Our Golden Age of System Link

 By Mike Loder 

Multiplayer gaming is a huge part of why I fell in love with video games in the first place. Once I found out we could go beyond the standard 4-player local gameplay I’d grown up with, I was so excited to see what was next.

It all started with a tip from Ken—our family computer man—and his son Jared, who casually mentioned that a standard ethernet cable could connect two Xbox consoles together.

That revelation was a game-changer for me as a young teen. All we needed was an ethernet cable, a router, and two Xbox consoles—not a big ask for my friendship group at the time, as all of us were avid gamers. (I think I’m the only one left still blabbing on about gaming, though. Lol.)

 The Days of the Duke

My first foray into system link gaming was during the era of the original Xbox (2002–2010). That thunderous green wonder, paired with Halo and Halo 2, became the foundation for my multiplayer dreams. System link was a largely untapped feature, an overlooked section of many games.

I even managed to get my hands on the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack—an early form of DLC that added new maps to an already stacked lineup. Back then, it felt impossibly cool to have an expanded library of maps.

 Working at GameTraders later brought this memory full circle. I once saved a mother from buying the Map Pack disc, thinking it was the actual Halo 2 game. Clear box art and text formatting are important, folks! Gaming is already confusing enough for parents. (See also: the Mario Party and Mario Party 3 box art.) 

 Remember Reach

Fast forward a few years, and Xbox Live became the main focus with the Xbox 360. Call of Duty took center stage for a while, but when Halo Reach launched, system link returned in full force.

My friends, both old and new, dedicated entire days to what had essentially become our version of a sport. Burgers, beers, and plenty of gaming. Our passion for Halo came roaring back, fuelled by features like Forge mode, Theatre mode, and the awesome amount of customisation in the game modes. (Jetpacks were a very popular addition to my aerial maps.)

Forge mode became my personal playground. I spent hours crafting all kinds of scenarios—from epic vehicular D-Day landing maps to custom zombie modes where players had to fend off melee-weapon-wielding hordes. 

Liminal LAN

Later, I would even get a second-hand Xbox 360 in order to have 8-player matches available whenever we needed, without having to borrow another console from friends. 

I’d diligently plug everything in, replace batteries in all the controllers, and make sure each TV was facing away from the others (no screen-cheating up in here!). 

Then I’d fire up each version of the game and log in players based on skill and who I wanted to sit next to. It was then time to get a snacks and drinks sorted - We were also most likely getting pizza delivered for dinner. 

Once logged in, it was a surreal feeling to walk around the maps with the rest of the players standing idle during these tests. 

There’s something strangely comforting and liminal about wandering around empty multiplayer maps, with the soundscapes playing but no chaos unfolding ... yet!

Community and connection

The surprising and really nice thing about Halo and system link was the timing. We were the perfect age to enjoy this type of gaming and mobile enough to actually pack up our consoles and TVs to set up a base at someone’s house—usually a parent’s place while they were away.

I loved going the extra mile—building custom music playlists and even customising everyone’s armor before they arrived, just so each player looked unique. Yes, I was nitpicky and controlling, but I like to think it added to the magic of those events.

Now, after all these years, with many of my old friends moving on and stepping away from gaming, I reflect on those LAN party days with a bit of melancholy. Perhaps the time is now to bring them back?

It became harder as people switched consoles and access to the same hardware and titles dwindled. 

Priorities shifted, money went elsewhere, and for many, the joy of video games simply faded away.

But this of course gave way for new experiences and new friends to game with and fresh communities to explore. 

Note - As of writing this article my Xbox 360 has suffered the "red dot of death" :(

I will endevour to restore my forge maps and to explore the layouts ... maybe a video for another time.