Multiplayer blamed for decline in game sales

[EpsilonX]

Multiplayer Gaming Blamed for US Sales Decline

But the biggest culprit to the decline is apparently games like Halo 3 and Call of Duty--those with high replay value. Gamers are purchasing these titles and spending most of their time playing the multiplayer portions rather than going out and buying new games.

"We estimate that a total of 12 million consumers are playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 for an average of 10 hours per week on the two platforms' respective networks, and the continued enjoyment of this game (along with an estimated 6 million Halo online players, 3 million EA Sports players, and 5 million players playing other games, such as Battlefield, Red Dead Redemption, Left 4 Dead and Grand Theft Auto) has sucked the available time away from what otherwise would be spent playing newly purchased games," he said.

I prefer narrative in my games to be honest, multiplayer IMO is a side feature.

[Muffincat]

Guess it's time to start making terrible games so we play them less

[Damonmensch]

Guess it's time to start making terrible games so we play them less

But chances are we wouldn't bother buying the terrible game in the first place

[EpsilonX]

While I don't mind a multiplayer section, i'd much rather have a strong single player in my games. I tend to stick to RPG styled games, like Final Fantasy, or currently Monster Hunter 3. I hope they start to charge for online so less people play online and play single player games instead. Then developers would find it more worthwhile to make single player games, and start to make much better single player than we're getting.

[Jokersvirus]

People are playing the same games over and over for one of three reason:
1) friends
2) enjoyment
3) fan of the series.

True statement people love online player capabilities.

I love it cause i get to play with my friends who are around the world at the moment and piss off some little kids

[thedeparted]

Well with how games are getting shorter and no replay value more and more are going for rental spending 5 bucks instead of 60. Make your game worthwhile and most the time it'll be bought

[Jokersvirus]

This is a true statement alot of games arent including online play which kils it

[Damonmensch]

Yeah could you imagine if Assassin's Creed had online Multiplayer?

[thedeparted]

Yeah could you imagine if Assassin's Creed had online Multiplayer?

lol well thats good for you...cause the new one will.

I mean hell Joker most games these days don't even have offline mp/co-op

[EpsilonX]

games these days NEED offline multiplayer/co-op. If my N64 didn't break, i'd STILL be playing goldeneye with friends when they come over. Now i usually play wii sports or halo.