Local Co-Op

[Mors]

The store page says now that game has Loca Co-Op ("Couch Co-Op") but no one seems to know about it. Is it true, or will it get it later?

[Gillsing]

Local Co-Op = Couch Co-Op? If that's true, then I suspect that 5 Lives don't know about it, because nowhere in the game have I seen the option for two players to share a screen. I think that they may just equate multi-player to co-op, though perhaps stressing the "co-op" part, since it's certainly not agents vs agents, which was the multi-player in Syndicate Wars.

So I still believe that "Local Co-Op" = "Co-Op over a Local Area Network".

[Mors]

Originally posted by Gillsing:

Local Co-Op = Couch Co-Op? If that's true, then I suspect that 5 Lives don't know about it, because nowhere in the game have I seen the option for two players to share a screen. I think that they may just equate multi-player to co-op, though perhaps stressing the "co-op" part, since it's certainly not agents vs agents, which was the multi-player in Syndicate Wars.

So I still believe that "Local Co-Op" = "Co-Op over a Local Area Network".

It use to be:

Co-Op = Shared gameplay, so you played on same computer with friend(s) if you had multiple controllers. Like ie. Settlers III supported two mouse (two ports like Serial and P/S2)

Multiplayer = LAN/Null Modem gameplay or even Internet (then it was just called as TCP/IP or Modem) with or against your friend(s). Like you could play a Quake or Doom with a friend or even just fight against each others.

So what changed?

Co-Op is today like Multiplayer, and Multiplayer is almost like a standard for the games.

But people still love to play on same computer, in same living room with a shared or split screens!

[Gillsing]

I don't know what has changed, or if anything really has changed. I'm certainly not very knowledgeable on the subject of multiplayer lingo. But I know Satellite Reign well enough to figure out that it wouldn't be suitable for sharing the screen with other players.

[WetWired]

Local refers to Local Area Network as in LAN. That's the terminology we use in game to define the two types, Internet and Local.

Steam also uses that same terminology, with 2 seperate options to describe the "players" support of your game, one being "Shared/Split Screen" and the other "Local Multiplayer" whereas "LAN" is not an option.

[Flash]

Many players, especially those with consoles, will probably mistake "local multiplayer" with Splitscreen/Couch-coop, as that terminology is just common there.

The one-stop-place for coop-info has it clear and correct, though:
http://www.co-optimus.com/game/4115/pc/satellite-reign.html

4 player online, 4 player LAN, 0 player local/couch, no local-online mix. The "Co-Op DLC" is a bit misleading as the functionality got released in the game itself free of charge, but that's clearly visible from the Steam Store page.

So the confusion is understandable, but the necessary infos are easily accessable.


Edit: Wait a minute. Didn't I already post here? With the Splitscreen and stuff? Did my post get deleted? Why?

Edit2: Nope, we just have an almost 100% identical thread on the second page. Maybe it's time to update the FAQ. There are many people who don't know about Unity's region lock, too. Maybe that should be added, too.

Edit3: Just checked the FAQ. It already clearly states that there is no splitscreen-MP.
Edit4: So is the region lock... I guess I stopped reading after I found out the MP-beta is accessable and just downloaded it anxiously...

[Mors]

Multiplayer CO-OP includes both internet (WAN) and LAN.

Local CO-OP means game on same computer, without any network.

Now all possible CO-OP combinations are listed and is causing only problems.

[WetWired]

Just copying and pasting this from elsewhere for reference

Steam has a clear distinction in their category marking for players between "Local Multiplayer" and "Shared/Split Screen" If we don't use the Local option there is no other option to define Local LAN play.

We cannot help the difference in terminology but can only use the options Steam has provided for us.

Here's a link to show you the options available http://imgur.com/jWxeg0B

[Tiramisu]

This thread helped clear something up :) I was going to ask if I should get 1 or 2 copies for local coop, wanting to know if its much the same experience with 2 people on the same screen. Now I know ^_^

I appreciate the dev response and while I understand what you are saying, I do myself (as a self titled gamer of several decades now) find "local coop" to be synonymous with "couch coop". Even tho steam has an additional check box for shared/split screen, you could easily imagine someone tasked with listing the game to not check that box and think local coop is enough to tell people it can be played on the same machine. So its on Steam really to clearly define that label IMO.

+1 for co-optimus site, they know whats goin on ;)

[Artan]

Wish I seen this thread before I bought the game. Instead I have to refund due to lack of Local Coop as the game devs chose to describe LAN gaming as Local Coop.

Coop is Local OR Networked. Networked covers LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (in this case internet). Local means on the same system.

[Sugamotomagazaki]

darn i thought it was co op so i bought it asap, now i see that techinically its not since my friend lives in another country :D

[Flash]

Of course it's co-op. I can understand Quinn's problem, because local co-op is usually seen as couch co-op.
But 1001: if your friend is living in another country, SR has you covered. It's regular co-op over the internet.

[Doctor Teeth]

I'm glad I came here to check before buying the game.

But a thing the devs should be aware of is that the vast majority of players/steam users will understand "local co-op" to mean multiple players on one machine.

I understand why the devs came away with a different impression based on the categories steam presented you. I think it's important to understand the impression people coming to your page will come away with though, and think about whether you are communicating what you intended.

[Gheist]

Thank god I saw that, misleading as ♥♥♥♥ an almost bought the game for 4 player split screen. Local coop is couch coop to any gamer I've ever known. Of course if it has multiplayer you can local coop.......

[Arawn'Aun]

Yeah it is... will be returning this directly. You guys can hide behind steam if you want but doubt you'll find to many who agree with you...

[Flash]

You're a bit late for the party. The game itself is good and it's finished. I don't think it'll get any updates or features, as 5 Lives Studios seem to be pretty much... lets say "sleeping". Lets hope they're busy making SR2, but the forum looks pretty abandoned.