Four Player Split Screen
Local multiplayer games, especially those that supported four players on the same screen, offered a unique social experience. One that has been lost in some ways as we’ve progressed to a point where so many social interactions are now online.
Playing together in a way that encourages in person interaction whilst fostering a sense rivalry or camaraderie that connected us was a joyous thing. Those games and experiences became legendary because of the memories they created among friends and family gathered around a single TV.
This piece is my nostalgic look back at how things were versus how they are now. As things have become more online our relationships and attention have suffered.
Its not just games, films, music and art all struggle to have the same social experience attached that adds to the overall value. Its not just about the thing its about the things surrounding the thing:
It’s strolling to the video store to collect a rental movie, the excitement of the outdoors in the evening. The smell of the store, picking the movie itself. Then returning home and watching that movie. No checking streaming sites and scrolling for hours because you can’t decide, so you end up watching nothing.
When was the last time you really listened to a whole album? We skip and search for new music on demand in ways like never before. Our attention being fought over at every moment.
For me the downfall in our social interactions began when the we stopped playing four player split screen.
I often wonder if it will all come back around. For now all I have is my nostalgia for these things.
