Online Co-Op Vs. Offline Co-Op

Some games measure worth in their deep story,  or strong single player mechanic. Others are strong because of the ability to play with others. However, HOW you play with others also makes a big difference.

Many games allow you to play with a friend in the same room, or with friends in different houses using the internet. Some allow both, to one or another degree. So you're playing with one another, whats the difference if your in the same room or not? I believe, quite a lot.

I have played online games with friends somewhere else from the comfort of my home, and greatly enjoy doing so. It is a nice way to play, especially with people who are far away. You can each be in a comfortable place, and don't have to worry about having people over. Additionally, this can happen easier, without the need for planning, or even thinking ahead. You may go online and see a friend playing and say "Hey, lets play together."  However, there are some problems with it. Effective communication requires Skype, and  a strong internet connection. Additionally, in many of these games (particularly online RPG's), you and your friends must be of similar levels, which can prevent you from  playing with each other.

I have also played games with friends that were at my house at the time. There are many advantages to this as well. Ease of communication, as well as the comfort and genuine enjoyment of human company. There is also no need to worry about unstable internet connections which can be troublesome (my internet is often very bad, and this often provides a problem when trying to play online games with others). These often also allow you to play with another person of any skill level. Again, their are also problems. You need to plan ahead more for this, and be ready. This also prevents you from playing with people who are far away, or otherwise unable to visit. Additionally, many local co-op games utilize split screen, which can make it difficult to see what is happening on smaller screens.

Very recently, I was able to play Monster Hunter (among other games) with a Japanese foreign exchange student that was staying at my house. The version we played no-longer has online support, but it caused me to reflect on which was more fun. The answer, ultimately, was playing with another person on the same console. The real interaction with a person was the deciding factor. The face-to-face contact allows far more than simple communication. The experience feels even more shared than before, and provides lots of options. Also, you are of course not limited to video games. When you are done playing, you can continue to hang out while doing things like eating pizza, or listening to music. While it can be fun to play with others online, playing offline is even more enjoyable, if possible.