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The original was posted on /r/games by /u/PalpitationMuch1079 on 2023-08-10 14:55:12+00:00.

So, my bro-in-law recently got an arcade game console with like 200 or more arcade games. I had the most fun I’ve had in ages playing with him. I think it was because I was feeding off his energy and he off mind. I could see his reactions and it felt more real, like I was actually playing with an actual person as opposed to a voice on a screen.

This got me thinking about how I’ve always loved games since I was little. Back then I was running around and playing tag and Stuck in the mud which evolved to digital games when I got my first PlayStation and Wii. But back then there wasn’t really “online” play. You played at someone’s house or your own with your buddies. There was a variety of multiplayer games to choose from (some offering split screen like Mario Kart and Halo) while other used a cam that looked down on both characters (like Fantastic Four) and it was great because it felt like we were bonding and playing.

But lately, games don’t really cater towards local multiplayer and the only way to play with people is to play online, in separate houses (or rooms if you’re rich enough to have more than one console and screen) and that feeling of community and togetherness just doesn’t hit the same. It just feels like a relationship with my screen and not with the person.

So, I tend to also stay away from online multiplayer games which means I spend a lot of my time gaming alone, playing games like Uncharted or Spider-man instead of Fortnite. Because I also don’t want to play with a lobby of strangers.

So, am I the only one feeling this way? Do you think gaming culture has changed over the years? What are your thoughts on Gaming Culture, online gaming and local multiplayer games?