Online gaming... the new crack?

**JayP** · 01-07-2005, 06:15 AM

I'll admit I've been spending more time on the PS2 since I've gone online with SW:Battlefront and Burnout3. Later nights, less time watching crappy network TV... but I guess these people don't know when to stop?

http://www.olganon.org/

**WorknMan** · 01-07-2005, 07:17 AM

Yeah, I saw that on Fox. This one dude killed himself after a 'failed relationship' (?) on Everquest. And of course, the mother blames Sony. Anyway, I just wonder why they can't make single player games that addicting

**Shane R. Monroe** · 01-07-2005, 07:46 AM

Its because the market doesn't want solo games anymore. And hence, we get ... what we get...

**devilshed** · 01-07-2005, 08:16 AM

Yeah, I'm staying the hell away from online games. I spend too much time as it is on online message boards.

Anyway, solo games are still important and fun.

Online games just last longer because of humans. A UPC is predictable and does the same thing while humans add a different dynamic. The games last longer because of the relationships formed.

RE4 comes out next week. It's getting stellar reviews.

**sci** · 01-07-2005, 08:52 AM

Multiplayer gaming is where its at nowadays, single player is for practive and learning the moves. I still play Counter-Strike a few times a week, and the first versions were releases in 1999. I never really touch the single player aspect of most games after being done with it.

Hell, there's more than a few games I play online on xbox live that I never tried in single player.

**Spin** · 01-07-2005, 08:55 AM

I prefer the straight mission solo.
Online has little for me.
I do like the LAN fun but hey that's enough for me.

Spin

**Shane R. Monroe** · 01-07-2005, 08:56 AM

Crack? Nah ... Timeshifting television is digital crack. Ask anyone that has moved to PVR (not that Tivo crap, but real, open ended digital tv capture) and they will say they can't live without it.

Our Bryan ... his whitebox is possessed by Satan and locks up constantly ... but he can't leave timeshifting television.

And he's not alone ... I'd actually have serious issues if I couldn't time shift TV with my whitebox.

**JayP** · 01-07-2005, 09:00 AM

Games like Ultima Online are always running. By missing online time playing, you'll miss out on part of the game. Some people feel they're missing out and that's what keeps them online.

Another reason, is the unpredictible (or predictable) human. With Burnout3, if I win a hard-fought race I'm pumped! Racing knowing there are 3 or 4 people who want me to punt into a truck and I'm dodging making them wreck- that gets my adrenaline really going!!!

SW:Battlefront is another matter... I suck. Still, I want online to play co-op even if the other team is all AI. Playing against another human... I'm 'Bantha Fodder'.

I also like being scored againt others- either points for a race or stats after a fight. Leaderboards... I like them but I see so much questionable scoring that all you can do is compare youself to those within arm's reach. The SW:B doesn't record 3 of 4 sessions and how does someone run a racelap in under 5 seconds? Still, I'll find someone with a score around my own and make a good race of it.

SW:B's single player game is basically training for online play. Not much- I finished it up within 5 or 6 hours. Burnout's single player is OK but online is soo much better.

I won't give a game another look unless it has online play. (GT4 may not at intro but I'll get it.)

**Bryan 'KidHype' Smith** · 01-07-2005, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Shane R. Monroe

Crack? Nah ... Timeshifting television is digital crack. Ask anyone that has moved to PVR (not that Tivo crap, but real, open ended digital tv capture) and they will say they can't live without it.

Our Bryan ... his whitebox is possessed by Satan and locks up constantly ... but he can't leave timeshifting television.

And he's not alone ... I'd actually have serious issues if I couldn't time shift TV with my whitebox.

Even though i am at my wits end with my white box and i am pretty damn sure now its between the CPU and Beyond TV, I am willing to buy a new whitebox pc AND a new CPU just to get my BTV fix. Shane is right, its a horrible addiction. I cap and time shift like crazy. I even bought BTV Link so i can timeshift from my computer room.

What the hell is wrong with me..sheesh