http://kotaku.com/5416640/aint-no-lan-party-like-a-swedish-lan-party look at all those gamers in that room. local multiplayer is still king.
there is something about playing a game with someone right next to you as opposed to someone who is online. playing a game online through the internet is fine but at the end of the day, local multiplayer is the king.
I play MMO's with my wife to oneside of me and my son on the other side. Local+online multiplayer is the real king.