The Official Super Smash Bros. Brawl Thread - See you in March!!

[Dark Jaguar]

I'll say this. I play multiplayer games for the social interaction more than the game itself most of the time. Co-op, for me, is fun because my friends and I can make jokes about pretty much everything as we go along and share ideas and strategies and just have a good time, and also yell at each other for stupid stuff now and again. It's all part of the fun. It's why the old "alternating multiplayer" Super Mario games managed to be fun in spite of never actually playing at the same time as the other character. Watching your sibling and being able to talk to them while they are playing that one really tough level and then having your turn when they die and hearing their comments? That's what it is all about for me.

I do however play "blind" games against other people online sometimes, like a game of Starcraft where neither of us say a word the whole match. It is a challenge, and the online multiplayer is a much appreciated first step.

I want to make that clear. However, consider the Melee matches you played against your friends in real time. Wasn't it all the more fun for the comments on how crazy awesome or hilarious that last move was? Wasn't the social interaction what really brought it out? Nintendo themselves have said in the past that they considered that one of the main draws of any multiplayer experience and they weren't sure if that would translate to the online world.

There is where my criticism lies. That is what I consider paramount in having the best possible online experience, and Nintendo themselves were concerned. Unfortunatly, it would seem "protection" won out. The protection solution could have been implemented otherwise of course. A simple parental control to "turn off" online interaction in various games would be all that's needed. What that "off" means would be determined by each game of course, but that's the best method. In other words, such an excuse is wrong. Some here are familiar with a number of bad apples on XBox Live. Yeah, but again, you don't HAVE to have communication on. It isn't forced on you. If I'm in a match against an idiot, I do have the option of just playing with my headset off the whole match. The advantage is when I get in that match against the cool people, the funny ones maybe, and I get to have fun social interaction with strangers for a few minutes. Those sorts of matches make it worth it.

Nintendo made a good move by including online, and this is better than nothing. I certainly will be using it. However, the lack of the social element is a major disadvantage. This can't be denied. In the future I hope Nintendo takes their online support a lot further. Nintendo is certainly capable of it and I would be delighted to play with their own implementation of the other's services.

This is not an issue of "innovation". That's silly. There is nothing unique or original about this implementation. There is no shame at all in copying what has worked just fine for everyone else. If Nintendo CAN come up with an even better way for online interaction to work, that's great. Implement it then, but in the mean time, give us support using the currently very well implemented ways that others are doing. Don't claim innovation when it isn't even there.

Again, online is great, but they really do need to add more in the next game. They really should make it a major focus. Really, you all know what social interaction brings to the party. Don't pretend that element really wasn't all that big a deal. The most fun I've ever had playing games is when I'm with others, and that includes single player.

And THAT is how you do a DJ rant! Quoting random things I've said and a final judgement of "it's stupid" over and over don't cut it!