Multiplayer computer game

A multiplayer video game is a video game in which more than one person can play the same game at the same time. In multiplayer games, players either all compete against each other (called player versus player or PVP), or team up to achieve a common goal such as defeating an enemy that can consist of either computer or human players (called team play co-operative gaming). Usually multiplayer games either use computer networking to allow players to play together or require the players to gather around a single game system to play.

PC Networked

In modern computer games, the word multiplayer usually implies that the players play together by connecting multiple computers via a network, usually either a LAN or the Internet.

The following games are "massively multiplayer" games, which means that a large number of players participate simultaneously:

• Massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG):

Final Fantasy XI : 2002
World of Warcraft: 2004
EverQuest II: 2004

• Multiplayer online real-time strategy:

Medieval II Total War: 2006

• First-person shooters:

Battlefield 2142: 2006

Battlefield 1942: 2002

Battlefield Bad Company 2: 2010

Call of Duty: 2003 (Includes United Offensive)

Call of Duty 2: 2005

Call of Duty 4: 2007

Call of Duty 6: 2009

Call of Duty 7: 2010

• LAN:

Battlefield 2142: 2006

Battlefield 1942: 2002

Call of Duty: 2003 (Includes United Offensive)

Call of Duty 2: 2005

Medieval II Total War: 2006

PC Single-system

In modern console-style games designed for home theater PCs, the term multiplayer usually implies that the players play together by using several controllers plugged into the game system. Unlike home console systems, the upward limit for the number of potential players on a PC is not a standardized number. Due to the popularity of USB game controllers, PC multiplayer games are only limited by the number of USB ports a user has installed in their system, the number of USB devices supported by their operating system, and the number of controllers a particular developer wants to support. For home console games, developers often use split-screen so that each player can have an individual viewpoint on the action (important for genres such as the first person shooter), although most arcade games and some console games (ranging from the seminal Pong to the ever-popular Bomberman) make use of a single play area for all the players. Players can also immerse themselves in turn-based "hot seat" console games using a single controller, such as in the Worms series and perhaps through a game of Horse in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater or Matt Hoffman's BMX spin-off.

Split-screen games

These games give each player an individual viewpoint:

• Support up to 2 players
  • Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII: 2006 (Vs and Co-op)
  • Left 4 Dead: Supports 2-player splitscreen both offline and online with the free download of a configuration file and input of specific console commands. Requires an Xbox 360 controller. See here for more information: Splitscreen in Left 4 Dead
  • Baja 1000: Dirt/rally racing game split screen
  • Split_Second:_Velocity: Arcade racing game split screen
• Support up to 4 players
  • Blur (video game): 2010
  • Bitfighter: One machine can support multiple play windows (joystick mode only, up to 4 players tested)

Single play area

These games show one view of the action with all players:

• Support up to 2 players
  • Street Fighter IV: 2009 (Vs)
  • Spiderman: Friend or Foe: 2007 (Vs and Co-op)
  • Lord of the Rings: ROTK (Return of the King): 2003 (Co-op)

• Support up to 4 players
  • PES 2008: 2007 (Sports, Soccer)(Vs and Co-op)
  • FIFA 08: 2007 (Sports, Soccer)(Vs and Co-op)
  • FIFA 09: 2008 (sports, Football)(Vs and Co-op)
  • FIFA 10: 2009 (sports, Football)(Vs and Co-op)
  • FIFA Football 2005: (sports, Football)(Vs and Co-op)
  • NHL 08: 2007 (Sports, Hockey)(Vs and Co-op)
  • Top Spin 2: 2006 (Sports, Tennis)(Vs and Co-op)
  • Marvel Ultimate Alliance: 2006 (Adventure, RPG)(Vs and Co-op)
  • FIFA 07: 2006 (Sports, Soccer)(Vs and Co-op)
  • NHL 07: 2006 (Sports, Hockey)(Vs and Co-op)
  • X-Men Legends II: 2005 (Adventure, RPG)
  • Micro Machines 4: (racing)(Vs)
  • MAME//Gauntlet: (Arcade, Fantasy dungeon crawler) (Co-op, mostly)
  • MAME//Rampage: (Arcade, Building smasher) (Vs)
  • Liquid War: action game

Turn-based

These hotseat games allow players to take turns using a single controller:

• 2 players
  • Trackmania: 2005-2007

• 3 or more players
  • Civilization IV: 2005
  • Heroes of Might and Magic V: 2007
  • Worms 4: Mayhem: 2005

See also

• Cooperative gameplay
• LAN gaming center
• List of gaming topics
• MMORPG
• Multiplayer browser game