Online Gaming on Consoles. What do you think?

anthrax

Senior member
Feb 8, 2000
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The ideas expressed in this post are purely speculative......

just read a little snippet of PS3.....<a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/digital/news/story.jsp?story=289715">
http://news.independent.co.uk/digital/news/story.jsp?story=289715</A>

okay, i am not about the debate about the actually specficiation of the machine but on the following....

PlayStation 3 is being designed specifically to handle online gaming ? seen by many analysts as the future of video games.?


Any guesses on how would it work? ... any ideas on how such Online gaming on console would work?

Possible Solution 1...

Console ===> NIC====> Connection to Console makers Properatery Gaming Network with subscription ===>server

Possible Solution 2....(abit like Internet gamming on PC)

Console ===> NIC====> Connection to Internet (third party Broad Band ISP)====> Gaming Network Client (ie Game Spy Arcade) ===> server.

Any other ideas welcome...

How do you think it would work?







 

Ben50

Senior member
Apr 29, 2001
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Well right now I am using gamespy to play halo over the Internet. The software is on my computer and it finds the xbox through the network connection and then allows it to connect with other Xbox's. This is really just a hack though compared to what online console gaming will eventually be. The software will be integrated into the console so you won't necessarily need a computer to make it work. All you will need is a connection to the Internet and you'll be good to go.
 

anthrax

Senior member
Feb 8, 2000
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yea...thats the intresting part...for console gaming it would have to be made really easy to use....

with solution 1:
the Console maker could easily make you sign up to its own network ISP. (most likely offered thru a alliance with some ISP)
this of course would will make the system even easier to use but is every one goin to change their Provider......do you think the provider will be able to provide decent service.......?


with solution 2: more like what you are using now?

This solution is abit more complex becuase there are many ways to set up a internet connection depending on ISP and setup......so this solution puts alot of complexity to it...( i suspect Xbox would go down this way as it offers better compatability but at the cost of complexity)


any way...also like to ask....how well does Online Halo Play?


 

Ben50

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Apr 29, 2001
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<< any way...also like to ask....how well does Online Halo Play? >>



It is awesome when there isn't too much lag. They recommend at least 128K per person playing so you had better have a good connection. Luckily I am on a college lan so it works great for the most part. Plus we have other people to play directly over the lan which is even better since there is less lag. There is nothing better than a 16 player team slayer or ctf game of halo. It's just crazy.
 

Dufusyte

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Jul 7, 2000
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I'm waiting for the day when Consoles and PC players can go toe to toe online.

Then we will find out if two thumbs are really better than ten fingers.

Or, to put it another way, we will finally teach the console players how pathetic their controller truly is.
 

Duck0fD3ath

Junior Member
Apr 24, 2002
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I have Xbox and PS2, and play Halo on Gamespy also. The actual online setup will be this:

Console (built-in NIC) ===> cable/dsl modem ====> Connection to Internet (third party Broad Band ISP)====> Gaming Network Client (built into the console (Xbox) or console game (PS2)) ===> server (xbox: MS proprietary; PS2: game proprietary)

The main difference b/t Xbox online and PS2 online is that for Xbox, Microsoft will be running all the servers. They've already announced this in various interviews, and have several hundred up and running and being tested right now. All Xbox online games will run on MS servers, and MS shipped the online dev kits months ago. All Xbox online games will therefore have to meet certain MS requirements, for example they must all use the Xbox Communicator (voice comm headset) since there will be no keyboard for chat and smack; and they must support MS's in-game match-making and buddy service. Theoretically Xbox gamers should be able to log onto Live (the official name of Xbox online) and page their buddies. If their buddies are playing a game, they'll still get the page in the middle of the game, and can leave that game to go join whoever paged them in another game, or invite the pager to join their game. Communications in Live should be game-independent, and it's sounding like it will be a tight system. If you haven't already seen this relatively old Xbox Live concept vid, check it out. MS showed it to an analyst meeting a while back to demonstrate what Xbox Live should be like, and from info leaked about it so far, it's shaping up very much like the concept vid shows:

Xbox Live: DarkMaster

PS2 online on the other hand is looking like a more eclectic mix. If a dev wants to make an online game, they will have to run the servers themselves, and set their own standards for them game. Sony is also working with Real Networks for video services. They initially announced a web browser for it as well, but recently renegged on that. It still may show up later as an add-on.

That's pretty much all I know at this point, all this is from interviews at gaming sites I've read over the past few months. All three console makers have publicly promised to announce and detail their online plans at E3 May 22-24, so the wait for the truth is almost over.

 

JHeiderman

Senior member
Jan 29, 2002
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<< I'm waiting for the day when Consoles and PC players can go toe to toe online.

Then we will find out if two thumbs are really better than ten fingers.

Or, to put it another way, we will finally teach the console players how pathetic their controller truly is.
>>



Thats great but the day was about 2 years ago when Quake 3 Arena for the Dreamcast came out. You could download the Dreamcast Maps for your PC and play against the DC players online.

The Dreamcast came with a 56k modem... it was ready to handle online gaming when the PS3 is being designed specificaly to handle online gaming? Whats more ready than including a Modem?

Everything you guys are talking about has already been done with the Dreamcast. I'm not starting a war, merely pointing out that it has been done and it is very very cool! I can't wait until these "Next Gen" consoles catch up with my "retired" Sega Dreamcast.

I'm going to fire up my DC with it's Ethernet adapter and play a little console online gaming tomorrow evening I think...

Now on the same token I couldn't be happier that the DC is discontinued. That means that Sega realized that if they kept the console they were going to lose all the great minds that make it happen. I'd much rather have that group of engineers/developers/and artists working together today than Sega go broke and loose them to various development houses.

If you have a DC, fire it up, throw in Quake 3 Arena, and pay your respects!

- J
 

CedarTeeth135

Senior member
Feb 22, 2002
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I think online gaming should be kept to the computer. As far as the X Box goes. I hate it, damn Microsoft.

Sorry, must remain true to my GameCube.