Co-Optimus - Editorial: Co-Op Couples: Bridging the Gap

Co-Op Couples: Bridging the Gap

Editorial

Katrina "ShadokatRegn" Pawlowski Thursday 13th of August 2009 08:35 PM

It started as many things do, with a conversation about the television show “Southpark.” He was sure there was no such thing as the adventure restaurant Casa Bonita. I assured him there was, and it was near enough to my home to visit. “Come out here, and I'll show you.” I said, with no other expectations in mind from my long-time friend.

One amazing trip through the Colorado mountains and adventure restaurants later, August (Arttemis) and I hit it off. You see, he is a student in Florida, and I am a student in Colorado. Though this aspect added a bit of a hitch in our newfound relationship, we aren't afraid of a challenge.

While we were in the same state, we watched films, ate out, explored the city, and played video games. Now, 2,000 miles stand between us for months at a time, but we make the best of it. While we can't take walks together, or have nice dinners we can still connect, and Xbox Live, co-op gaming and Netflix are going to make it possible. Instead of just saying "Guess what I did today," we more often say "Oh, man! Remember that time we..."

That my friends...is a lot of goo.

Through the use of Xbox party chat you can talk until you're blue in the face (or other unmentionables,) but you'll usually end up playing something while the Xbox is booted up. With this party chat, single player games can become a co-op experience if a little creativity is applied. One such conversation came from both of us playing Spider-man: Web of Shadows simultaneously.

“How do you collect those symbiote samples? I have killed a ton of these guys, and not gotten a single one!”

“I....am not sure. If you figure it out, let me know.”

“OH! You gotta pop the goo-bubble when you defeat one.”

“That's disgusting. I'm on it.”

We then happily spent an hour or so popping goo-bubbles laughing at how gross it is, collecting our symbiote samples in Spider-man: Web of Shadows. Single player game made co-op through innovation. These are the things lasting relationships are made of.

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Tags: gears of war too human crackdown co-op couples xbox live netflix

Reader Comments

txshurricane at 11:10 AM on 8.14.2009

Re: editor's note -- depending on which Xbox 360 you by, you may also get stuck having to purchase a headset.

Great article, Kat! Good to read a fresh topic from the other side of the gender gap.

Mrxknown_JG at 12:26 PM on 8.14.2009

Yeah, very interesting. Co-op expands into new territories of hearts & minds everyday!

Silverblur2 at 12:39 PM on 8.17.2009

it's true- trying to double date is hard on 360- I wont even try on the PS3 but you can make it work, with the right friends on the 360, what's cool is if they have cam, then you can argue over what game you want to play and see each other- makes it more personal

Jackel at 04:18 PM on 8.17.2009

Great article. My wife and I had a long distance relationship for several years so I can understand how difficult they can be, and how much gaming / online connections can help keep 2 ppl close.