Split Screen. In games about Harry’s adventures

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Split Screen

For those who like to sit together at the same keyboard – 3 Harry Potter games for PC are equipped with a built-in multiplayer for 2 players. For the convenience of manipulation, the game is played in “Split Screen” mode. How to connect multiplayer in games Quidditch World Cup, LEGO Harry Potter: 1-4 years and LEGO Harry Potter: 5-7 years, instructions and tips – all this can be found in our article.

Split Screen

Multiplayer in the game “Quidditch World Cup”

Multiplayer in LEGO Harry Potter games

Split Screen

Split Screen mode (“Split Screen”) has been used in the gaming industry for quite a long time, even before the era of network games and the powerful Internet, when it was impossible to play the same game from different monitors.
More often “Split Screen” is used on consoles, because games with multiplayer are released mainly for them (there is an attachment for a second gamepad), less often – on computers (usually requires a numeric keypad on the right, so as not to be crowded together).
It started with games on consoles.
Wise parents with two children wanted to be able to occupy both children with one thing at once: buy one console for two, one game for two, hook them up to one TV and let them play together.
Wise developers got into the position of parents and came up with multiplayer.
To make it possible for two players to play the same game, each was given a gamepad in their hands, provided controllability for two characters and divided the screen into 2 parts.
Each player sees his character on his share of the screen and controls him.
The screen can be divided both vertically (left and right) and horizontally (upper and lower parts). There are cooperative games with the division of the screen into 3-4 parts (with more than two players).
Each part of the screen has its own endurance scale, bonuses, ratings, etc. for this player.
The “Split Screen” mode has become widespread in sports racing games, where pilots often move away from each other for long distances. It is also used in shooting games where opposing characters need to aim.
If we recall Harry Potter games with multiplayer , then we so lacked the “Split Screen” in the game “Goblet of Fire” to run away from each other, and not run around in a boring group. In the duel club of the “Half-Blood Prince” on consoles, we could never aim from the first person, playing for the second duelist, but only watched our actions from the side.
But the 4 Harry Potter games used this convenient mode, both for two-player rivalry and for joining forces in a team game.

Multiplayer in the game “Quidditch World Cup”

Connecting multiplayer in the PC game “Quidditch World Cup” is very simple. Nevertheless, it always raises a number of questions from users.
In the Options-Controller Configuration menu there is a keyboard layout for the 1st and 2nd player. For the first player, it is the numeric keypad on the right (as in a single player game), and for the second – the numeric keypad on top.

It turns out that the first player is sitting on the right at the computer, and the second player is on the left.
I must say that the layout for the second player is very inconvenient, stretched, and it cannot be made more compact, because the layout does not react to alphabetic characters.
A combination of a keyboard and a gamepad is possible.

Select one of the menu items: “Demonstration” or “Quidditch”.
We choose the first team, then the second. And now – attention! We are invited to choose who will be the first, who will be the second. You need to choose from the part of the keyboard that belongs to one of the players.
The “Right” and “Left” commands are used to select. If for the first player there are arrows on the keyboard,
then for the second player there are numbers 1 and 3 :

A multiplayer game is different from a single game against a computer, because the second player is also not a fool, wants to win and will not let him get to his gate so easily.
It is here that you can use all the variety of strategies – to delay time or speed up the match. The actions of the players are visible from the back, when the quaffle is lost, the camera turns to your gate.
The competition in catching the snitch will add excitement – here even the loser can snatch the victory that had escaped back.

It is when catching the snitch that the split screen mode is used Split screen.
The screen is divided horizontally. Each player can see their own game space with the possibility of manipulation.
Everyone sees the trail of the snitch, himself, his scale, and can also follow the opponent.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to play the World or Hogwarts championships together here, to lead tournament tables, to earn points.
Multiplayer is only available for “friendly meetings”.
In a single game multiplayer can be successfully used for training, practicing moves, combo passes, etc. In conditions close to the match, you can train calmly, and at the same time not be afraid that the opponent will take away your quafl at every step.

Multiplayer in LEGO Harry Potter games

In LEGO Harry Potter games, multiplayer can not be configured at all, you just have to press the F2 key during the game – and the second player is connected.
One keyboard is enough for both players. A combination with a gamepad and keyboard is possible.

LEGO HP 1-4

LEGO HP 5-7

For the second player, the numeric keypad is used. Please note that players use different keys to pause "Enter" – normal or numeric keypad.
To exit the player from the game in the “Drop-in/Drop-out” way (entered/exited): you need to press his “Enter” key and exit. The computer starts playing for the character.
Note: in the game “LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7”, the items in the personal menus are selected by the jump key (“J” for the 1st player and “2” for the 2nd player).

LEGO HP 1-4

LEGO HP 5-7

To get back into the game, press F1 for the 1st player or F2 for the 2nd.
The Split Screen mode in LEGO games is a simple crossing of the screen with a floating line that is fixed in the center and rotates relative to this center. The screen shares are constantly changing depending on the movements of the characters.
When the characters diverge in different directions, the screen is divided into parts, each player has his own road section, his own overview, his own perspective. As soon as the players approach, the general screen returns to its place.

Multiplayer in LEGO is a cooperative, cooperative game. Some missions are more convenient to go through together: one distracts attention to himself, the second fulfills his plans.
What is interesting is that switching to the 3rd player is still available inside the multiplayer (as in a single game).

Video materials
Videos

Split Screen in the game “Quidditch World Cup”

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The page uses graphic material from computer games about Harry Potter. All rights to the games belong to the companies Electronic Arts Inc, Traveller’s Tales.

Placement and web design: OOKS.

Video preparation : IraOOKS.

Testing the “Drop-in/Drop-out” mode in the game “LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7” : АlехeyMS. Consultant : Setebos.