, it's not my job to think of these things ... but it doesn't just have to be a "pop-up" or a "hint". There are different ways to make a game social. I honestly think DS was a huge step in that direction.

problem is that most of those games totally relay on story and atmosphere, and some of the on player immersion...

that kind of implementation could ruin the atmosphere and just adding users puzzles for the sake of it couldn't in any way contribute to the game story...

they surely could give you a kit to create your own adventure game and share it, but creating a good one, puzzle and story wise, is not an easy task.

i don't know, maybe i'll just have to wait and see something implemented to really see the way it may work.

 

[Lo_Fi]

Hey guys, I heard that everyone with a console will have an active internet connection as well. Let's make all games online!

 

[dacuk]

Unless broadband internet becomes a human right and free for everybody, that is not going to happen like, never.

 

[Boombloxer]

I never said that.. but they don't need to.. open world RPG's have been selling better and better w/ absolutely zero online component.

They certainly don't need to "evolve" to include quirky "online" features or social media features.

And co-op wouldn't really be an evolution of the RPG anyways.. as it's been a part of many RPG's for a very long time.



No, I just think he's exaggerating.. and trying to hype gimmicky Demon Souls features because he works for Sony.

I'm all for these features being added to games.. why not? As long as they don't detract from the core experience.. but they are far from a REQUIREMENT for a successful game, and they alone aren't going to make any game succesfull.

Actually, they sort of need to, those features aren't quirky at all. Social Media isn't coming, it's already here--this is just the experimentation phase.

In terms of hyping Demon Souls because he works for Sony...this is a pretty stupid outlook:

A) Demon Souls needs no hype. If you haven't played it, then that is unfortunate. It is quite good.

B) It is already greatest hits

C) The sequel is multiplatform, and will certainly continue the online refinement, and will probably gain more acclaim, seeing as how XBL is simply better than PSN.

In the future, it's not hard to imagine that players will come to expect that kind of experience.

 

[CrankyKong]

I remember when talking about the future of the videogame industry was fun and exciting.

yeah.
pretty depressing stuff.

 

[Ricky_R]

Well I'm packing my bags because when the day comes, I'm leaving Gamingwood (no pun intended) for good.

 

[ScionOfTheRisingSun]

I tell ya, I tell ya, people in the western industry always act like they've found religion. Every time they are interested in something its like that is all they see all of a sudden, and boy won't they ever shut up about it.

AAA games are dead, AA games are dead, anything not F2P is dead, the PC is dead, the console is dead, the PSP is dead, the DS is dead, the 3DS is dead, Vita is DOA, the dedicated handhelds are dead, Apple is going to rule gaming, what is that, Steve Jobs isn't doing too well, okay Apple is dead, but at least Facebook will triumph over all, what is that Google+, uh oh!

According to Nietzsche even god is dead, all we need now is for death to put himself on his list and we are done.

Nothing is dead until it is dead and it only remains dead until someone brings it back.

 

[dejan]

Who the fuck is Cerny?

Great 1UP feature from last year:

Mark Cerny: Game Changer

 

[Shadow of the BEAST]

I dont care about achivments, scoreboards, facebook, twatter.

Infact the best singleplayer games are those that let me forget people around me and their shitty status update.

 

[MadOdorMachine]

I dont care about achivments, scoreboards, facebook, twatter.

Infact the best singleplayer games are those that let me forget people around me and their shitty status update.

Exactly. Requiring an internet connection for games or rather focusing so heavily on incorporating an internet connection into games is one of the worst parts about this gen. I guess gone are the days when you have reliable games and hardware that don't constantly need to be updated or patched. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of benefit from having games connect online, but forcing it and focusing so much on it actually dissuades me from playing games that require it. Also, whether he wants to admit it or not, most people play games by themselves.

 

[Clear]

Cerny has a lot of credibility, and is a very smart guy.

You don't have to agree with his views, but you'd be foolish to discount his opinion out of hand because he's well and truly earned the right to express it.

 

[walking fiend]

Cerny has a lot of credibility, and is a very smart guy.

You don't have to agree with his views, but you'd be foolish to discount his opinion out of hand because he's well and truly earned the right to express it.

I believe no one threw Yamauchi's on the other end of spectrum view that online gaming was a fad to parish soon, but nonetheless, it was stupid and holds no truth to it.

 

[plagiarize]

Bioshock 2 had MP. Let's see if there's any news on Bioshock Infinite, to see which way they go.

All they've said about MP in Infinite is that they're looking into it, but if they can't figure out a way to differentiate it from all the other titles out there that it isn't going to happen.

that's a step back towards single player from the 'it must have MP' mindset that seemed prevailent a year or two back but seems to be softening from what I can see.

I won't be surprised if Bioshock Infinite doesn't have MP and I won't be surprised if Dead Space 3 doesn't bother with it.

I dont care about achivments, scoreboards, facebook, twatter.

Infact the best singleplayer games are those that let me forget people around me and their shitty status update.

yep! and the existance of people like you is why things like Sudoku and Crosswords and Puzzle magazines still exist. some people like to work stuff out completely in isolation.

If a game isn't going to benefit from social features then I can't see every company making such a game adding them.

Some people want to be THE protoganist of the game. They don't want constant reminders that many others have walked that path before.

Yeah, you could show peoples shadows in an adventure game or something... but how would that improve the game? Why would it be worth the time and effort to implement that?

 

[SuomiDude]

So in 2015 I will quit gaming alltogether, nice.

 

[FrontalMonk]

I believe no one threw Yamauchi's on the other end of spectrum view that online gaming was a fad to parish soon, but nonetheless, it was stupid and holds no truth to it.

So are you trying to say that his opinion is flat out wrong, and that single player games won't have a connected experience in the future? Look around you - everything you see these days has a facebook Like button on it, right next to the "tweet this" button. not just on the internet either, that shit is all over billboards, malls, you name it. It's everywhere, it's a part of life - I know of exactly one person that I talk to that doesn't have a facebook account, and it's not like he doesn't know what it is, he just refuses out of principle, and the world passes him by.

If the rest of the world is becoming more connected, why should games be any different? Why should your precious pastime be immune to the demands of the present? They aren't, and it isn't. Youtube integration is starting to pop up. People already share levels across a myriad of genres both traditionally multi and single player experiences. Facebook games become more sophisticated and iOS games abound with connected content.

If you want to call something "stupid" and say it "holds no truth", then find something else to bat around. Go tell the D3 fans that their RMT AH will collapse or something. But don't come in here and adamantly demand for 9 pages that this guy is full of shit when so many people have come up with logical responses to prove you otherwise. If you won't look at his pedigree as anything to give credence to his words, read the words themselves, read the responses in here, and come to a better, more educated conclusion than "that's stupid".

 

[subversus]

I believe no one threw Yamauchi's on the other end of spectrum view that online gaming was a fad to parish soon, but nonetheless, it was stupid and holds no truth to it.

wait, Yamauchi said that online gaming is fad?

 

[plagiarize]

So are you trying to say that his opinion is flat out wrong, and that single player games won't have a connected experience in the future? Look around you - everything you see these days has a facebook Like button on it, right next to the "tweet this" button. not just on the internet either, that shit is all over billboards, malls, you name it. It's everywhere, it's a part of life - I know of exactly one person that I talk to that doesn't have a facebook account, and it's not like he doesn't know what it is, he just refuses out of principle, and the world passes him by.

If the rest of the world is becoming more connected, why should games be any different? Why should your precious pastime be immune to the demands of the present? They aren't, and it isn't. Youtube integration is starting to pop up. People already share levels across a myriad of genres both traditionally multi and single player experiences. Facebook games become more sophisticated and iOS games abound with connected content.

If you want to call something "stupid" and say it "holds no truth", then find something else to bat around. Go tell the D3 fans that their RMT AH will collapse or something. But don't come in here and adamantly demand for 9 pages that this guy is full of shit when so many people have come up with logical responses to prove you otherwise. If you won't look at his pedigree as anything to give credence to his words, read the words themselves, read the responses in here, and come to a better, more educated conclusion than "that's stupid".

games will become more connected, but not every game. people still like individual experiences like disappearing off with a book somewhere or working out a logic puzzle by themselves.

people predicting trends always seem to ignore that they'll plateau out at some point. nothing is liked by EVERYONE.

not everyone likes single player. not everyone likes multiplayer. not everyone wants a connected experience... so just as multiplayer didn't replace single player, i don't think whatever we want to call the connected single player experience will replace single player.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Bold for headings, highlight for games lacking multi/social elements, bold for end-of-section summary totals, all NPD data is cobbled together public data I have no sources or exact numbers

NPD top 10 best-selling games of 2010:
Call of Duty: Black Ops <-- multiplayer
Madden NFL 11 <-- multiplayer
Halo: Reach <-- multiplayer
New Super Mario Bros. Wii <-- multiplayer
Red Dead Redemption <-- multiplayer
Wii Fit Plus <-- local social elements
Just Dance 2 <-- multiplayer
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 <-- multiplayer
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood <-- multiplayer
NBA 2K11 <-- multiplayer
10/10

NPD top 10 best-selling games of 2009:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 <-- multiplayer
Wii Fit w/ balance board <-- local social elements
Wii Sports Resort w/ MotionPlus <-- multiplayer
Mario Kart Wii w/ wheel <-- multiplayer
Wii Play w/ remote <-- multiplayer
Halo 3: ODST (Xbox 360) <-- multiplayer
Pokemon Platinum (DS) <-- multiplayer
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) <-- multiplayer
Madden NFL 10 (Xbox 360) <-- multiplayer
New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) <-- multiplayer
10/10

NPD top 20 best-selling games of 2008:
Wii Play w/ remote <-- multiplayer
Mario Kart Wii w/ wheel <-- multiplayer
Wii Fit w/ balance board <-- multiplayer
Super Smash Bros. Brawl <-- multiplayer
Grand Theft Auto IV <-- multiplayer
Call of Duty: World at War <-- multiplayer
Gears of War 2 <-- multiplayer
Grand Theft Auto IV <-- multiplayer
Madden NFL 09 <-- multiplayer
Mario Kart <-- multiplayer
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare <-- multiplayer
New Super Mario Bros
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock <-- multiplayer
Guitar Hero World Tour <-- multiplayer
Link's Crossbow Training <-- multiplayer
Mario Party <-- multiplayer
Guitar Hero On Tour
Fable II <-- multiplayer
Mario and Sonic: Olympic Games <-- multiplayer
Madden NFL 09 <-- multiplayer
(duplicates because this list is per-console SKUs)
18/20

NPD Million Sellers, Wii
Wii Play <-- multiplayer
Mario Kart <-- multiplayer
Wii Fit <-- local social
NSMBWii <-- multiplayer
Wii Sports Resort <-- multiplayer
Brawl <-- multiplayer
Wii Fit Plus <-- local social
Super Mario Galaxy <-- multiplayer
Link's Crossbow Training <-- multiplayer
Mario Party 8 <-- multiplayer
Guitar Hero 3 <-- multiplayer
Zelda: Twilight Princess
Mario and Sonic Olympics <-- multiplayer
Guitar Hero 4 <-- multiplayer
Carnival Games <-- multiplayer
Lego Star Wars <-- multiplayer
Rayman RR <-- multiplayer
Game Party <-- multiplayer
EA Sports Active <-- multiplayer
Super Paper Mario
Wii Music <-- multiplayer
Rock Band <-- multiplayer
Deca Sports <-- multiplayer
Animal Crossing <-- multiplayer
Mario and Sonic Winter Olympics <-- multiplayer
Resident Evil 4
23/26 (I'm probably missing some, these are all public NPD numbers, the last few might be slightly below a million)

NPD Million Sellers, 360
MW2 <-- multiplayer
Halo 3 <-- multiplayer
MW <-- multiplayer
GTA4 <-- multiplayer
WaW <-- multiplayer
GeoW <-- multiplayer
GeoW2 <-- multiplayer
GH3 <-- multiplayer
Assassin's Creed
Halo 3: ODST <-- multiplayer
Madden 10 <-- multiplayer
Madden 09 <-- multiplayer
Madden 08 <-- multiplayer
Oblivion
Left 4 Dead <-- multiplayer
Assassin's Creed II
GH2 <-- multiplayer
Rock Band <-- multiplayer
L4D2 <-- multiplayer
Fallout 3
Madden 07 <-- multiplayer
Fable II <-- multiplayer
RB2 <-- multiplayer
Call of Duty 2 <-- multiplayer
RE5 <-- multiplayer
UFC 2009 <-- multiplayer
R6Vegas <-- multiplayer
GRAW <-- multiplayer
Fight Night Round 3 <-- multiplayer
R6V2 <-- multiplayer
CoD3 <-- multiplayer
Mass Effect
Dead Rising
GH4 <-- multiplayer
Saints Row <-- multiplayer
BioShock
RDR <-- multiplayer
(missing several; LA Noire? although it has the Ask The Audience feature, which is social + R*Social Club. Madden 11? Borderlands? They both have it + also missing all Kinect games, but I think all of them have some multiplayer or local social)

29/36 with one additional note; Dead Rising 2 adds multiplayer, Mass Effect 3 getting multiplayer, BioShock 2 adds multiplayer, AC:Brotherhood and on have multiplayer, so projecting future-looking...

NPD PS3 exclusive million sellers (won't recap multiplats since you can tell I'm getting lazy by this point)
MGS4 <-- multiplayer
Resistance <-- multiplayer
Uncharted 2<-- multiplayer
LBP <-- multiplayer
God of War 3
Final Fantasy XIII (not sure if this made a million on 360, sure it did on PS3 though)
(no idea if Uncharted 1 ever made a US million, or Killzone 2 [multiplayer] or GT5 [multiplayer])
So somewhere between 4/5 and 6/8

GAF GOTY 2010 results
http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=418389
15/25 top 25 (a lot of recap from above so I didn't post list), 28/50 top 50 have multi/social. And actually that number has trickled up, because VVVVVV is in the top 50 and has since been patched with user-created content / level exchange stuff.

I excluded achievements or trophies but included replays, competitive worldwide leaderboards that are a major element of the game (Super Meat Boy qualifies in other words). For "local social" games like Wii Fit, I think it's obvious what I was talking about. I also excluded mod support on PC (IE Oblivion/Fallout are single with no social despite mod support/UGC).

XBLA All-Time Best Selling Games (as of Q1 2011)
1. Castle Crashers <-- multiplayer
2. Family Game Night <-- multiplayer
3. UNO <-- multiplayer
4. Pinball FX 2 <-- multiplayer
5. Battlefield 1943 <-- multiplayer
6. Trials HD <-- global social
7. Worms <-- multiplayer
8. Magic: The Gathering <-- multiplayer
9. TMNT 1989 Arcade <-- multiplayer
10. Toy Soldiers <-- multiplayer
10/10 (Limbo, #11, does not have multiplayer)

Metacritic, Top 25 best rated games of this generation
Grand Theft Auto IV <-- multiplayer
Super Mario Galaxy <-- multiplayer
Super Mario Galaxy 2 <-- multiplayer
BioShock
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves <-- multiplayer
World of Goo <-- multiplayer
The Orange Box <-- multiplayer-ish; this is hard to classify. But of the two new games in the box, one is Multiplayer-only, the other Single player-only, but then Portal 2 added multiplayer and Valve has already said they'll never made a Single player-only game again so allow me the benefit of the doubt here.
Mass Effect 2
LittleBigPlanet <-- multiplayer
Red Dead Redemption <-- multiplayer
Portal 2 <-- multiplayer
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 <-- multiplayer
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare <-- multiplayer
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Gears of War <-- multiplayer
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Halo 3 <-- multiplayer
Street Fighter IV <-- multiplayer
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots <-- multiplayer
Super Smash Bros. Brawl <-- multiplayer
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX <-- global social
Unreal Tournament 2004 <-- multiplayer
Braid
18/25 (additional note re BioShock, GTA CW, Mass Effect 2--and I intentionally pruned iOS games from this list)

Metacritic Best Rated Games of 2011
Portal 2 <-- multiplayer
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
LittleBigPlanet 2 <-- multiplayer
MLB 11: The Show <-- multiplayer
Dead Space 2 <-- multiplayer
Shogun 2: Total War <-- multiplayer
L.A. Noire <-- see above, limited social elements
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Pokemon White Version <-- multiplayer
Bastion
DiRT 3 <-- multiplayer
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together <-- marginal, ghost data swap
Crysis 2 <-- multiplayer
Mortal Kombat <-- multiplayer
Fight Night Champion <-- multiplayer
Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition <-- multiplayer
Radiant Historia
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition <-- multiplayer
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds <-- multiplayer
Frozen Synapse <-- multiplayer
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters <-- multiplayer
DeathSmiles <-- multiplayer
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes <-- multiplayer
Top Spin 4 <-- multiplayer
Killzone 3 <-- multiplayer
20-21/25

So, clearly this is a thing. It's just a matter of if you interpret "gone" as "ENTIRELY EXTINCT AND THERE ARE NONE BEING MADE" or "significantly less relevant and notable by omission". This is where we use his context that games that lack multi/social components will be criticized for it, and so the latter interpretation is more likely.

Even Atlus, a company known for producing niche jRPGs, just included global social elements in their marquee title of 2011. Disgaea 4 has multiplayer and sharing modes. We're seeing them creeping into places where they never were before. Bethesda is putting social networking stuff in Skyrim. Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, which should be single player, has a co-op multiplayer mode.

Unless you interpret this hyper-literally with a specific eye towards wanting to hate, I'm not sure how his claim that the industry is going social/multiplayer could possibly be disagreed with. There will still be purely single player games. There will be fewer of them, they will be scrutinized for that decision, they will be lower profile, and they will be less prominent. We're already well past the tipping point.

If anyone feels I should be analyzing any other charts, let me know.

 

[commish]

I agree that single player games are dying. It takes a lot for me to go through an entire single player game these days. Usually no multi = no buy, unless it's an RPG.

 

[TheOddOne]

Stumpokapow amazes me once again. Damn.

 

[Brofist]

You need to be pretty dense about the history of video games to not know who Mark "Marble Madness" Cerny is. Just sayin...

I'll admit the name didn't ring a bell until I looked at his credits. I would say at the very least if someone doesn't know him they should at least have checked before making some assumptions.

 

[G_Berry]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-16-single-player-only-games-gone-in-3-years

LOL!!

 

[Shambles]

This week there are less raspberry's at the grocery store than last week. Hence raspberrys are going extinct. I are smart.

Even smart people say stupid things at times. To say that the market is moving towards a multiplayer dominated enviornment is smart. Saying the the SP experience is going to die altogether is stupid. There will always be a SP market, hell even point and click adventure games still haven't gone extinct after they lost their traction in the 90's. I don't see how people could think that an entire basic game mechanic is going to disappear.

The thread title could definitely be less misleading though

"We're talking five, 10 years out. I believe three years from now, if you aren't doing that, you are being criticised in your reviews for your lack of innovation."

I wasn't aware that throwing in a copycat MP hackjob last minute counted as 'innovation' as many non-AAA titles do. Maybe in ten years SP will become the new MP again. Style coming full circle and all that.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Even smart people say stupid things at times. To say that the market is moving towards a multiplayer dominated enviornment is smart. Saying the the SP experience is going to die altogether is stupid. There will always be a SP market, hell even point and click adventure games still haven't gone extinct after they lost their traction in the 90's. I don't see how people could think that an entire basic game mechanic is going to disappear.

"I believe three years from now, if you aren't doing that, you are being criticised in your reviews for your lack of innovation."

"It's going to be very natural to have the social connectivity behind your game. So, whether or not it's a real-time, synchronous, head-to-head game or traditional single-player game, you could be connected to the world."

hence why, after having said "single player" will be "gone", he qualified what he meant by both "single player" and "gone"

Too many people reading the title and not the article.

 

[Frencherman]

If so, then I will quit gaming in 3 years

 

[The Lamonster]

and 2D TVs will be gone too!

And non motion control games!


lolol

 

[Shambles]

Bah, you reply too fast. As far as I'm concerned if you can't interact with someone in real-time within the gameplay it's not a multiplayer game. I don't think friend leaderboards, messages, or having rankings counts as a multiplayer experience. Currently almost all platforms themselves exist on a always-connected interface. Is a game considered multiplayer because while you're playing it I can send you a message or chat over XBL? If the same XBL elements exist within the game itself does it make it a multiplayer experience where before it wasn't?

This probably isn't the debate for me. It's like how I don't consider things like golf to be real sports because there is no direct competition.