Interactive entertainment such as video games are usually about competition. proving that you are more skilled than your competition. few games encourage you and a friend to work together. playing a game with someone else while on the same team helps build a strong relationship with that person. you must communicate and work together encouraging one another to accomplish the task and beat the game. I have started a small project to do just this. as of now there is only one small level and very basic concepts of team work. i call the game Team Effort feel free to try the game for free and leave comments, suggestions, or what you think about the subject in general.
Check out “Team Effort” DEMO here – http://www.mikeswickedgames.com/Team%20Effort%20Demo.htm
You bring up a good point. FPS are great co-op games. A lot of RTS games are also great games to play with other people. for both FPS and RTS the core of the game is strategy and skill. the person or team that is more experienced usually wins. now dont get me wrong i love FPS and RTS games just as much as the next guy. but there are not to many games that focus on Puzzles, and problem solving. portal 2’s co-op is an example of this and i can think of a few flash games. these games however are not based on skill or strategy. They are based on problem solving and imagination. for the same reason once you beat them they are not as fun the second time around because you already solved the puzzle and know the solution. i had the idea for the game a few months ago after playing some flash games. when portal 2 came out and i tried the multilayer that spun things into motion and i built this prototype.
I suppose that’s true enough. I’ve always managed to turn the single-player of some puzzle and strategy games into a sort of multi-player co-op experience to make them more interesting.
I have a huge crush on the Civilization franchise. I grew up playing Civ 2. But I wouldn’t have found it interesting in as lasting a way as I did, had I not played it in a more social way: I would team up with my dad or my step-brother, and we would play a single-player game of Civ 2 together. And now here I am playing Civ 5 with my girlfriend from time to time, and it’s a bonding experience for sure.
Having to make decisions about city placement and production and when to wage war and when to make peace and so many other things spurs a lot of interesting conversation. We end up looking lots of history and anthropology up just because we’re curious. It’s very cool. If you haven’t played a game of Civ this way before, you should definitely try it, if you’re living with someone who can join your game in this way.
Just thought I’d share a bit of personal experience regarding some of the more strategy/puzzle type games that have brought on that sort of bonding that I think you’re targeting. I hope your project goes well!
I keep hearing about these great team games but I’m frustrated that these aspects don’t get introduced into the games I prefer. Tennis is my favourite sport but the tennis games I play on xbox or playstation don’t have a say a doubles option where 4 can play together online.
Sure you can play locally but I’d prefer to just load up a game and have a game with my friends online.
so I think your experience of working together in a game depends what games you prefer to play