Co-op

[Ephisus]

So, I bought this game, TWO COPIES, seeing that it had "local coop", only to find that by LOCAL it means, having two people play at the same station, not on a local area network. I am frustrated as hell and supremely irritated at steam.

[Pirateguybrush]

It's not Steam's fault. It was listed in the store, and local has always meant at the same PC.

[Dehns]

Local means LAN a hell of a lot more often than it means hotseat or multiple inputs, because those gameplay types simply arent very common.

[Dehns]

And steam doesnt accomodate for this kind of miscommunication, anyhow.

[Mr Realization]

I've never associated local coop with LAN, but I can see how some people might interpret it differently. In the future, use the Co-Optimus website for more details on coop games. They're usually accurate and break out LAN play as a separate feature from local coop:
http://www.co-optimus.com/game/2630/pc/the-cave.html

[TheTurnipKing]

Originalmente postado por LoukusVeritatis:

Local means LAN a hell of a lot more often than it means hotseat or multiple inputs, because those gameplay types simply arent very common.

In this day and age, LAN and Internet play are basically the same thing. It's barely worth distinguishing.

It is, however, worth stating if a game allows more than one player on the same machine - it's a fairly rare commodity these days.

I can, however, see how the terminology might be confusing.

[Wardiaper]

"Local co-op" has always meant on the same screen as far as I know. Just "co-op" usually means either Internet or LAN but NOT local on the same screen. Huge difference.

If they start defining "local co-op" as LAN, there will be a lot more people mad that they thought they bought a game that could be played on the same screen with a friend sitting next to you.

I believe "local co-op" is also referred to as "couch co-op" like in front of a big TV and 2 or more people playing on the same screen.

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OP's confusion is the "local" in "local area network."

[Kinder Lijk]

Valve doesn't need to accomodate for this because there hasn't been any miscommunication. They can't help this kind of stupidity and you shouldn't expect it from them.

You're responsible for your own mistakes, which this obviously was.

Valve is actually very accomodating when it comes to a game you have the system specs for but it doesn't run. Many people I know have never had trouble getting refunds for that.
I guess it also depends on how you approach them.

[Michael]

Originalmente postado por Loukus:

So, I bought this game, TWO COPIES, seeing that it had "local coop", only to find that by LOCAL it means, having two people play at the same station, not on a local area network. I am frustrated as hell and supremely irritated at steam.

Raise a ticket and speak to steam support.

If you haven't played a signficant amount of time on one of the copies (or better yet, haven't played it at all) you may find them sympathetic to your story and willing to refund.

You have to ask them though. There's nothing much we can do.