Where Have All The Two Player Games Gone?
                 By Jesse Smith

	I was born, oddly enough, around the same time the first IBM
PC's hit the shelves. At that time the Commodore 64 reigned over all.
It was a nice little machine with its CPU built into the keyboard.
A plug in for the external disk drive and a colour monitor. It also
had TWO joystick plugs. I used that machine for all it was worth
until I was about twelve. Well, actually, my best friend and I
used it for all it was worth until we were twelve. Most, though
not all, of the games we played were two player. Hard Ball, 
Pegasus, Mario Bros, the list goes on and on. If we couldn't both
play at the same time, we'd take turns with such games as Frogger,
Stealth, Air Force and Eagle Empire. These were but a few of the
games we attacked and conquered...together.

	These games, I realized later, were more than just a matter
of us against the computer. It was US learning together...to
deal with the world. We both wanted to be the best, wanted to win
first, make it to the highest level. Often we wanted to win against
each other. However, we had to come to grips with each other first.
There were fights, anger and hurt feelings. However, we both always
patched things up, pulled it together and kicked some binary butt
in the end. It wasn't merely man over machine, it was man learning
life.

	Of course, I didn't know it at the time, but those games and my
best friend taught me a lot about living in the real world. Odd that
computer games could help do that. We learnt compromise and
cutting losses. That practise does make perfect and how to plan.
How to deal and how to apologize. We learnt how to make rules 
and self enforce them. To this day, we still get along great.
Every once in a while we still get out an old arcade game and
pound it to dust like no other team can.

	These get togethers have pointed something out to me, however.
That is: Where have all the two player games gone?

	Once upon a time, it was either short and sweet so someone else
could have a turn, or it was two player. Or, if buddy wasn't around,
you could practise against the computer. Now, things have changed.
It seems computer games are becoming more solo.

	I believe the average game now focuses more on singularity. One
person against the machine's characters. Same as before with better
graphics. But now, there is no option for two players. Now we have
the option of logging into a remote game somewhere else. Sure, we
can still play with others, but they're nameless, faceless others.
The other player is no longer your best friend or your neighbour,
it's some guy from another city. No talking, no high-fives 
(I miss the high-fives), now it's a new partner every time and you're
starting from scratch. You don't know how this person will 
deal with a situation or with you. He/She could log off anytime,
play for hours or have a completely unlikeable style. Sure, 
he/she may be great too, but you might not have the time to learn 
to use it. You sure as heck don't have time to get to know them.

	The last two player game I got to play with someone in the same
room (aside from local networks) was Mortal Kombat III. Not the
friendliest game. However, my friend and I made the most of it and
we won. However, it is an old game now. Pre-Windows. It says right on
the box: Requires DOS 6.0. will not run under Windows. I have nothing
against logging into todays's great role playing games or on-line
arcades. I like on-line chess from Excite.com or Subspace as much
as the next guy. However, I find myself missing those heated arguments
about who "stole" the last power-up. I miss the grins of victory. I
(frankly) miss the high-fives.

	I'd like game companies, and my fellow programmers, to get back
in the habit for making people share a keyboard. MK3 was good in that
it allowed for network play, two players at the keyboard or just one
against the computer. That is, in my opinion, the way it should be.
Civilization for two players, remakes of Stunts and Frogger. Baseball
for PC's where you can share a bowl of chips while you play. I think
a lean in this direction may not only break down some isolation, but
also get our youth talking again. Make them deal with differences and
make them learn about life. Maybe then we can stop blaming violence on
the game and put responsibility back on the person too.