Multiplayer games have always been very popular and whether online or locally in the living room, it is generally more fun to play with others. However, multiplayer does not mean the same thing and there are differences between coop games like Borderlands and competitive PvP titles like Overwatch or League of Legends. According to a study, cooperative games are indeed more popular than competitive titles.
Back in the 90s, a game was perfect for me only if it had a coop mode and I could play it with my best friend. We spent hours in front of the SNES console playing game after game together. Even today I enjoy a good coop game, like my beloved Borderlands 2 or the cool coop mode of Battleborn, and such gaming nights together are absolute highlights of the week.
Together we are strong!
With my enthusiasm for multiplayer and especially coop games, I probably am not alone, as the site Quantic Foundry has conducted a comprehensive study on the gaming behavior of 1,266 players of all genders and ages. In this study, the multiplayer preferences of gamers were particularly investigated and several interesting insights came to light.
First of all, more than twice as many players preferred cooperative adventures over competitive PvP escapades. Among the PvP players, men were also clearly in the majority, and particularly in the area of online PvP games, there was almost three times as high a proportion of male players compared to female gamers. In the realm of coop games, while the guys also had the edge, the differences were rather marginal.
Better at home than online
Interestingly, the difference in gameplay behavior between men and women was less pronounced in competitive play when all the fun took place locally with friends on the couch than when playing anonymously on the internet. In the first case, the share of male players is only just under double. However, the difference becomes particularly stark when unfamiliar players are thrown into the mix.
This is because the previous findings were based on the assumption that all the participating players – online as well as locally – actually know each other personally. When unfamiliar individuals join in online play, the difference between men and women expands even further. Probably also due to the unfortunately still widespread prejudices and the rude attitude that some male players have towards female gamers.
Coop is for everyone!
Also very interesting: The study found that the age of the players has the least impact on coop games. In stark contrast, competitive online PvP with strangers is preferred mostly by younger players, while older individuals often politely decline. Therefore, the study also came to a clear conclusion: Players of all age groups prefer local coop titles and prefer to play with friends rather than complete strangers. This explains the great success of Pokémon GO, as with the AR game, you actually explore your surroundings and prefer to be out with friends rather than constantly meeting and interacting with new people.
Mein-MMO says: As mentioned at the beginning, I’ve been a big coop fan since my childhood and can therefore only confirm the insights of the study from Quantic Foundry. While I have nothing against online rounds with strangers and PvP doesn’t bother me, I definitely have more fun when I know my fellow player and can work with them. And my Pokémon safari trip with several friends yesterday was simply brilliant!
But what do you think? Are you also big fans of coop games or rather lone wolves who do not want other people in their game? Or do you prefer PvP over cooperative gameplay? Let us know and write it in the comments!
