Gamers and non-gamers alike are well-aware of the stereotype. The hardcore gamer is typically the person who stays up late at night, all alone in the dark, with nothing but the light from the screen illuminating the room. Loners, who don't see much sunlight, and would rather be with their controllers than with another human being. Perhaps this stereotype is most pronounced on for PC gamers, since it's easy to think of a computer user being pretty solitary. Think about it. They have their own dedicated keyboard, mouse and screen as opposed to consoles which may be hooked up to a television in the living room. PC users can be all alone in their room, removed from human contact. Or are they?

This is the great oxymoron of our time. Gamers are alone, but they're not by themselves. Sure, there are plenty of great single player games out there that consume a lot of time, but apart from adventure, puzzle, and certain role-playing games, one big feature that a lot of gamers look forward to is the multiplayer. Much of the time, single player action is like cutting teeth - you play to get accustomed to controls and practice strategies against computer controlled players. Ok, if the story or monsters are really fun, then it's worthwhile to stick with the single player component to the very end. But what happens when it's done? That's where multiplayer comes in, along with all the extras that might be associated with it, including mods.

It's important to see beyond what's just on the surface. Today's gamer is probably as social as ever, but the electronic age has enabled everyone to socialize in new ways. What is the difference between keeping eight simultaneous Instant Message conversations to chatting with an entire group or even a whole guild in an MMO? The point is, even computer-controlled opponents become too predictable. When people need some unpredictability, they move on to the human controlled opponents. That's why player vs. player features are almost always expected in MMO games. But there's more than that. Even with first-person shooters, with their multitude of deathmatch options, there are plenty of exciting modes that must have teams. Just look at games like Battlefield 2 or Unreal Tournament 2004. Both these games not only have strong emphasis on team play, but also include voice communications so you spend less time typing and more time shooting. Even a number of MMO's have taken to this trend. Both Auto Assault and Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach have built in voice communications for teams. I've mentioned before that voice communications might not be great for role players, but I admitted that it was nevertheless an important tool.

Even without voice communications, games have always been a way for players to socialize. Why is it so important for friends to convince other friends to pick up the same game? So that they can go online and play each other! I've convinced some of my long distance friends to pick up an MMO with me, and we play together as a sort of means for us to "hang out." We chat, share stories, and throw fireballs at bad guys. Online gaming has successfully bridged the distances between people. That's one of the reasons online relationships and online weddings have become so prevalent that games like Anarchy Online have dedicated staff to help handle these events. In fact, a certain large appeal to MMO's is the community aspect. For me, at least, there are few things that are quite as exhilarating as spontaneously teaming up with a group of strangers and just clicking. We play perfectly together and talk as though we were old friends. We're automatically brought together by common interests and goals.

Xbox Live's success and the fact that the Nintendo DS is offering a sort of online player matching service, combined with the fact that both the PS3 and Wii will offer some kind of online support completes the picture. A lot of gamers don't want to be alone. They want to share their gaming experiences. They want everyone to have fun! Personally, I'm still trying to find the perfect multiplayer game to play alongside my wife and convert her into more of a gamer. The search continues. Convincing others to play is sometimes part of a means to add to a person's relationship.

Single player games definitely have their place. After all, I know a lot of people who are still enthralled by Oblivion. But it's time to reevaluate being alone. Gamers are not alone. Multiplayer is a means of reaching out, even if it's just to blast them to bits. Competition is a form of socialization too. A friend of mine said that he preferred console systems above PC's because it felt more social. It's great to have everyone in one room. Getting everyone in one place is great, and consoles deserve credit for that - especially since the Wii will be marketed much like a toy. That's all fair and good, but I don't think it's fair to say it's more social. After all, I'm usually far from ever being by myself.