Chapter 1
The birthplace of shoulder-rubbing play
Chapter 2
The biology of the couch co-op high
Chapter 3
Global flavors of gathering around screens
Chapter 4
The modern renaissance of the living room
Ch 4 · The modern renaissance of the living room
nintendo Intergenerational Wii Sports
Chasing the National Senior League crown, (Oh yeah!) We're knocking all the virtual pins down! (Down, down!)
nintendo Games like TowerFall Ascension, Duck Game, and Samurai Gunn revived single-screen brawls where players share physical space and elbow their friends.
Quiz
Which archery-based indie game, created by Maddy Thorson, became a flagship title for the modern couch co-op revival?
Quiz
What design choice did early 2010s indie brawlers make to ensure players stayed focused on each other rather than separate views?
nintendo Using smartphones as controllers allows large groups to play together on one screen.
Quiz
How do players connect their smartphones to a Jackbox game session without downloading an app?
Quiz
Which studio created the popular party game packs that let players use their smartphones as controllers?
Fun Fact
Surgical Wii training: In 2008, a study found that surgeons who played Wii Sports warm-up games performed laparoscopic surgery simulations faster and with fewer errors.
Quiz
In Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, what physical item must the helper players read to assist the bomb defuser?
Quiz
What is the term for game design where players have completely different roles, controls, or information?
Glossary
couch co-op (noun)
A cooperative video game mode played by multiple people sharing a single screen and physical space. The 2016 release of Overcooked revitalized this style of play by requiring intense, in-person kitchen coordination.
A cooperative video game mode played by multiple people sharing a single screen and physical space. The 2016 release of Overcooked revitalized this style of play by requiring intense, in-person kitchen coordination.
Quiz
Approximately how many million copies did Wii Sports sell, making it one of the best-selling games of all time?
Quiz
Which 2006 Nintendo console bundle became a global sensation by using motion controls for local sports play?