171
rate

Harrison: Single-Player games are doomed. Gamers aren't interested in them.

June 03, 2008 in News comments 15

In a recent interview with Eurogamer the ex-head of Sony Worldwide Studios, Phil Harrison, talked about Alone in the Dark and his beliefs that single-player video games are a dying breed.
According to Harrison, gamers are no longer interested in playing games that don't have any online or multiplayer modes.

In an interview with Eurogamer the storied game executive said that the solo-only Alone in the Dark, an upcoming horror game from Infogrames-owned Atari, is part of a dying breed.

“I don't think the industry is going to make many more [single-player adventure games],” said Harrison in the interview. “I just don't think consumers want to be playing games that don't have some kind of network connectivity to them, or some kind of community embedded in them, or some kind of extension available through downloadable content.”
Miss Razz via theglobeandmail.com »
Favourite this article Add source
| More
Report!
News story attached to:
Latest comment:
Most recently commented on by on Jun 4, 2008

Comments

Register as a member to subscribe comments.
  • 0
    Onvacation Jun 3, 08
    I hope that doesn't mean that they won't stop making good single player modes with a seperate Option for Multiplayer altogether ):
  • 0
    Miss Razz Jun 3, 08
    I can safely say that I have not lost interest in single-player games at all.

    Good games don't neccessarily need to be played online or with friends. I've played as many good single-player games as I have multiplayer games ... and I hope that never changes.
  • 0
    Bale Fire Jun 3, 08
    Indeed games like Oblivion, Ratchet and Clank and Uncharted don't need multiplayer. Online isn't a instant hit with all genres
  • 0
    Play ISDF Jun 3, 08
    Single player games aren't doomed. A hell of a lot of people still play single player things. It's just when they have a chance to have fun with friends or want a challenge or whatever, that they want multiplayer. Besides, the last thing I want to see is every single game I buy becoming like an MMO, pay to play with no single player. God that's bullshit...

    Do I have to point out how awesome Beyond Good & Evil is?
  • 1
    bbb7002004* Jun 3, 08
    In certain genres, modern games do require multiplayer. For example, look at the backlash games like Bioshock and Metroid Prime 3 received due to their lack of multiplayer. Genres such as sports, shooters, etc. do need to have multiplayer to be viable to today's gamer. (Although many of these genres have always been multiplayer centric)

    However, I do not see adventure and action games dieing out or gaining multiplayer.
  • 2
    Sonic Flash Jun 3, 08
    I think this man exists solely to be wrong all day and jazz things up for everyone else. Do any of his predictions ever have any weight to them?
  • 0
    Zero and X Jun 3, 08
    This is bullshit, single player games arent doomed at all, otherwise MGS Online would be the game everyone wants, not MGS4 and of course thats not the case.
  • 1
    DusktoDawn Jun 3, 08
    Play ISDF, you are sooooo right.
  • 0
    Gutter_Tech Jun 3, 08
    i think that the entire point of survivor horror is playing by yourself, in the dark. its way less intense if somebody else is there, whether that be in the room or on the other end of an ether net cable.
  • 1
    dmf_dynasty Jun 3, 08
    I know what he means. The majority of my friends won't buy a game if it doesn't have online. Sure you can have a rich fulfilling story, but you can't trash talk random 10 year olds, and apparently there's no fun in that.
  • 0
    Final Blade Jun 3, 08
    Online is awesome cause of the replayability for games. Which paying $60 for games or more in other area's and not have alot of replay value is a downside for me. But this doesn't bother me really. Its better than fighting against a computer who sucks.
  • 3
    iLLmatic Jun 3, 08
    just because single player games are a dying breed doesn't meant gamers aren't interested in them. Its just that dev find every and any way to include online multiplayer into their games now. I'll take a great single player game over a game with the usual overused deathmatch that didn't fit the game in the first place.
  • 1
    Gamesta100 Jun 3, 08
    I love online play but if they got rid of single player games I would give up gaming.
  • 2
    Storm Jun 3, 08
    I prefer multiplayer aspects to be honest, I have more fun playing with friends off/on-line. But that doesn't mean I kick away single-player games (just about every PS3 game I own right now are single-player).

    I can get more involved with a game series and such with a decent single player.
  • 3
    Supernouva Jun 3, 08
    Harrison's predictions are doomed to fail, again. Not everyone is into online multi-player. In fact, I have two friends that play nothing but single-player games and game modes.

This news story is archived and is closed to comments now.