Forum Discussion
And Blur had a massive list of issues with it's split screen. To quote some of these issues:
"1. With 1 XBox 360 controller and 1 keyboard plugged in, it is impossible for one player to use keyboard and one to use the controller.
2. Figuring out the keyboard controls for player 2 (where player 2 is using the keyboard) is nearly impossible, I've worked out that:
Arrow Keys = movement (accell/regular brake/steer)
Numpad 9 = Shoot foward
Numpad 6 = Shoot backwards
Numpad 3 = Look backwards
...
There appears to be NO BINDING for e-break. :o"
In order to get the controller working for a second player they had to boot up an emulator.
And the console isn't just meant for multiplayer, but it can get away with split screen because a console always uses a television. I understand that you can use a pc with a monitor but the majority of people who have PCs don't do that, so most game developers will not go out of their way to make split screen available for PC. Because even in a situation where you use a television, the split screen would have issues for whoever ends up playing with the keyboard.
Blur plays perfectly fine on my machine with 2 controllers, no emulator. Another split screen game is Portal, as well as Left 4 Dead.
What's with the negativity towards split screen?
I guess it's simply a pipe dream. PC didn't get split screen for GW1, and apparently it is local play only as well. No online multiplayer.
Funny how a Nintendo 64 could pull off 4 player split screen, just 20 years ago.