"Multiplayer" redirects here. For other multiplayer games, see Game § Multiplayer

A multiplayer video game is a video game in which 2️⃣ more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time, either locally on the same 2️⃣ computing system (couch co-op), on different computing systems via a local area network, or via a wide area network, most 2️⃣ commonly the Internet (e.g. World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, DayZ). Multiplayer games usually require players to share a single 2️⃣ game system or use networking technology to play together over a greater distance; players may compete against one or more 2️⃣ human contestants, work cooperatively with a human partner to achieve a common goal, or supervise other players' activity. Due to 2️⃣ multiplayer games allowing players to interact with other individuals, they provide an element of social communication absent from single-player games.

History 2️⃣ [ edit ]

Some of the earliest video games were two-player games, including early sports games (such as 1958's Tennis For 2️⃣ Two and 1972's Pong), early shooter games such as Spacewar! (1962)[1] and early racing video games such as Astro Race 2️⃣ (1973).[2] The first examples of multiplayer real-time games were developed on the PLATO system about 1973. Multi-user games developed on 2️⃣ this system included 1973's Empire and 1974's Spasim; the latter was an early first-person shooter. Other early video games included 2️⃣ turn-based multiplayer modes, popular in tabletop arcade machines. In such games, play is alternated at some point (often after the 2️⃣ loss of a life). All players' scores are often displayed onscreen so players can see their relative standing. Danielle Bunten 2️⃣ Berry created some of the first multiplayer video games, such as her debut, Wheeler Dealers (1978) and her most notable 2️⃣ work, M.U.L.E. (1983).

Gauntlet (1985) and Quartet (1986) introduced co-operative 4-player gaming to the arcades. The games had broader consoles to 2️⃣ allow for four sets of controls.