Back in the very earliest days of computer games - and we mean the very earliest days - multiplayer mode meant one thing: two of you would play a virtual game of tennis with the ball making its ponderous way across the court while making a succession of basic bleeps.
How times have changed. It's all thanks to the ingenuity of games developers, as well as high speed broadband, which really has served to connect the world in many more ways than just multiplayer gaming. Of course, it's not just opened up gaming for players, it also means that now millions of fans can also tune into sites like Twitch to see the real experts in the gaming world battle it out for big cash prizes - not to mention international prestige.
Once the ability to compete in multiplayer mode became possible, it captured the world's attention. More games featured multiplayer option, and single player gaming started to get overlooked.
But multiplayer gaming isn't the be all and end all.
In reality, single player gaming is still more appropriate for certain genres of games. The recent announcement that Mass Effect: Andromeda was to get a Platinum Level multiplayer mode reportedly left fans clamouring for single player mode updates, too.
So it's hardly surprising that there are vociferous claims being made for both single and multiplayer - and there are good arguments for both modes.
The case for single player gaming
Single player gaming arguably suits games with strong storylines
Ask any fan of single play about why they're happier playing against the software rather than another gamer. You'd imagine that when pitted against a computer, in whatever form, the experience would be a soul-less one in which you simply respond to its programmed actions. In fact you could possibly liken it to the difference between responding to automated instructions on a company's phone line and having a real conversation with a live operator.
But for many gamers, multiplayer gaming is missing one important element - the simplicity of one player trying to complete a game by themselves. It's also missing a game's capacity to involve a strong narrative theme that runs though it, which unfolds more naturally in single-player gamin - leading them to become more engaged in the story than going head-to-head with a rival.
As you explore the world that you find yourself in as a single player gamer, it leads you into a realm where your imagination can roam free as you encounter characters who are far more than just the mere ciphers that multiplayer shooters are filled with.
The effect of being a single player allows for a more reflective experience in which you are free from being distracted by other players and can travel very much at your own pace. As so many hundreds, if not thousands, of hours have gone into the rendering of the game design itself, it also gives a far better opportunity to appreciate all this hard work in the process of playing it.
Among the games that have been singled out for praise for including precisely these elements have been The Last of Us, Halo and even the Lara Croft Tomb Raider series although, it must be said, for very different reasons. By providing a rich and ever-changing fantasy world for the single player, it's more immersive and escapist. Another example of this is the Grand Theft Auto series, which is perfect for gamers who enjoy playing their individual part in an elaborate story.
The stories told in single player games can be far more complex and nuanced, almost matching everything one would expect from a film. While some might try to scoff at a claim like this being made, it wasn't so very long ago that comics progressed to becoming graphic novels and then on to the basis of many highly acclaimed movies and TV shows.
The case for multi-player gaming
Mulitplayer gaming is associated with adrenaline-fuelled action
But while you can savour single player game like a fine meal, the more immediate fast-food style satisfaction of the multi-player experience undoubtedly appeals to millions of players around the world.
Multiplayer games are built on players' drive to win and triumph over each other. However, multiplayer games can also bring players together in competition with another team or group. Fundamentally though, it's about competition rather than exploration.
There's no denying that white-knuckle excitement is an important part of the multiplayer games themselves, certainly in the all-action nature of games like the Call of Duty series and League of Legends. The fact that they're played in competition with others from all around the world just heightens the tension and excitement.
There's also no denying that they're immensely popular. Just look at the growth of eSports this year. It's transformed multiplayer gaming into a spectator sport, attracting millions of fans from across the world. According to Deloitte, it generates $500m in revenue - and is growing bigger all the time.
The game developers' perspective
There's another element that's important to acknowledge in any debate about single versus multiplayer, and this comes down to simple economics.
Games are very expensive to develop - and there is huge competition from free-to- download versions, too. So it's never been more important to raise extra revenue from DLC and in-game purchases. While these are certainly relevant to single player games, the market for them is inevitably much stronger in the multiplayer world. This is because the more competitive environment means that many players are looking for any advantage they can get, as well as enhancing the player experience.
This isn't to say that its only multiplayer games that involve in-game purchases, for example Grand Theft Auto is a classic single player game that relies on purchases of new cars to raise some extra revenue.
The single versus multiplayer debate is also very much alive in other fields - including in online casinos. They've evolved to ever more immersive and engaging heights, presenting gamblers with the option of any sort of gameplay. For example, you might want to feel like you're gambling in a real-life casino, playing with real dealers and other competitors, hooked up via a video link. If so, live casino is the option for you.
Online casinos also appeal to gamers looking for a more solitary experience, with a range of immersive slots with high-quality video and audio that immerses you in the world of the slot game you're playing. Slot games cater for all kinds of interests, including movies, music and sports - providing something for everyone. You might be surprised to see how far they've evolved the traditional 'one-armed bandits' - as you'll see by checking out these online slots, for example.
The choice of playing against a computer or real-life competitors is very much a matter of personal choice - and your preference will depends what kinds of games you're into, as we've discussed. That's why, for many gamers, there's space for both experiences.
