What Are The Disadvantages Of Online Games?

The biggest pro would be seeing how you stack up comparing with other players, especially if you're into the whole halo or any other shooter thing. Plus, it has proven to be more fun as you get a bigger adrenaline rush with other players as you do by yourself. If you have a headset or anything like that, you can team up with your friends and pwn everyone else before they see it coming!The cons would be, for the most part, people being idiots online. There are tons of morons online with stupid names, often vulgar, who like to shoot their mouths off more than their actual guns. If you get in a car/vehicle with an idiot, he can really mess you over, as if he crashes the car and ditches you with it, you can die and he'll live on! Also, your teammates can accidentally or purposefully run you over in a warthog, while you are trying to save their hide!Besides the idiots, there can be server problems, as no one might be on, or there might not be any servers with any more space for you, and then there's the slowdown issue, that comes and goes. 

Certainly, it depends on the system you are using (Nintendo and Sony are free, but Microsoft costs money; there are PC games that allow free online play and others that one must pay for).  However, there are general disadvantages that apply to any system.  I will attempt to cover a few of these.

In online play, there are always players that play a given game many more hours than you do (tweens and teens are the most likely to be in this group) and, thus, are able to defeat you much quicker than you might expect.  If you are looking for a challenge, this can be a good thing.  If you are looking to have a chance to win once in a while, this is a major disadvantage.

Also, "hitches" in the game may occur due to the number of participants on any given server.  Online play can sometimes bog down and, as a result, cause your game to totally break down.  You could be just about to win when, uh oh!  The screen freezes and your game is cut short.

As mentioned by another blurter, there are those online who like to use foul language.  Many games allow some sort of contact between participants.  This can be through an audio system or in a chat format (akin to Instant Messenger).  Every time I've played online, someone uses constant offensive language.  This can, if you are offended by profanity, take the enjoyment out of your online experience.  (If you are planning on allowing children to play online and players are able to communicate with each other, this is something to consider thoughtfully.  The ratings board for video games warns that online content in such games is NOT rated.  This is due to the fact that online communication always possesses a vulgar aspect.)

These are the three major disadvantages to online play.  There are more, but these should help answer your question.

Most are simple arcade-style games OR if they have any detail at all, they sometimes charge a fee. Their graphics can be considerably worse so that the number of participants can be maximized.

Other than that, online games can be great. Try Kingdom of Loathing for a great stick-man RPG that will make you laugh your tail off.