'Left 4 Dead''s Lead Designer Explains Why Split-Screen Has Quietly Disappeared

If Wii and the "LEGO" games have proven anything, it's that people still like to play games with other people in the same room.

Despite this revelation, games of the last few years have all but abandoned split-screen gameplay. Almost everything has been relegated to online multiplayer.

But split-screen was something "Left 4 Dead" lead designer Michael Booth believed was critically important to the Xbox 360 version of his co-op zombie shooter - even if it was going to be a nightmare to implement.

"Split-screen was a pretty huge investment," said Booth to MTV Multiplayer at a San Francisco event to unveil the zombie mode of the game last night. "It's hard. That's the thing."