Online VS Offline

[Negative Sun]

What do you prefer?

Do you prefer MMOs or Single Player Games? Do you like to test your skill against others, or would you rather stay away from pings and servers?
Or to you like to get the best of both worlds?

Discuss...

[Jae Onasi]

Offline. I can't justify the cost of an MMO when I'd only be able to play it a few hours a month.

[Negative Sun]

Same here, plus I got put off because of server/player lags, ******* cheaters and hackers (DIE!), the amount of intolerant and abusive people, etc...

[stingerhs]

well, that largely depends on the game and the genre that the game falls under. for the past year or so, i've been playing mostly single player games in large part thanks to Oblivion and recently NWN 2. however, that doesn't stop me from getting online with games like Quake 4, Halo, Far Cry, E@W, or Medieval II: Total War.

MMO's are out of the question: i don't really like the concept, and i don't really like all the fee's that they want to tack on.

[Diego Varen]

Offline for me. Every game I play is offline, but I do play small games on the Internet, but not MMO's. I still voted for offline though.

[Darth InSidious]

Offline contains fewer annoying people.

Aside from Shaardan, that is.

[ET Warrior]

Playing video games offline is okay, but online with a group of people is what I prefer.

I mean, I can't play WoW offline

[Pho3nix]

I like both equally. They both have their own benefits and weaknesses.

[90 SK]

Single player games, definitely. I just prefer the story aspect to the actual playing of the game, which seems to be the focus in MMOs.

[HerbieZ]

I love to play single player games alot of the time because they fit all around the way YOU want to play and you don't have people actively slagging the game. If there is one big turnoff for me whilst playing games, it's comments like this: - "This game is going down the pan" and "The playerbase is dissappearing" and "Fix the 25% combat med boost devs PLEASE!!!!" Many times have i screamed for these people to go and find someone of the opposite sex and move out of their parents basements. (My pleas of this particular request to myself have thusfar gone unanswered... by myself)

However, i like to play multiplayer games with a somewhat grown up community. Not draconian like some communities but with people i can respect like the Op Flashpoint playerbase and know when to have a laugh. I was heavily into Counter-strike once but i once saw a lan event which changed my outlook on life and cheeseburgers.

[Samuel Dravis]

I mostly play Guild Wars, which is sort of a mix. I can do offline (at least, in the sense that I don't play with anyone else) when I want, and I can play with a group if I feel like. It's good that way.

[swphreak]

I like both. I like my single player games, and I like games that have online features like co-op or multiplayer. I think online co-op is going to start popping up for more and more games.

[Negative Sun]

I also don't like waiting on other people online, I just want to play when it suits me, not other people...

[Fish.Stapler]

I play some of both, and guild wars which is like the best of both worlds. They all have different strengths and weaknesses.

[Emperor Devon]

Meh, the problem with MMOs is the lack of a story. With dozens (or more) people, it ends up being very non-linear and without of an emphasis on individual players. They can be fun, but it's never quite like KotOR or NWN in terms of the plot.

Then there's the fees. Play the game for even a few years, and you'll pay practically a dozen times what you bought it for at the store.

[Negative Sun]

Originally Posted by Emperor Devon

Meh, the problem with MMOs is the lack of a story. With dozens (or more) people, it ends up being very non-linear and without of an emphasis on individual players. They can be fun, but it's never quite like KotOR or NWN in terms of the plot.

I love the original NWN storyline, even though it is probably the longest game I ever played...

[Samuel Dravis]

@ED: Since buying the first Guild Wars, I haven't bought nearly as many other games (and GW is free online too!). This adds up to a substantial cost savings. Subscription games usually cost around 15/mo. At that rate it adds up to $180/yr. Simply not buying the additional 3-4 games would save you at least as much. In my case, I hardly have to pay anything for my entertainment: just 10cents/hr right now, and it gets less every second I play.

[Emperor Devon]

It takes me years to get bored with some games, but I can never resist buying flashy new RPGs even if I'm playing several already. The cost would only go up with me.

[milo]

Online all the way. Playing against the AI gets old pretty quick.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by ET Warrior

Playing video games offline is okay, but online with a group of people is what I prefer.

I mean, I can't play WoW offline

I agree. WoW is definitely my favorite game that I'm currently playing.

That said, I wouldn't want KotOR to be an online game.

[SilentScope001]

Offline all the way.

Why?

1. Online games like WoW require grinding. By yourself. I can do that in SP.
2. Offline games have better IQ than Online players. Sure, Online players play better, but at least an Offline AI has the decency to not talk back to you or curse at you or tell you how big their "poweress" is. The AI knows the wisdom of the "silence is golden" rule.
3. You are the only player in the Offline game, so you get to dictate what happens within the game. You create your own story. In an Online game, you cannot do that.
4. In an Online game, it has to be "balanced". The other side cannot be nerfed because if it does...oh no, game balance is destroyed, nobody have fun, and the game ends! Nooo!!11!!1!

In an Offline game, forget about game balance. You are the only player. All they have to worry about is making the game harder for you or making hte game easier for you, and they don't have to worry of the AI's "feelings" if they feel a buff or a nerf is necessary.

Originally Posted by HerbieZ

I love to play single player games alot of the time because they fit all around the way YOU want to play and you don't have people actively slagging the game. If there is one big turnoff for me whilst playing games, it's comments like this: - "This game is going down the pan" and "The playerbase is dissappearing" and "Fix the 25% combat med boost devs PLEASE!!!!"

I concur, but in some cases, the drama on the forums where players moan about how the game is unbalanced is far more fun than the actual game itself.

[Commander Obi-Wan]

I'd say both. The majority of the games I play are offline, but I don't mind the few online games I play. Depends on the mood I am in. Also, depends on the genre I am playing too.

[Hallucination]

To me they're two very different things and it's difficult to say which one I prefer more. With the SP games you get a game made around you that you can play on your own time, and I love a good SP game. But with an MMORPG you get Massive Men Online Role-Playing Girls a massive community with tonnes of other players who want to have fun and kill dozens of rats who have money for reasons best left unexplained.

I'm going to say both, but nothing is as good as playing an online game with a group of good friends.

[Johnpp]

Well, the only worth playing game I have on PC is Jedi Academy, but playing a MultiPlayer server on that gets so messed up and weird very often. With people laming and everything to you, I prefer SP games, but JKA SP is the worst SP game I have ever played.

[Sabretooth]

Well, singleplayer mostly. I play multiplayer only if it is really good, like Jedi Academy or Unreal Tournament 2004. I hate MMORPGs, though. They're annoying.

Multiplayer's good if you've got friends, or a warm-hearted community in general. Otherwise, they can be painfully boring. Singleplayers, therefore, are obviously a safer option.

[Vaelastraz]

I like both as well.

RPGs I prefer to be offline. I just want a good plot and atmosphere, and that's not the case with MMORPGs (well WoW has atmosphere actually..)

Some shooters are good offline as well, HL² for example.

But other than that: online all the way!

I play Warcraft TFT online
Warsow
Unreal Tournament 2004
Sometimes Jk: JA

My favourite online game is Warcraft though. Been playing it for 4 years online now. The community is big, there are countless custom made maps (one of them even made it into E-sports), and the normal game itself requires so much skill.. you can always improve yourself and will not get bored.

Online gaming with a nice clan and friends just beats all.

[The_Catto]

I chose both. Sometimes when playing offline games, it can get pretty boring but online, you can talk to other people playing the same game, whilst leveling up, etc.. But in the situation of abusive people, hackers and cheaters, thats the only dragdown for me with online games.

[Rogue15]

yeah it's true about playing w/your friends online. if you don't have friends, it gets lame very fast, with all the annoying leet dewds talking **** to you because they don't have anything better to do. Halo 2 used to be fun on xbox live, now it's just stupid unless you're playing privately w/people you know. I was into Galaxies, but that got boring after almost all my friends quit, and my other ones never sign on except for an hour or 2, usually when i'm on the way out. which sucks, as that's the game i've played online the longest....

[PazaakPrincess]

I chose offline because at the moment I haven't found an online or dual player game that truly suits me. I get really annoyed playing with other people however I do like the ott interaction whilst playing the game together. If there was a way to play as the lead character and have other people be your NPCs and be able to chat during then yes I would probably like that but I prefer to lead then be led. Obviously taking turns would have to be an option.

I'm not sure if that made sense to anyone.

[Trex]

I have to go with offline.

I've tried playing Warcraft before but there's a lack of purpose to it. Freedom is good, i loved Oblivion, but i like to play a game where i'm working towards something. Preferable also battling a big baddie just before the end as well.

I also prefer NPC's in a game as opposed to playing with my friends. Npc's are unknown and mysterious. Part of the game is discovering more about them. I don't get that with my friends though, i already know them.

If you could get a MMORPG like what PazaakPrincess, then i might get more interested. Bottom line, i love plot.

[jonathan7]

Originally Posted by SilentScope001

Offline all the way.

Why?

1. Online games like WoW require grinding. By yourself. I can do that in SP.
2. Offline games have better IQ than Online players. Sure, Online players play better, but at least an Offline AI has the decency to not talk back to you or curse at you or tell you how big their "poweress" is. The AI knows the wisdom of the "silence is golden" rule.
3. You are the only player in the Offline game, so you get to dictate what happens within the game. You create your own story. In an Online game, you cannot do that.
4. In an Online game, it has to be "balanced". The other side cannot be nerfed because if it does...oh no, game balance is destroyed, nobody have fun, and the game ends! Nooo!!11!!1!

In an Offline game, forget about game balance. You are the only player. All they have to worry about is making the game harder for you or making hte game easier for you, and they don't have to worry of the AI's "feelings" if they feel a buff or a nerf is necessary.

I agree, and as I'm feeling lazy I can't be bothered to type out the reasons, so thought SS has done a pretty good version of what I think.

[Char Ell]

Originally Posted by StarWarsPhreak

I think online co-op is going to start popping up for more and more games.

That's what I'm hoping for. A game where a few friends (2-20, depending on the game) can play together to complete a game's objectives. In my formative years I enjoyed playing co-op arcade games like Gauntlet with my brothers. Now that we're older and live apart it would be great to have online gaming bring back the nostalgia of that experience for us.

I have neither the time to play nor desire to pay the monthly fees for MMO's. When I play multiplayer games like CounterStrike and HL2 I get pwned so there's not much fun for me there. Right now single player offline games rule my gaming world.

[Negative Sun]

Originally Posted by cutmeister

That's what I'm hoping for. A game where a few friends (2-20, depending on the game) can play together to complete a game's objectives.

Funnily enough, the only online game I really enjoy is a game called Gunz: The Duel (Online 3rd person shooter/action game), which has a co-op Quest mode of up to 4 players, with different difficulty levels, rewards, bosses etc...
You can also play it alone if you don't feel like waiting around for folk, but it makes it a LOT harder, co-op of at least 2 people is recommended, especially if you're not a pro at the game...

[Arátoeldar]

Originally Posted by SilentScope001

Offline all the way.

Why?

1. Online games like WoW require grinding. By yourself. I can do that in SP.
2. Offline games have better IQ than Online players. Sure, Online players play better, but at least an Offline AI has the decency to not talk back to you or curse at you or tell you how big their "poweress" is. The AI knows the wisdom of the "silence is golden" rule.
3. You are the only player in the Offline game, so you get to dictate what happens within the game. You create your own story. In an Online game, you cannot do that.
4. In an Online game, it has to be "balanced". The other side cannot be nerfed because if it does...oh no, game balance is destroyed, nobody have fun, and the game ends! Nooo!!11!!1!

In an Offline game, forget about game balance. You are the only player. All they have to worry about is making the game harder for you or making hte game easier for you, and they don't have to worry of the AI's "feelings" if they feel a buff or a nerf is necessary.

My thoughts exactly SS.

Originally Posted by cutmeister

That's what I'm hoping for. A game where a few friends (2-20, depending on the game) can play together to complete a game's objectives. In my formative years I enjoyed playing co-op arcade games like Gauntlet with my brothers. Now that we're older and live apart it would be great to have online gaming bring back the nostalgia of that experience for us.

I have neither the time to play nor desire to pay the monthly fees for MMO's. When I play multiplayer games like CounterStrike and HL2 I get pwned so there's not much fun for me there. Right now single player offline games rule my gaming world.

I would highly recommend two games. The first is the original Ghost Recon and the two expansion packs. You can have up to 8 players in coop mode complete the campaign of the game. The other would be Operation Flashpoint GOTY. Both are a blast to play. Just to let you know both games are more combat simulations then FPS.

[Hayden Kered]

I prefer offline. It's insane that you have to pay big money for a great game and then cough up more money just to play it.

I do have all three Guild Wars and play them from time to time, but I have no further interest in MMOs.

[Rogue Spy]

Both, its usually always fun to play the campaign, then a little useless fun multiplayer online. Most games have the benefits.

[Prime]

I prefer offline, since I find they provide the best immersion into the world they try to create.

I don't mind online fragfest type games from time to time, but the days of wanting to deal with "leet doods" and bigoted people are behind me.

[Lantzen]

Both, i mostly play RPG or RTS, so offline for my RPG game and online for the RTS. It gets very tiresome to play a stratgy game against the computer, that 90% of the time attack from the same direction, it usaly dont take long before i beat them on the hardest difficulty with ease

[CSI]

That depends on what games I play. For CSS and ET and Warcraft III, I play online, esp. with my friends.

For other games, like Homeworld 2, I prefer offline because I suck.