I'm frustrated with the PC co-op game creators.
I'm frustrated with the PC co-op game creators.
I was enjoying Serious Sam 3 with my nephew. The system supports various keyboard and mouse setups, allowing each of us to use our own devices. Earlier, we attempted Resident Evil 6, which restricts play to one keyboard/mouse while the other must use a controller. That's frustrating. Serious Sam 3 seems capable, but RE6 doesn't? I tried Left 4 Dead 2 and Portal 2 with the same issue. It's odd what Valve is doing. Although I understand it's not directly built-in (you need to trigger it via console), it would have been better if they simplified things for multi-device play. I also played Archon: Classic, which had the same limitation. Tried Portal 2 again. It's surprising that Valve hasn't addressed this before. Local co-op is rare on PC, but if possible, the developers should have considered it. If you know any good local co-op titles, I'd love to hear about them.
I see your concern. Using two computers and playing over LAN could work around this issue. It really depends on what you enjoy. I recently tried a local co-op version of Goat Simulator and found it quite enjoyable. For those who like indie 2D titles, Monaco: What's Yours is Mine is a good option—supports up to four players online or locally, though I haven't played it enough yet.
That's what others have said from what I've read regarding "multiple mice attached to a computer". Windows is built for a single cursor. I just don't get how Serious Sam (a game that I wouldn't know for "co-op" specifically) can do it but how so many other co-op oriented games can't do it. If that's true, then I guess I get it, but come on.
Heh, this brings back memories of how PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and One all allow up to four controllers. I believe a few of them can handle six or more, though that seems excessive. On those platforms, people usually opt for online or single-player even with local multiplayer options. Still, two players are commonly supported. With Nintendo systems, local play is well-supported, so I won’t comment further. PCs should definitely accommodate at least two players. Speaking of ports, I think there are six available—two front and four back—which is more than most consoles offer. You’d need at least five players to make it work, using two USBs for mouse and keyboard plus four for controllers. Or you could have six players all using controllers or three using keyboards. Plus, both PCs and consoles can use large displays, so that shouldn’t be an issue. And even with modern setups, gamers still rely on CRT monitors alongside handhelds, which were once big players.