Making couch co-op games work on PC

OpinionatedGamer

I think the most fun you can have on a video game is casual play with friends, like super smash bros, mario kart, or any other good coop game. I'd like to capture some of that good old fashioned awesomeness with my games. Console gaming seems to be work best with this, however developing for a console is out of the question for me, as it just costs too much. So some questions:

Are there people who play like this with friends on pc?

How can i make these games fun to play with friends and not feel like they don't quite work on pc?

What things can a pc do better for this type of game than a console?

Some things I have thought of are LAN parties, which some people still do and are very fun.
Also pcs can use more types of game controllers so that is one benefit.
Games that dont use splitscreen also can work well on pc, although they still feel meant for console. I can support online, but I think it's more fun locally. Do you think many pc players would like more locally played games?

What do you guys think?

newmodels

I think it's Xbox 360? They have a server and hardware just for multiplayer. It cost lots of money though. Some people prefer to play an MMO, versus single player games, because other people are there. Even if they are not interacting with them. You could take a look at Albion online. Also, I think the latest playstation has multipalyer server for their console. These games when I saw them, are simple. FPS arena, things like that.

Bl4ckM4ch1n3

@newmodels said: I think it's Xbox 360? They have a server and hardware just for multiplayer. It cost lots of money though. I think you mean Microsoft in general or the newer consoles like XBox One or Xbox Series S/X. The Xbox 360 is a very old console from Microsoft.

But in general it's very unlikely for companies like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo to provide the needed hardware for multiplayer games. They usually provide the infrastructure needed for basic multiplayer related things, like user authentication, (voice-)partys, game-stores/downloads and stuff like that.

The publishers/developers need to provide the multiplayer game-servers, if the game doesn't support to host your own server. Even if the game supports hosting your own server they need to provide at least one server that keeps track of open games/servers. Or they need to implement something like joining a multiplayer game through invitation.

@newmodels said: Also, I think the latest playstation has multipalyer server for their console. These games when I saw them, are simple. FPS arena, things like that. PlayStation has multiplayer capability since the PlayStation 2 (2001). Even though you needed some extra hardware. But from the PlayStation 3 on there was (Wireless-)LAN already built in and Sony provides the necessary infrastructure since 2006.

And there aren't just "simple" games. Gaming is a huge market around the world so every big developer/publisher supports almost every platform. You can even play MMORPGs like The Elder Scrolls Online, Neverwinter or Final Fantasy 14 on your PlayStation 4/5.

@OpinionatedGamer said: Console gaming seems to be work best with this, however developing for a console is out of the question for me, as it just costs too much. That's the downside of Godot. Export to Consoles is far more easy using Unity (and I guess Unreal Engine). But they're not open source.

@OpinionatedGamer said: Are there people who play like this with friends on pc?
I'd bet that there are people who play games like this on a PC, together with friends. Even though the numbers could be small, I guess. Fast internet, online multiplayer featues and voicechats like teamspeak and discord made it almost obsolete. But I'd count myself to the people who would love to see more couch-coop games on PC!

@OpinionatedGamer said: How can i make these games fun to play with friends and not feel like they don't quite work on pc?
Add support for controllers. It's very easy using the Godot input manager. In my opinion controller-support is a must have for couch-coop games, especially on PC.

@OpinionatedGamer said: What things can a pc do better for this type of game than a console? I'd say nothing. They're pretty much tied. Depending on the specs, the PC could deliver more frames. But consoles are usually connected to a big tv, whereas PCs are usually connected to a smaller screen. Of course you can connect your PC to the big flatscreen. But if the specs are weaker than a modern console, the console would deliver more frames per second. So I guess its up to every single ones preference.

@OpinionatedGamer said: Some things I have thought of are LAN parties, which some people still do and are very fun.
Also pcs can use more types of game controllers so that is one benefit.
LAN parties are still very fun, even though they're dying out. Fast internet, teamspeak/discord are rendering these obsolete, too. But you're right about the different controllers. You can set it up in no time, using the Godot Input Manager.

@OpinionatedGamer said: Games that dont use splitscreen also can work well on pc, although they still feel meant for console. I wouldn't say that. I'd say rather the opposite. Games that do use splitscreen are very common for consoles. Consoles supported at least 2 controllers ever since the first Nintendo Entertainment System was released back in 1983. Nowadays consoles support far more controllers, of course. So it's up to you if you want to use splitscreen or if you want to keep the players from leaving the screen. I'd say that in the end the choice should depend on the core gameplay.

@OpinionatedGamer said: I can support online, but I think it's more fun locally. Do you think many pc players would like more locally played games? I'd say the best case is to support both. But of course there is still a demand for fun couch-coop games!

OpinionatedGamer

Hey, thanks for the comments! Just thought I'd address one thing.

@OpinionatedGamer said: Games that dont use splitscreen also can work well on pc, although they still feel meant for console

@newmodels replied: I wouldn't say that. I'd say rather the opposite. Games that do use splitscreen are very common for consoles. Consoles supported at least 2 controllers ever since the first Nintendo Entertainment System was released back in 1983. Nowadays consoles support far more controllers, of course. So it's up to you if you want to use splitscreen or if you want to keep the players from leaving the screen. I'd say that in the end the choice should depend on the core gameplay.

What I was trying to say but failed to make clear (sorry) is that while generally for couch co-op splitscreen is used, most people use a small pc monitor for pc games, so splitscreen doesn't allow for that much screenspace. That's why co-op games that use a single view for all players like Overcooked, Gang Beasts, and Super Smash Bros would play easier on a pc monitor than Mario Kart, although they still feel designed more for a console in a way.

Perhaps enough people either play with their computer connected to the tv (I've heard of people doing this) or have more than one monitor, which would make splitscreen work quite nicely.

Anyway, you had some great points! Thnx for the advice.

OpinionatedGamer

edited my title, I think this one makes more sense.

Bl4ckM4ch1n3

@OpinionatedGamer said: What I was trying to say but failed to make clear (sorry) is that while generally for couch co-op splitscreen is used, most people use a small pc monitor for pc games, so splitscreen doesn't allow for that much screenspace. That's why co-op games that use a single view for all players like Overcooked, Gang Beasts, and Super Smash Bros would play easier on a pc monitor than Mario Kart, although they still feel designed more for a console in a way. Yes, I guess I misunderstood your point =) But you're totally right about this. Splitscreen doesn't work that well on small pc monitors. Even if the average screen size is getting bigger. I'd definitely prefer single view on pc couch-coop games.

@OpinionatedGamer said: Perhaps enough people either play with their computer connected to the tv (I've heard of people doing this) or have more than one monitor, which would make splitscreen work quite nicely. I know a couple of people who connected their pc to the tv to play games. Most of them use smaller monitors to work at when they're not playing games.

But I'm not sure about the multi-monitor splitscreen idea. Implementing something like this could be very tricky, because there are so many different multi-monitor setups. I, for example, run three monitors: one 27" 1440p and two 27" 1080p. They're setup like 1080p|1440p|1080p, which is still a pretty simple setup. It can easily get far more complicated.

Super ultrawide monitors with 32:9 ratio on the other hand could be very nice for splitscreen. Delivering 3840x1080, you'd fit two full 1080p screens next to each other :smiley:

@OpinionatedGamer said: Anyway, you had some great points! Thnx for the advice.
Glad I could help! :)

OpinionatedGamer

I'm considering making a golf game, maybe with powerups. No splitscreen, only one controller needed, and there's just something fun about golf.