The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Any company (Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo) who launch a broadband games service in the UK is going to get a big shock. BT have just announced that it has 451,000 broadband users. That's rock bottom. Even if you add on a few more who get broadband with their Cable TV network, it's a poor showing. There's nothing to say that all of these users will be signing up to get XBox Live, or any other service from Sony or Nintendo anyway. Any existing broadband users are already spending plenty on their connection fee.
How can broadband console games make money in the UK with just that number of users? Anyone remember ITVDigital? The signal that nobody could get. And the assumption that people would automatically subscribe to a pay service.
In America, Cable TV covers a large part of the country. So most of that also has broadband access on the back of it. But in the UK, Cable TV is limited to just a few small area's, and not all of the Cable TV networks provide broadband anyway. Most people will have to try and get broadband using ADSL (broadband down an upgraded phone line). But all the phone exchanges need upgrading to enable this to work - and most exchanges have not been upgraded.
2Way broadband satellite is expensive, and has problems with "delays". You also need a special dish. Wireless broadband covers a fraction of the UK and needs a special aerial on the roof.
How can broadband console games make money in the UK with just that number of users? Anyone remember ITVDigital? The signal that nobody could get. And the assumption that people would automatically subscribe to a pay service.
In America, Cable TV covers a large part of the country. So most of that also has broadband access on the back of it. But in the UK, Cable TV is limited to just a few small area's, and not all of the Cable TV networks provide broadband anyway. Most people will have to try and get broadband using ADSL (broadband down an upgraded phone line). But all the phone exchanges need upgrading to enable this to work - and most exchanges have not been upgraded.
2Way broadband satellite is expensive, and has problems with "delays". You also need a special dish. Wireless broadband covers a fraction of the UK and needs a special aerial on the roof.
you console kiddies remind me of teenagers trying a new sex position.
You think you're so clever doing something new, but in reality, the position has been around a lot longer than you have.
You think you're so clever doing something new, but in reality, the position has been around a lot longer than you have.
Any company (Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo) who launch a broadband games service in the UK is going to get a big shock. BT have just announced that it has 451,000 broadband users. That's rock bottom. Even if you add on a few more who get broadband with their Cable TV network, it's a poor showing. There's nothing to say that all of these users will be signing up to get XBox Live, or any other service from Sony or Nintendo anyway. Any existing broadband users are already spending plenty on their connection fee.
How can broadband console games make money in the UK with just that number of users? Anyone remember ITVDigital? The signal that nobody could get. And the assumption that people would automatically subscribe to a pay service.
In America, Cable TV covers a large part of the country. So most of that also has broadband access on the back of it. But in the UK, Cable TV is limited to just a few small area's, and not all of the Cable TV networks provide broadband anyway. Most people will have to try and get broadband using ADSL (broadband down an upgraded phone line). But all the phone exchanges need upgrading to enable this to work - and most exchanges have not been upgraded.
2Way broadband satellite is expensive, and has problems with "delays". You also need a special dish. Wireless broadband covers a fraction of the UK and needs a special aerial on the roof.
How can broadband console games make money in the UK with just that number of users? Anyone remember ITVDigital? The signal that nobody could get. And the assumption that people would automatically subscribe to a pay service.
In America, Cable TV covers a large part of the country. So most of that also has broadband access on the back of it. But in the UK, Cable TV is limited to just a few small area's, and not all of the Cable TV networks provide broadband anyway. Most people will have to try and get broadband using ADSL (broadband down an upgraded phone line). But all the phone exchanges need upgrading to enable this to work - and most exchanges have not been upgraded.
2Way broadband satellite is expensive, and has problems with "delays". You also need a special dish. Wireless broadband covers a fraction of the UK and needs a special aerial on the roof.