What Do You Play First, Single-Player or Multiplayer?

77 Comments Posted November 6, 2009 - By Andrew Pfister

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call this an Afternoon Hangover after a Friday beer lunch (man, I miss those)...

Obviously this is spurred by Modern Warfare 2's release next week, but it's a question applicable to any game with multiplayer. When you boot up a new game for the first time, what takes priority...playing through the story, or hopping online and getting a jump on your stats?

Personally, I can't do anything multiplayer until I play through a significant portion of the single-player campaign. This is for a couple of reasons:

I'm a little sensitive when it comes to story spoilers, even in bad games. (And bad movies, and bad books, and bad TV...) Better to get through the experience myself before co-workers casually mention that character/event/location either died/happened/exploded. I've heard enough chatter about MW2 already, and the game's not even out yet.
I need to get familiar with the basic control scheme of a game before I embarass myself in the public arena. Movement speed, aiming sensitivity, weapon familiarity...I need to know the particulars of all of these things so I can properly blame them for finishing second-to-last in the round.
I always forget to recharge my headset, so I need a few hours alone anyway.

So this Tuesday...perks or plot? Render thine opinions!

Tags: PC Gaming, PlayStation 3, Videogames, Wii, Xbox 360

Comments

Oldest First

Displaying 1–20 of 77

12 3 4 2

gamersince1995

MULTI PLAYER PLAYER FIRST! :D

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:16 PM | Reply | Report

-4 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
bleedthrough Show Hide

Team Fortress 2 on Steam, I can't get enough....

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:18 PM | Reply | Report

-10 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
DPsx7

I won't be playing this game but I'm the same way. I have to become familiar with the game before playing online. Sometimes I won't even bother going online depending on the game style. With a backlog as large as mine I need to complete games on a steady pace.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply | Report

0 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
ProjektX13

Single player, these trailers have done a pretty good job of getting me into the MW2 story. Then Multiplayer with friends, EVERYONE is getting it. Then on my spare time I will go for some Spec Ops.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:21 PM | Reply | Report

+3 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
the_diesel

I play single-player first. I buy the game for the singler-player experience, I really don't care alot about multi-player, not saying I dont' play it but I am not hardcore about it. I just really enjoy single-player mods and also co-op cause I like to interact with people who are in the room rather than on the internet. However, I do get together at friends homes to play some multiplayer cause we don't use headsets and this also allows for good holesome interaction with people.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Report

+5 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
mp1289

if you are not the guy who can get to level 50 in two nights because you have nothing else to do, then single-player is a good choice.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply | Report

+3 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
SirCitadel

i was going to do multi first, cause i hate it when everyone knows a map better than me. but since ive been dodging spoilers left and right for the last couple weeks, i think i have to get the story out of the way.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:28 PM | Reply | Report

+3 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
triggerhippy

I do mp first with all my friends until everybody gets sleepy. Then I do the single player until I crash myself.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
Kanaye

Single player first.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply | Report

+4 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
Valentinog

Single player......then woop a$$ online lol

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:31 PM | Reply | Report

+2 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
prodigysflawless

Single Player first.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Report

+3 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
jamaicangamer

depends on the time 12 mid night muilty 6 inthe morning single

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Report

+2 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
Wozman23

I share the_diesel's view . I focus on single player. In the past, I never even bothered with multiplayer, but I have recently started to venture into its world. In most cases I lose interest rather quickly, and would rather find a new game to play. No offense to all you internet folks, but I'd still much rather play a good co-op game with a friend on the couch.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Report

+5 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
DarthTempus

It depends on the game, for Call of Duty games, I always go multiplayer, I wouldn't even buy the game otherwise.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:44 PM | Reply | Report

-2 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
MyFootonFIRE

I always start with singleplayer. It gives you a chance to become familiar with the game, and I love singleplayer

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:46 PM | Reply | Report

+7 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
SG_17

Singleplayer first, always.

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:46 PM | Reply | Report

+3 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
Wizcraft

Wait... MW2 has a single player...did cod4??

Posted: November 6, 2009 4:48 PM | Reply | Report

-9 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
CFenix

I'm just the same. I can't touch multiplayer until i beat the singleplayer

Posted: November 6, 2009 5:23 PM | Reply | Report

+2 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
EchoEpsilon

I always play single player first. That way I can get used to the game.

Posted: November 6, 2009 5:26 PM | Reply | Report

+2 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
McMillan48

Generally I play the single player first but in the case of Modern Warfare 2, I'm going to have to make an exception.

Posted: November 6, 2009 5:54 PM | Reply | Report

+4 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies