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The very, very early PCs used Punchcards. For the very old, and wise members on this forum, I'm sure you can remember this. I was told by my dad that everything you wanted to do involved a long and painful process of organising these punchcards, and if only one got out of place you'd mess up the whole routine.
Now look at them today. As I'm sitting here, typing out this topic, I'm still amazed at the technology used in computers. I sometimes start to believe that its all amazing magic. (Then I slap myself)
Anyway, we all know that in modern offices and schools, the computers are usually networked. This allows for easy of file-sharing and being able to use a different PC every time. But were the original PCs networked? No! They were, as I said, punchcard based. Imagine having a networked game of 'Punchsweeper' or 'Punch Life'. Excuse my cynicism, but this isn't the case. Networking only comes at the pinnacle of technology, and in the case of the PC, from when the internet was first introduced in 1989.
Video Games are actually an older format than PCs, believe it or not. The first videogame was created in 1941, using an oscilloscope for viewing. Very primitive, and I know that video-gaming has only started to take of majorly in the last 10 or so years. When PCs met the mainstream public, they started to get creative, and we got the internet. Now that gaming really is starting to be publicised and introduced into many homes, we are starting to get creativity, and I think that the next big step is networking.
Don't get me wrong though. I'm not talking about how all the consoles are going to become online compatible and the like, because that isn't innovation. Its merely plugging our consoles into PCs, or similar; taking advantage of what actually exists. What I'm talking about, is a gaming based internet, with which people can interact and play games across the globe, regardless of browsers, IPs, compatability and so on. What would be great, is the equivalent of a very long, multi-gang link cable.
And what better to use, than telephone lines. And that's exactly what those clever bods at xerox thought of when introducing the internet. Already about 99% of all 1st world households have phone lines, which means instant accessibility to pretty much everybody. What a great idea. But the thing is, when we talk about having internet on our consoles, thats exactly it. Internet on our consoles. PC-internet, on our consoles. Why settle for this. I've recently seen the PS2's online capabilities being shown off. With a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Real innovation, if you ask me.
Now before I gag, wouldn't it be so much simpler to ditch the unnecessary added peripherals, screens and technical blurb. After all, consoles are really there to give instant gaming, not unfashionable loading screens, 60+ keyboards and mouses, they are popular with (and this is how they got their name) casual gamers. If you ask me, extra wires numbers and codes aren't very casual. The first console to properly give this kind of non-technical networking is the Xbox. We call it LAN, every technical bod knows it means local area network, and it is the internet without the hassle of dial-up protocol and browser-based gaming. It allows for many, many consoles to be linked up. So what about a world wide LAN, well, IAN (international area network). Saves a lot of hassle.
And while gaming is finally entering a mainstream audience, so will we finally get a decent multiplayer game, without the quarter-screen squinting and considerably bad framerate. Link cables are finally being used well, and with things like the GameBoy demonstrating how extraodinarily well link cables can work, consoles should start to do the same.
Networking is the future of gaming, massively multiplayer online games, and while I look forward to this interesting and bold new step forward, I can't help but think that our consoles are just being turned into PCs.
Now look at them today. As I'm sitting here, typing out this topic, I'm still amazed at the technology used in computers. I sometimes start to believe that its all amazing magic. (Then I slap myself)
Anyway, we all know that in modern offices and schools, the computers are usually networked. This allows for easy of file-sharing and being able to use a different PC every time. But were the original PCs networked? No! They were, as I said, punchcard based. Imagine having a networked game of 'Punchsweeper' or 'Punch Life'. Excuse my cynicism, but this isn't the case. Networking only comes at the pinnacle of technology, and in the case of the PC, from when the internet was first introduced in 1989.
Video Games are actually an older format than PCs, believe it or not. The first videogame was created in 1941, using an oscilloscope for viewing. Very primitive, and I know that video-gaming has only started to take of majorly in the last 10 or so years. When PCs met the mainstream public, they started to get creative, and we got the internet. Now that gaming really is starting to be publicised and introduced into many homes, we are starting to get creativity, and I think that the next big step is networking.
Don't get me wrong though. I'm not talking about how all the consoles are going to become online compatible and the like, because that isn't innovation. Its merely plugging our consoles into PCs, or similar; taking advantage of what actually exists. What I'm talking about, is a gaming based internet, with which people can interact and play games across the globe, regardless of browsers, IPs, compatability and so on. What would be great, is the equivalent of a very long, multi-gang link cable.
And what better to use, than telephone lines. And that's exactly what those clever bods at xerox thought of when introducing the internet. Already about 99% of all 1st world households have phone lines, which means instant accessibility to pretty much everybody. What a great idea. But the thing is, when we talk about having internet on our consoles, thats exactly it. Internet on our consoles. PC-internet, on our consoles. Why settle for this. I've recently seen the PS2's online capabilities being shown off. With a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Real innovation, if you ask me.
Now before I gag, wouldn't it be so much simpler to ditch the unnecessary added peripherals, screens and technical blurb. After all, consoles are really there to give instant gaming, not unfashionable loading screens, 60+ keyboards and mouses, they are popular with (and this is how they got their name) casual gamers. If you ask me, extra wires numbers and codes aren't very casual. The first console to properly give this kind of non-technical networking is the Xbox. We call it LAN, every technical bod knows it means local area network, and it is the internet without the hassle of dial-up protocol and browser-based gaming. It allows for many, many consoles to be linked up. So what about a world wide LAN, well, IAN (international area network). Saves a lot of hassle.
And while gaming is finally entering a mainstream audience, so will we finally get a decent multiplayer game, without the quarter-screen squinting and considerably bad framerate. Link cables are finally being used well, and with things like the GameBoy demonstrating how extraodinarily well link cables can work, consoles should start to do the same.
Networking is the future of gaming, massively multiplayer online games, and while I look forward to this interesting and bold new step forward, I can't help but think that our consoles are just being turned into PCs.
Sega have already done this "world wide lobby idea"- Phantasy Star Online!
Gamers from round the world (using ANY console in theory) can connect with the game to Sega servers (answering one of your questions) and play.
As for the last 2 remaining questions, once people get braodband (which is already very big in America and Japan (BT is the cause of no bb over here!) then everyone gets flat rate access 24/7.
Sonic
Gamers from round the world (using ANY console in theory) can connect with the game to Sega servers (answering one of your questions) and play.
As for the last 2 remaining questions, once people get braodband (which is already very big in America and Japan (BT is the cause of no bb over here!) then everyone gets flat rate access 24/7.
Sonic
A kind of world wide games lobby would be quite nice - you could use your pc to play your mates on a ps2! [MAJOR TECHNICAL PROBLEM(S) DETECTED!!] Firstly, game developers would have to make all the different consoles compatable. Secondly, who would host the world wide lobby? Thirdly, Everyone would need a second phone line and an "anytime all the time" ISP.
And Finally, LAG(The time it takes for all the messages to get around the world x times per minute).
We can dream , but what will happen? who knows? lets just hope that it's what we want.
And Finally, LAG(The time it takes for all the messages to get around the world x times per minute).
We can dream , but what will happen? who knows? lets just hope that it's what we want.
The very, very early PCs used Punchcards. For the very old, and wise members on this forum, I'm sure you can remember this. I was told by my dad that everything you wanted to do involved a long and painful process of organising these punchcards, and if only one got out of place you'd mess up the whole routine.
Now look at them today. As I'm sitting here, typing out this topic, I'm still amazed at the technology used in computers. I sometimes start to believe that its all amazing magic. (Then I slap myself)
Anyway, we all know that in modern offices and schools, the computers are usually networked. This allows for easy of file-sharing and being able to use a different PC every time. But were the original PCs networked? No! They were, as I said, punchcard based. Imagine having a networked game of 'Punchsweeper' or 'Punch Life'. Excuse my cynicism, but this isn't the case. Networking only comes at the pinnacle of technology, and in the case of the PC, from when the internet was first introduced in 1989.
Video Games are actually an older format than PCs, believe it or not. The first videogame was created in 1941, using an oscilloscope for viewing. Very primitive, and I know that video-gaming has only started to take of majorly in the last 10 or so years. When PCs met the mainstream public, they started to get creative, and we got the internet. Now that gaming really is starting to be publicised and introduced into many homes, we are starting to get creativity, and I think that the next big step is networking.
Don't get me wrong though. I'm not talking about how all the consoles are going to become online compatible and the like, because that isn't innovation. Its merely plugging our consoles into PCs, or similar; taking advantage of what actually exists. What I'm talking about, is a gaming based internet, with which people can interact and play games across the globe, regardless of browsers, IPs, compatability and so on. What would be great, is the equivalent of a very long, multi-gang link cable.
And what better to use, than telephone lines. And that's exactly what those clever bods at xerox thought of when introducing the internet. Already about 99% of all 1st world households have phone lines, which means instant accessibility to pretty much everybody. What a great idea. But the thing is, when we talk about having internet on our consoles, thats exactly it. Internet on our consoles. PC-internet, on our consoles. Why settle for this. I've recently seen the PS2's online capabilities being shown off. With a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Real innovation, if you ask me.
Now before I gag, wouldn't it be so much simpler to ditch the unnecessary added peripherals, screens and technical blurb. After all, consoles are really there to give instant gaming, not unfashionable loading screens, 60+ keyboards and mouses, they are popular with (and this is how they got their name) casual gamers. If you ask me, extra wires numbers and codes aren't very casual. The first console to properly give this kind of non-technical networking is the Xbox. We call it LAN, every technical bod knows it means local area network, and it is the internet without the hassle of dial-up protocol and browser-based gaming. It allows for many, many consoles to be linked up. So what about a world wide LAN, well, IAN (international area network). Saves a lot of hassle.
And while gaming is finally entering a mainstream audience, so will we finally get a decent multiplayer game, without the quarter-screen squinting and considerably bad framerate. Link cables are finally being used well, and with things like the GameBoy demonstrating how extraodinarily well link cables can work, consoles should start to do the same.
Networking is the future of gaming, massively multiplayer online games, and while I look forward to this interesting and bold new step forward, I can't help but think that our consoles are just being turned into PCs.
Now look at them today. As I'm sitting here, typing out this topic, I'm still amazed at the technology used in computers. I sometimes start to believe that its all amazing magic. (Then I slap myself)
Anyway, we all know that in modern offices and schools, the computers are usually networked. This allows for easy of file-sharing and being able to use a different PC every time. But were the original PCs networked? No! They were, as I said, punchcard based. Imagine having a networked game of 'Punchsweeper' or 'Punch Life'. Excuse my cynicism, but this isn't the case. Networking only comes at the pinnacle of technology, and in the case of the PC, from when the internet was first introduced in 1989.
Video Games are actually an older format than PCs, believe it or not. The first videogame was created in 1941, using an oscilloscope for viewing. Very primitive, and I know that video-gaming has only started to take of majorly in the last 10 or so years. When PCs met the mainstream public, they started to get creative, and we got the internet. Now that gaming really is starting to be publicised and introduced into many homes, we are starting to get creativity, and I think that the next big step is networking.
Don't get me wrong though. I'm not talking about how all the consoles are going to become online compatible and the like, because that isn't innovation. Its merely plugging our consoles into PCs, or similar; taking advantage of what actually exists. What I'm talking about, is a gaming based internet, with which people can interact and play games across the globe, regardless of browsers, IPs, compatability and so on. What would be great, is the equivalent of a very long, multi-gang link cable.
And what better to use, than telephone lines. And that's exactly what those clever bods at xerox thought of when introducing the internet. Already about 99% of all 1st world households have phone lines, which means instant accessibility to pretty much everybody. What a great idea. But the thing is, when we talk about having internet on our consoles, thats exactly it. Internet on our consoles. PC-internet, on our consoles. Why settle for this. I've recently seen the PS2's online capabilities being shown off. With a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Real innovation, if you ask me.
Now before I gag, wouldn't it be so much simpler to ditch the unnecessary added peripherals, screens and technical blurb. After all, consoles are really there to give instant gaming, not unfashionable loading screens, 60+ keyboards and mouses, they are popular with (and this is how they got their name) casual gamers. If you ask me, extra wires numbers and codes aren't very casual. The first console to properly give this kind of non-technical networking is the Xbox. We call it LAN, every technical bod knows it means local area network, and it is the internet without the hassle of dial-up protocol and browser-based gaming. It allows for many, many consoles to be linked up. So what about a world wide LAN, well, IAN (international area network). Saves a lot of hassle.
And while gaming is finally entering a mainstream audience, so will we finally get a decent multiplayer game, without the quarter-screen squinting and considerably bad framerate. Link cables are finally being used well, and with things like the GameBoy demonstrating how extraodinarily well link cables can work, consoles should start to do the same.
Networking is the future of gaming, massively multiplayer online games, and while I look forward to this interesting and bold new step forward, I can't help but think that our consoles are just being turned into PCs.