Most of the Co-Optimus staff isn't really keen on playing with "randoms" or "pubbies" - people who are matched up online without any real link to each other. While it's always nice to get the word out about our awesome co-op site, playing and chatting with randoms can be an exercise in frustration.
The flip side of that coin is that it's often difficult to meet up with people you're already acquainted with. But mismatched schedules or differing tastes in games aside, it will always behoove you to make the extra effort to play co-op games with a friend...and the same goes for team-based competitive multiplayer games.
To prove the point a little, I interrupted Andrew's late-night movie on Wednesday with an offer to play Call of Duty: Black Ops in public multplayer rooms. He graciously accepted. Even though I knew that he would normally rather stick to the co-op modes, I wanted to wade with him into open waters and get some screenshots of our adventure.
While we made complete noob spectacles of ourselves, I made some mental notes as to exactly how playing with Andrew was oodles better than just jumping into a game at random. These are some of my personal reasons for preferring to play with mi amigos over randoms.
Andrew, untrusting of his own aim, sets a trap...
...to great effect. Booom!!