Frank Gibeau from EA says:
I volunteer you to speak to EA’s studio heads; they’ll tell you the same thing. They’re very comfortable moving the discussion towards how we make connected gameplay – be it co-operative or multiplayer or online services – as opposed to fire-and-forget, packaged goods only, single-player, 25-hours-and you’re out. I think that model is finished.
Really? The single-player model is done???? REALLY?
EA’s leap of faith | Game development | Features by Develop.
While I’m willing to concede that social play is huge, and likely to become a staple form of interaction, entertainment, learning, and, well just plain communication, it is a serious mistake to dismiss single-player games and the distinct experience that comes with that.
Personally, I prefer playing single-player games and also the single-player mode of multi-player games, most of the time. I don’t believe for a minute that I’m the only one.
The single player experience is different, sure, but it’s not a passing fad. Solitary play has been with us as long as social play (since long before we were literate). Animals do it. They do both: solitary play AND social play. Both are natural, so don’t give me this “it’s finished” crap. I suspect what they really mean is, there’s way more money in multi-player, so that’s where we’re putting our resources.
