Playlists for best 2-4 Player Games (Simultaneous Play) for multiple systems / consoles

[zorkiii]

Hey all, I have been compiling some 'best of' lists for 2-4 player simultaneous gameplay games for a number of systems. I started with Amiga and am moving to others, which made me think - maybe I shouldn't reinvent the wheel and might ask around here if anyone has put together a decent list themselves for multiple systems? I guess I mean specifically games that 2 or more players can play simultaneously or at once (possibly cooperatively too), rather than 2-4 player alternating taking turns (that could be another list).

It's kind of easy for systems like Arcade, most games have the 2-3-4 player simultaneous tags filled in, which is awesome to use to filter when I have several people over. I've found some great games I never knew about this way that were fun to play.

But for systems like Amiga, if you open Launchbox box click on Amiga, then arrange by 'Play Mode', it shows None, Cooperative, Multiplayer, Single Player. It's kinda sorta helpful but doesn't narrow it down quite enough, and have to play through them or run through a manual or look up info online to see ahead of time etc. This was a pretty good start for Amiga games that support 4 joysticks at this link: https://ftp.fau.de/aminet/docs/misc/FourPlayerGames_EN.pdf - but after an hour or so of manually scraping information online on which games were specifically 2 player or 3 or 4 etc, it just felt like this would be a massive undertaking for multiple systems. I also kind of sort of have a life too, regardless of how much I'd love to have my games arranged like it makes sense to have them in my mind.

I think most other consoles and such categorize games into single player/ coop / multiplayer if I'm not mistaken (I just spot checked a number and it seems to be the case). Well anyways just thought I'd start a thread for any discussion on this, if anyone cares to add. Once I get my Amiga games sorted out into some tried and true lists I will do my best to contribute some playlists here. That is, unless someone already did this and I haven't come across it yet.

[Junky B]

I think the issue you mention is fundamental in the Launchbox DB.  It shouldn't be hard to find 2/3/4 player games.

I noticed that for the "play mode" field for console platforms, the value is "multiplayer", even when the Launchbox DB value is "4", which should instead be a value like "4-Player Simultaneous".

Edited February 24, 2018 by Junky B

[zorkiii]

13 hours ago, Junky B said:

I think the issue you mention is fundamental in the Launchbox DB.  It shouldn't be hard to find 2/3/4 player games.

I noticed that for the "play mode" field for console platforms, the value is "multiplayer", even when the Launchbox DB value is "4", which should instead be a value like "4-Player Simultaneous".

It looks like you are right, I just spot checked a handful of 'Multiplayer' Play Mode games from various console systems and computers, and the Launchbox DB entries are all showing Max Players with specific values the same as any of the Arcade systems, but appear in Launchbox as Multiplayer.

For instance Barbarian for the Amiga in Launchbox under edit mode:

Clicking on the Launchbox DB ID on the top right, it shows Max Players = 2:

The Arcade games appear to be the only ones that show the Max Players properly. Checking Aero Fighter for instance in Launchbox DB ID Page, it shows Max Players = 2 just like the Amiga game:

But in Launchbox it shows as 2-Player Simultaneous:

Curious if anyone in Launchbox development might possibly be able to take a look at this issue? In my opinion I think this would make a lot of sense to have the other consoles and systems show the proper Play Mode and number of players, rather than Multiplayer. It would be prettty awesome to have all systems/consoles etc display this way.

Also thanks for pointing that out @Junky B

 

Edited February 24, 2018 by zorkiii

[damageinc86]

Wow, I thought this was dealt with a long time ago.  Every system should list simultaneous or alternating multiplayer. Not just arcade.

[pattonthompson]

Did you ever finish this list?  Would you mind sharing it?

[zorkiii]

40 minutes ago, pattonthompson said:

Did you ever finish this list?  Would you mind sharing it?

Hey @pattonthompson - I did not, I kind of left this here hoping an admin or someone on the Launchbox dev team might look into the Launchbox DB play mode issue... I didn't see any response yet, does anyone know who might be best to ask for issues like this?