Lets get the discussion started. First off, the big question: Should all video games have a fully integrated multiplayer aspect to them?

Gamespot certainly thinks so. Do you?

More specifically, what about certain genres? Should an RTS game be penalized for no multiplayer? What about an adventure game?

Its my opinion that mutiplayer is OPTIONAL for any game. If a developer wants to focus 100% on an immersive single-player "campaign", so be it. Likewise, if a developer wants to make a game that has ONLY multi-player, great.

What I cannot agree with is this notion that all games should have multiplayer. It is this mindset that has let to 1000s of games with tacked-on, underwhelming multiplayer modes. What if those development cycles were instead spent on the single player mode? How many 7.0s would be 8.0s?

Let me know what you think everyone. What's your opinion on the matter?

Cheers,

Spiny

Listen closely you racist piece of trash: The reason you see headlines about gamers dying in internet cafe's in asia is because of poor reporting, or poor translation of said reporting. The chinese government has never been exactly honest with its headlines. And what a great way to coerce the public to work and not play than spreading stories about how MMOGs can kill you. The truth is that playing video games for X hours straight is NOT LETHAL. It cannot kill you. Some sort of heart condition must be in place for someone to die simply for not getting a night's rest. Otherwise, Air Traffic Controllers would be dying by the 100s every year, campaign managers would too, as would most accountants in april. The fact is, many many people have skipped a night's sleep to work, play or otherwise engage in some sort of tiring activity.

I am frankly amazed at the level of stupidity in this thread, in just about every post. Cmon kids, use some common sense.