It happened again this week. No, not another Saints defeat, but that empty feeling that I am increasingly getting when playing offline games. Blame it on World of Warcraft, Mario Kart DS or Pro Evo 5 on Xbox Live, but playing "against the computer" just isn't as much fun these days.
Sure, the whiny kiddies that litter Xbox live are hardly enticing, but playing with or against friends really makes a difference. Once you've knocked in a fluke last minute winner against your mate in PES, or taken them out in the home straight in Mario Kart, playing offline feels increasingly empty.
Yes, the quality of the game is crucially important. I've been playing a lot of Shadow of the Colossus recently and it certainly wouldn't have been improved by having HanSolo12 howling in my ear while we dispatched the colossi. But the sense of isolation that is integral to SoTC is increasingly rare. Most games now benefit from playing with or against someone else.
And here's the thing - a poor game can become better when played online simply due to the unpredictability of human competition. The disappointing Perfect Dark Zero is a case in point. Blindingly average when played on your own, it starts to make some kind of sense when played online, especially in co-op.
There has been a lot of recent speculation about Sony's online offering for PlayStation 3. Sony was badly caught out by Live, although you could argue that broadband penetration levels are only now reaching the critical mass needed. Whatever. The key element is that no console can now launch without online capabilities - sadly for Sega they were simply ahead of their time with the Dreamcast.
Of course, there are still plenty of compelling offline experiences - Resi Evil, for example, should stay resolutely offline - and there is a lot to be said for the deeper experience that the best offline games can offer, especially with story and character development. And yes, the majority of console owners have yet to experience online gaming. But when they do the buzz of competition or co-operation will make playing by themselves far less appealing. Just you watch - online gaming is finally going mainstream.
