Working together to take on a task can be a rewarding and insightful experience depending on whom you complete the task with of course.
It should come to no surprise that I do enjoy using my gaming based analogies and stories when attempting to convey information as I find it quite relatable to the current generation’s timeline.
I do tend to play and test a good deal of solo based games, it allows me to experiment at my own pace and there isn’t the silent pressure you get when playing with others which may be time-imposed. Truly this can be a peaceful experience and you get so used to how you play by yourself you forget the magnificent humans around you, each unique with their own perspective and how another person takes on challenges can change your whole outlook and so venturing into gaming with another is one frontier pursuing.
Solo based video gaming is calming it’s a wonderful time to reflect and become aware of your own skills and abilities but it can be lonely and even isolating. Some grew up as Player 1 never experiencing what it’s like to have a Player 2 (3 or 4 or more) to complete a level/full game together.
Cooperative gaming (Co-op) is both a sub-genre of multiplayer gaming and a game-mode you’d often see when playing a game with multiplayer options available for certain games.
Co-op games can be played locally with the player(s) generally in the same area (room/home) and sharing the screen or they are at least linked into the same game world with their own device but also online which is more common today thanks to the internet, before the internet was common the co-operative player would need to be present in the flesh.
Typical multiplayer gaming would involve you and the additional player(s) actually competing against each other, think Mario Kart, Fall Guys, Fortnite, FC 26, NBA 2K6 would be general examples though even these games may have a co-operative mode where you work together instead of against each other.
One of the first Co-op games I played in my early years was called 8 Eyes where one of us controlled Orin and another the Falcon called Cutrus, exploring and solving puzzles in a dungeon.
This experience allowed me to see a side of my friend in how they communicated, handled challenges and puzzles as well as seeing how they perform under pressure. I would learn areas in which they were weak and strong in regard to us working together and gain insight on how they might perform working with others.
Games can make, break, strengthen or shed light on the status of a relationship between friends, family and strangers.
Ever played a game of Monopoly with 4 players? It’s not sunshine and rainbows, the looming cloud of conflict is ever near. Those with short tempers and lack long-term vision can put a halt to the game entirely and the experience is damaged.
Playing a game in Co-op mode can be very testing for the participants, as progression is dependent on each player doing their part. Communication is key and compromising with your play partner(s) if your play styles differ is vital as you may need to adjust bad habits to work together.
Perhaps you are more skilled at navigation but your gaming partner is skilled at controlling the character or vehicles in a league you couldn’t even begin to fathom then now could time to either raise up each other in the area where the other lacks or call upon their strengths to get the job done since they’re the best at what they do and you’re the best at what you do.
There is no correct answer in this hypothetical but these would be the questions you’ll ask yourself and each other.
Modern co-op video games you may be familiar with over the past 20 years would include Countless Lego Franchise Games, It Takes Two, Minecraft, Jackbox Party, Overcooked and MMOs such as World of Warcraft or Warframe.
Previous generations had card, board games and traditional children’s games (such as Tag, What’s the time Wolf/Fox or Duck, duck, goose) these type of games are still played today together setting the basis on how many will interact with others in the game of life.
There are some games which are not intentionally let alone officially co-op but due to company present you play it together essentially as one. I used to call this Passenger Co-Op where you are playing a single player game but you’ve got a spectator along for the ride.
How many siblings, friends or just strangers through one circumstance or another were present and along for the ride of the main player but they assisting along the way.
My Xbox Gamertag has remained Zenchi since Xbox was released in late 2002. Though I haven’t used it for gaming on Xbox related services I do still use the account now and then. The link below would show though I clearly do my gaming elsewhere these days.
https://xboxgamertag.com/search/zenchi
I recall sitting in my homes living room in London in late 2002 having been gifted by Microsoft an early invitation to join Xbox Live knowing they’d be very little if any Brits playing online yet since the online services for UK/Europe(March 2003) would be a little later than the US(Sep 2002). My home was fitted with ADSL as a test for service a 4Mbs connection within London through Bulldog Broadband.
Believe it or not DSL/Cable for internet was just rolling out with speeds beyond 1Mbps after dealing with dial-up, ISDN(if you were lucky during dial-up years) throughout the UK. I recall for a full 2 years being one of the few houses with ADSL in the area.
What can we learn through Cooperation?
Regards,
Alexander/Zenchi
