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Broadband isn't the future of online gaming, well actually it is but now is the present, not the future. I was inspired to right this by Franny's topic but its not hte same, I'm arguing that Broadband isn't the solution to console gaming yet.
Seeing as NTL is facing someting of a crisis at the moment regarding its future - it has 12 billion in debt that it can't really make an attempt to pay and face bankruptcy - it seems a little bit optimistic to rely on them for the future of Broadband access, in fact it's highly questionable as to whether its worth Sony and Microsoft pursuing it, though Microsoft have no option but to now, really.
As it is, NTL's much vaunted network is a mish mash of bought out companies - they haven't so much as made it as patched it together ! Bt has been slow off the mark but they are at least upgrading lines, not trying to patch up a makeshift network. In addition, BT is solely a telecommunications company, NTL has to worry about its cable and digital television branches - an area dominated by SKY who have seen off ITV Digital and are probably going to face off to NTL next. In a digital price war NTL will have to cut costs as it offers fewer channels for more money at the moment. Cheap and free phone access was one of NTLs winning points, but their bad reputation in this area is killing them.
Broadband is the future of internet gaming, thats definite, but now isn't the time for it. Many gamers with PC's have only just recently started out on the internet, and the internet itself is only just gaining recognition as something worthwhile. Undoubtedly some X Box owners have Broadband via NTL/BT/Telwest or whoever, and they pay a subscription fee for that use. Microsoft have made it quite clear that their gaming site is going to exist as a subscription site, unlike the existing zone.com for PC gamers. Sony haven't made any firm announcement yet, but subscription fees are likely. Last week saw the cost of normal analogue internet access rise for many who are on unlimited plans - AOL, Freeserve and BTOpenworld all raised or intend to raise prices. This morning BT has announced its intention to clear 10 billion of its own debt - thats not a recipe for falling charges is it ? So Braodband is farely rare, expensive, but good.
56k access, whilst not brilliant, is quite reasonable when used on a subscription gaming site - like the old BT Wireplay one. Most gamers, with a PC, have this kind of access and could probably afford £5 or so to play every month on a subscription site. Sony have allowed their usersthis option and it may well win them the first round of the online gaming contest.
By relying solely on Broadband Microsoft have alienated a vast number of potential buyers, sureall of us here know the benefits because we are mostly experienced gamers, but imagine this scenario being played out in your local game, when the PS2 and X Box are being compared by a customer;
CUSTOMER: So that one can use a modem for broadband and normal access, and *points to X Box* that ones just broadband ?
SALES PERSON: Yeah, but broadbands better, its faster and a lot more fun.
CUSTOMER: Which is cheaper ?
SALESPERSON: Normal access.
CUSTOMER: Get us a Playstation 2 then....
(I'm not saying here that Gamecube isn't worth comparing or anything, I just don't know much about the Gamecube yet)
Price is everything in Britain, cheapest wins nearly every time. Why is Sony doing so well now ? Their console is cheapest of the current ones, their games are cheaper. Why are DVDs so popular now ? The players are cheaper. Digital tv ? Its cheaper than it was.
It's okay saying Broadband is the future and that its brilliant, but for any online site to be viable, and for publishers to make the games, you've got to have a large user base of people that can afford to access them. Sony and Microsoft, and Nintendo, need to establish large user bases before trying to wrench more money from them. Come back in five years time and maybe Broadband will look good then. At the moment it's a bad idea and unless the big three are careful, online games will be the 21st century equivalent of light gun games. And we all know how many light gun games there have been through history don't we, you could count them on your fingers and toes.....
Seeing as NTL is facing someting of a crisis at the moment regarding its future - it has 12 billion in debt that it can't really make an attempt to pay and face bankruptcy - it seems a little bit optimistic to rely on them for the future of Broadband access, in fact it's highly questionable as to whether its worth Sony and Microsoft pursuing it, though Microsoft have no option but to now, really.
As it is, NTL's much vaunted network is a mish mash of bought out companies - they haven't so much as made it as patched it together ! Bt has been slow off the mark but they are at least upgrading lines, not trying to patch up a makeshift network. In addition, BT is solely a telecommunications company, NTL has to worry about its cable and digital television branches - an area dominated by SKY who have seen off ITV Digital and are probably going to face off to NTL next. In a digital price war NTL will have to cut costs as it offers fewer channels for more money at the moment. Cheap and free phone access was one of NTLs winning points, but their bad reputation in this area is killing them.
Broadband is the future of internet gaming, thats definite, but now isn't the time for it. Many gamers with PC's have only just recently started out on the internet, and the internet itself is only just gaining recognition as something worthwhile. Undoubtedly some X Box owners have Broadband via NTL/BT/Telwest or whoever, and they pay a subscription fee for that use. Microsoft have made it quite clear that their gaming site is going to exist as a subscription site, unlike the existing zone.com for PC gamers. Sony haven't made any firm announcement yet, but subscription fees are likely. Last week saw the cost of normal analogue internet access rise for many who are on unlimited plans - AOL, Freeserve and BTOpenworld all raised or intend to raise prices. This morning BT has announced its intention to clear 10 billion of its own debt - thats not a recipe for falling charges is it ? So Braodband is farely rare, expensive, but good.
56k access, whilst not brilliant, is quite reasonable when used on a subscription gaming site - like the old BT Wireplay one. Most gamers, with a PC, have this kind of access and could probably afford £5 or so to play every month on a subscription site. Sony have allowed their usersthis option and it may well win them the first round of the online gaming contest.
By relying solely on Broadband Microsoft have alienated a vast number of potential buyers, sureall of us here know the benefits because we are mostly experienced gamers, but imagine this scenario being played out in your local game, when the PS2 and X Box are being compared by a customer;
CUSTOMER: So that one can use a modem for broadband and normal access, and *points to X Box* that ones just broadband ?
SALES PERSON: Yeah, but broadbands better, its faster and a lot more fun.
CUSTOMER: Which is cheaper ?
SALESPERSON: Normal access.
CUSTOMER: Get us a Playstation 2 then....
(I'm not saying here that Gamecube isn't worth comparing or anything, I just don't know much about the Gamecube yet)
Price is everything in Britain, cheapest wins nearly every time. Why is Sony doing so well now ? Their console is cheapest of the current ones, their games are cheaper. Why are DVDs so popular now ? The players are cheaper. Digital tv ? Its cheaper than it was.
It's okay saying Broadband is the future and that its brilliant, but for any online site to be viable, and for publishers to make the games, you've got to have a large user base of people that can afford to access them. Sony and Microsoft, and Nintendo, need to establish large user bases before trying to wrench more money from them. Come back in five years time and maybe Broadband will look good then. At the moment it's a bad idea and unless the big three are careful, online games will be the 21st century equivalent of light gun games. And we all know how many light gun games there have been through history don't we, you could count them on your fingers and toes.....
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My intention wasn't to actually "have a go" at any of the companies involved, but to point out that as a whole broadband isn't widespread or cheap enough to rely on it at this point in time to create an online console gaming community.
BT have a debt of £10 billion but unlike NTL they can;
A) Afford to pay the interest.
B) Are actually making money.
C) Have a strategy that investors believe in.
D) Haven't got creditors and investors laying siege to their proverbial castle and howling like wolves for their cash back.
BT also have 2 major ISPS - Openworld and BTInternet - and they are actually building their network from the ground up using new technology, instead of NTL's patchwork. Nearly all companies have debt but whats important is their plan to repay that debt - BT could sell of numerous subsiduaries but whats NTL going to do, all its services are tied together, adn who'd want to buy them ? NTL's problem is that is unprofitable at the moment and cannot pay back anyone - BT is making a profit.
A) Afford to pay the interest.
B) Are actually making money.
C) Have a strategy that investors believe in.
D) Haven't got creditors and investors laying siege to their proverbial castle and howling like wolves for their cash back.
BT also have 2 major ISPS - Openworld and BTInternet - and they are actually building their network from the ground up using new technology, instead of NTL's patchwork. Nearly all companies have debt but whats important is their plan to repay that debt - BT could sell of numerous subsiduaries but whats NTL going to do, all its services are tied together, adn who'd want to buy them ? NTL's problem is that is unprofitable at the moment and cannot pay back anyone - BT is making a profit.
Your Honour wrote:
> Told you so....
>:-D
Yeah, maybe I should have put it in prime, everyone here i too busy complaining about how much spam is here to bother with any non spam topics - ironic eh ? Not to worry, I'll do a "X Box shall crush all opposition and destroy sony" topic tomorrow...betcah that gets some interest. I shall make it 200 words, no paragraphs, little spelling and use txt tlk ust to ensure some interest :P
> Told you so....
>:-D
Yeah, maybe I should have put it in prime, everyone here i too busy complaining about how much spam is here to bother with any non spam topics - ironic eh ? Not to worry, I'll do a "X Box shall crush all opposition and destroy sony" topic tomorrow...betcah that gets some interest. I shall make it 200 words, no paragraphs, little spelling and use txt tlk ust to ensure some interest :P
Told you so....
:-D
:-D
*POP*
deserves more reads and posts...READ AND POST!
deserves more reads and posts...READ AND POST!
Last time I posted a topic in FOG Prime all that happened was Sonicrav going ott about how wrong I was, he hten came back later and said he'd gone ott himself but it killed the topic before it even started.....
Anyway I think Darkness has a point. The 3 consoles are facing each other off over online gaming and gaming in general but what if the real winner - in terms of dominatin online gaming - is the PC ? It offers a wide choiceofgames an genres, free play, unlimited access over 56k and a choice of broadband or analogue connections.
Anyway I think Darkness has a point. The 3 consoles are facing each other off over online gaming and gaming in general but what if the real winner - in terms of dominatin online gaming - is the PC ? It offers a wide choiceofgames an genres, free play, unlimited access over 56k and a choice of broadband or analogue connections.
Last time I posted a topic in FOG Prime all that happened was Sonicrav going ott about how wrong I was, he hten came back later and said he'd gone ott himself but it killed the topic before it even started.....
Anyway I think Darkness has a point. The 3 consoles are facing each other off over online gaming and gaming in general but what if the real winner - in terms of dominatin online gaming - is the PC ? It offers a wide choiceofgames an genres, free play, unlimited access over 56k and a choice of broadband or analogue connections.
Anyway I think Darkness has a point. The 3 consoles are facing each other off over online gaming and gaming in general but what if the real winner - in terms of dominatin online gaming - is the PC ? It offers a wide choiceofgames an genres, free play, unlimited access over 56k and a choice of broadband or analogue connections.
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