Warhawk making split-screen sexy again

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 16th 2007 at 4:45PM }

Modern multiplayer games have nearly killed something we loved from the Nintendo 64 era: split-screen multiplayer. Now that our televisions have more pixels and are larger, shouldn't we herald the return of split-screen multiplayer? Warhawk is proud to boast four players on one screen, and if you're running on an HDTV, each section of the screen will still have more resolution than full-screen games from the PS1/N64 era. We hope that other games will follow Warhawk's path and make split-screen gaming sexy again. Do you agree?

Check out new screenshots in our gallery below:

Gallery: Warhawk

Tags: e307, multiplayer, warhawk

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Stef Geiger @ Jul 16th 2007 4:51PM

Split screen is great, but it seems like developers are REALLY stupid when it comes to splitscreen on Widescreen (and any HDTV, for that matter). I guess they all decided that since the TV is widescreen, cutting the screen in half vertically would make more sense because you end up with a relatively square field of vision. Except for pretty much any game I can think of, you're better off with a wide FOV and height can be sacrificed. Anyone else feel like they've got it all wrong?

BTW: Splitscreen in Warhawk and R6: Vegas rocks hard.

upz @ Jul 16th 2007 4:59PM

Stef, I agree somewhat. Gears had a horizontal split screen, giving you great peripheral vision. From a gameplay functionality standpoint, it was a great decision on Epic's part. At the same time, squinting to see the extra widescreen image was no fun at all. I say give users the option for whichever they prefer.

Joe @ Jul 16th 2007 5:02PM

I like the vertical look. But it should only work on normal TVs. Widescreen should work if you have a Widescreen or for people that like it one way or the other you can change it. I have always been more of a vert fan. Seeing as you do not have to look down. But I know not every one feels the same way so there should be an option to allow you to play Spilt-screen how you want to play.

As for if Spilt-screen should be in other games I say yes. It makes games a lot more fun. Not every one wants to play online. So this way just grab a friend and you get to race,fight you name it. You can do it.

So I for one want to see more games allow
Spilt-screen. Plus like Warhawk when online you can use Spilt-screen and play against other people plus have your bro fighting too. So that also would be great to see in other games too.

psn:ummfada @ Jul 16th 2007 5:09PM

How about giving the gamer a choice?

nick @ Jul 16th 2007 5:32PM

how about bringing guests online for warhawk. thats something great that xbox has that ps3 doesnt. it would make multiplayer so much more fun.

Nate @ Jul 16th 2007 5:40PM

Hell yeah! I miss the old split screen. Gaming doesn't have to be a solitary endeavor.... it's a lot more fun to play multiplayer when you can laugh and shout and hang out with the other people in your own livingroom.

I'll pick up warhawk for that feature alone. More games need to support that.

Enon777 @ Jul 16th 2007 5:43PM

Thank God I have a 1080p 60" Sony SXRD. I'm going to enjoy killin my friends in splitscreen HD bliss.

Popfrogs @ Jul 16th 2007 5:49PM

@#5:

Supposedly, Home will let you round up your friends and jump onto the same server with the same crew of people from within Home. As long as everyone has Warhawk/whatever installed it's supposed to be fairly easy.

Aztec_MC @ Jul 16th 2007 5:54PM

Yeah, but does split-screen work for online? It's pointless if it's not.

There has to be split-screen for online, so my buddies can play too. I hate how "multiplayer" these days means you play by yourself with other people who are playing by themselves.

Toby @ Jul 16th 2007 6:03PM

@9 Yes, up to 4 players can play split screen online in an unranked room

Popfrogs @ Jul 16th 2007 6:05PM

@9: It has to, since Warhawk is online-only. At least that's my understanding of it.

havi @ Jul 16th 2007 6:10PM

also of note, haze will function in this manner as well, with any combination of 4 players, split screen or online for up to 4 players co op, with jumpin jumpout(like it should be)

BulletToothTony @ Jul 16th 2007 6:52PM

@9 yeah dude.. in the beta me and another 2 friends were playing online.. it looked pretty good for split screen..

a.j. @ Jul 16th 2007 7:53PM

i'm in the beta and i'm loving this game. the more news, the better. i like the fact that instead of killing the one player and half assing the multiplayer, they are really going for it on the multiplayer. even just in the beta, the game is pretty huge, can't wait to see the final.

konchu @ Jul 16th 2007 8:14PM

Ok I hope split screen can make a serious come back. Too many next gen shooters have abandoned it for pure online multiplayer but they need to look back, alot of the great console FPS's have had split screen in addition to online. Really though before we were playing online not having it would have been the death of an FPS, had a freind who was a PC hardcore and split screen was the only thing positive he would say about console FPS's.

tristan88 @ Jul 16th 2007 11:54PM

i was in the beta it works really well. i thought everyone knew this was in warhawk already i saw a video of it back when they announced it would be online only. the only problem is people can control if they want split screeners or not in their matches so dont expect to just have ur friends join in. its actually kind of difficult to find matches with split screen enabled.

Titty Pink @ Jul 17th 2007 7:38AM

Yeah the vert split kinda sux. I HATE it in Resistance. At least give a guy a choice in the matter. I never understood how something that seemed so basic in the past just fell off of the scene all together...and what's with the limitations on ranked play anyway? I mean for the 360 it's a way to force people to buy a Live account, for the PS3 there shouldn't be a difference. My crew should be able to come over and rock out in some ranked matches on one console. Come on fellas, lets do this right...