Does anyone do this exclusively? I've been playing video games since before I can remember, but I've never taken to online gaming in any of its many forms.

MMORPG I consider to be the 'hardcore' end of online gaming; yet, I've never even seen the appeal in playing games like Quake 3 online, or any other FPS for that matter. Sure, I own the capabilities to play online - a 360, PS2, PC, and a fast Internet connection - but have never felt compelled to get on this growing phenomena. Instead, if I were going to play video games with someone else, I find more joy in playing with my 'real-life' friends. Of course you can play with your friends over an Internet connection, but still.

I was just wondering if anyone plays games online exclusively, or even as a preference. Maybe you're into WoW, or Halo 3 (online multiplayer) for example? If you do like online gaming, please state the game[s] you play online.

I only play one game online regularly, and that's a mod for UT2004 called Carball. One of the main reasons I still play it is because I know all the guys who play and I enjoy playing with them.

Occasionally I'll play another game online, like TF2 or Fallen Empire: Legions, because playing against humans is more challenging than playing against bots and I enjoy the occasional match, but the only game I come back to time and time again is Carball, because I love the game, and I have fun with the people who play.

Aside from the quality of service, that's one of the main reasons I don't pay for Live. I don't really know anyone else who does, and I often go months without playing something other than Carball online so I'd feel like I was paying for nothing most of the time.

Online gaming is worthless if you don't have a dedicated group of friends to play with

I used to play HLDM and CS to death back in the day. But then again I was also a no good punk ass teenager who was more often stoned than not. I can't imagine doing it now. Sure, I'll play it on my lan with friends like once ever few months and it's fun, but playing it online just doesn't appeal to me anymore. Also, dealing with people (read: idiotic kids) in most online games is a drag. Sure trolling them for a while is fun but it gets old.

The only game I play online right now is Eve Online. Because of its ruthless PvP, it practically has no screaming kids playing it. It's also a bit too complicated to get into a first so most idiots give up within the trial period.

I absolutely cannot understand how people can get into MMORPGs like WoW. I played WoW, had lvl 70s was in a few big guilds that did raids and all, yet I never really enjoyed playing that game. I kinda figured the game would get better as I progressed but it just didn't. Then I ran my own WoW server and the game got completely boring within 2 hours.

Still, the way things seem to be going with the consoles, all of the major companies are still pushing for more and more potential online customers. Nintendo's Wii is building a huge online fan base; equally, Microsoft and Sony are constantly improving their services.

These three companies are putting a huge amount of time, money, and effort into gaining as bigger online communities as they can achieve. Even the 'casual gamer' is being enticed what with the avatars and online personalities that are becoming available if they weren't already; not to mention the increasing amount of 'pick-up-and-play' online games that appeal to these so-called 'causal gamers'.

I wonder if one day being online will be a requisite of video gaming?

On a side note: Opiate, I thought you didn't have a 360?

My brother owns it, but he's away and it's in my room.

That's actually a point I missed. Silly, really, since this was a major reason for my dislike of online gaming. I used to play Wolvenstein ET back in the day with a group of guys from school; it was fun whilst it lasted. Now, however, every time I've tried to play something on Live (using the 1 month free of course) I get some fucker put his baby child on the mic, or some stupid kiddy with ADHD... Perhaps that's just Live, though.

It's a shame because I really like the CoD4 multiplayer. Still, I can play that on split-screen so I don't really see the need for online.

Does anyone else, perhaps someone younger than the preceding posters, play online games regularly?

Vast majority of stuff I play is online. Lately its been Eve Online, in the past I've played UT2k4, Warcraft 3, and Guild Wars. A bunch of others too but I didn't spend nearly as much time on them.

I don't really like spending that much time on single player games anymore because the story usually isn't that interesting, the gameplay is usually pretty much like something I've played before, and even if it is challenging, I just end up reloading a quicksave every 5 seconds until I get lucky. The pace and difficulty of multiplayer is usually a lot more interesting.

This, though, seems like the logical step forward for the three major companies economically. It would brings in a whole load more money from subscriptions and makes piracy that much harder. It wouldn't surprise me if one day all games were online, or at least had online elements. In fact, this is almost how it is today - often in reviews it will at least be noted if there is a lack of any type of multiplayer; Bioshock, for example.

Imagine how fucked up it'd be if every game worked like HL2 did when it was first released on Steam for PC. Shit, mate, that must have been a fucking drag if you didn't have an Internet connection...

Not exclusively, but a big chunk. Since first playing counter strike and the like honestly It has to be a pretty amazing game for me to buy it without an online component to it.

I really don't have any friends that place PC games anymore, but if you get to a server you like, you get to know some people, its pretty fun.

I'm not sure I enjoy the pushing of voice chat though. Sure its necessary for strategical purposes and fast paced games like Counter Strike and etc.. but most people are just annoying as fuck. I play with voice off if at all possible.

Fuck MMORPGs though

Yeah I remember that. Lately its been faction warfare and trading associated with faction warfare (3000% profit margin ftw).

A game has to have a really good long single player for me to buy it for that reason. I tend to buy alot of games specifically for the multiplayer.

I play Xbox Live with a friend sometime, but aside from that it's full of 12 year olds who have a voice like mickey mouse and constantly fucking talk about stupid shit and call people fags over the mic.

As of now I really only play TF2 online.

Wrong. You can make plenty of friends in online games. In fact the social aspect has been the draw for a lot of online games i've played. Of an eveing, you think "Oh I wonder what the guys are doing. Lets see if they're doing anything fun."

Anyway, i've seriously played online BF2, Eve and TF2. All great fun. A game has to be really good at this point, if it doesn't have online play, for me to play it now. It just feels a bit hollow playing against the computer sometimes now.

I'm in 50 clans on cod4.

I played for a months or so last year and quit and just got back into it a week ago. I was just getting into the combat but got a bit over zealous and lost all my ships. I mostly fly around exploring and meeting people in complexes. Well now I'm just mining but I'm going to be doing missions when I get myself a decent ship fitted with good stuff.

If you want a corp to chill/do factional warfare with give me a tinkle ingame. nick is Rico Naginata. We are in the Gallente militia and also have a 0.0 pvp corp in Roadkill alliance. Corp name is Microfunks if you want to look them up. Our corp is pretty much a split of hardcore pvpers and relative newbies who are in the process of being trained, but we also run poses and some of our guys do missions. LEt me know if youre interested or want some more info. I'm a PvP director in the corp btw.

I'll hit you up once I get a new ship. Right now I'm stuck on stupid mining.

lolnoob

Oh protip: train up your learning skills to V/IV for the basic and advanced respectively. It makes a big difference. And get some learning implants, whichever ones you can afford.