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Well, recently we've seen the last of the Holy Trilogy released in the UK (the Gamecube, moron...HEY, SHUT UP! IT'S A GREAT METAPHOR!), so now there's not one, not two, but three console companies vying for your cash. In order to get at it, they've done a number of things. In Sony's case, made their console backwards compatible, and released it ahead of the pack, not to mention securing many fabulous franchises to make sure their console is not short of those ellusive 'Killer Apps'. For Microsoft, it's been the case of sticking in a 40GB hard drive to practically eliminate the need for buying Memory Cards, and making sure all their games that ARE on other consoles still haver XBOX-only stuff (see: Spiderman The Movie, Onimusha, Tony Hawk's etc.). When it comes to Nintendo, they've already got a market waiting for them: pre-schoolers. Hehe, only joking: Nintendo has been around for the longest, and so have the most experience. This has led to them having perhaps the greatest First-Party line-up of all the consoles (Zelda, Perfect Dark, Mario etc.), not to mention having link-up compatability with the smash hit of the summer, the Game Boy Advanced.
Even more recently, we've seen the price war. When the consoles came out, it looked like this:
PS2: £199
XBOX: £299
NGC: £149
But then, MS took a look at disapointing sales, and decided to make their console £100 cheaper. But of course, Nintendo was determined not to be outdone, and slashed the GC's price to leave the state of play, right now:
PS2: £199
XBOX: £199
NGC: £129
So, there's the option of buying an console already well established, with out of the box DVD compatibility for £199; or a brand spanking new console, with four controller ports and a hard drive, not to mention a game winning every award under the sun (Halo) ready, and a plethora of titles in devlopment for the very same price...and for a whole seventy squids less, you can get the Nintendo Cube, with enough hot prospects to give you sunburn. Taking a look at them all, there's one thing you immediately think: it's a great time to be a gamer. I mean, gaming films are being made left right and centre, and the market is outselling even the music industry...but there's very little to choose between them. In addition, there's the ever-present PC-owner attack: "Yeah, but can it go online?"
See, some of the greatest console moments are with mates: your first headshot with a sniper rifle in Goldeneye...thrashing your mates in Virtua Tennis doubles...but they don't really come close to the awe inspiring thought that you've just fragged some kid sitting in his room, on the other side of the WORLD. The internet has been around for a while now, so of course games have taken advantage of the information superhighway. Ranging from games of chess using Shockwave, to full blown, total chaos with nothing but a PC, a modem and a copy of Unreal Tournament...these experiences have been at the forefront of the online gaming phenomenom. That's the one thing, the ONE THING that has really separated PCs from consoles...but that's all about to change.
Already, with a third-party jiggery-wotsit or two, and a high speed connection, the likes of THPS3 on the Playstation2 can be played online, but that's hardly living up to the bold promises made by Sony when it comes to getting on the web.
It was announced from the very beginning that the PS2 would go online...but hang on; it's been two years! We were told of add-ons: a hard drive (already available in Japan), and the possibility of not just a modem, but a full blown broadband service...and lo and behold, look what's recently serviced in the Land of the Rising Sun!
"Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that the authentication system for the PlayStation 2 broadband service has started in Japan. The Dynamic Network Authentication System (DNAS) is used for content authentication and copy management based on the user ID of the PlayStation 2 hardware unit. Now that the DNAS is in operation, users can change their network settings upon installing the PlayStation BB Navigator.
Internet service providers in Japan began distribution of the PlayStation BB unit (PS2 hard disk drive) along with the PlayStation BB Navigator disc over the weekend. Upon installing the PlayStation BB Navigator Version 0.10 onto the PS2, users cannot access the memory card menu or the CD player features. The company has commented that an downloadable patch to solve the problem will be available in the future. Users are advised to detach the PlayStation BB unit to prevent the problem for the time being."
Finally, some real ground-breaking progress...but more teething problems that will need to be sorted out. Then again, look at how long it takes consoles to arrive over here after being released in Japan...we could be waiting at least a year for our PS2s to 'get connected', by which point no doubt the PS3 will be announced, with more claims of online goodness. One thing, say, Max Payne on the PC held over its baby brothers on the XBOX and PS2 was the mods...but with internet compatibility we could soon see mods, skins, and extra levels (to name but a few ideas) being downloaded super-fast.
Again, the XBOX shines through. With the PS2, as aforementioned, you will need to shell out on a HDD, and a broadband adaptor whereas this is all in the BOX (geddit?!) for MS's baby. Naturally, being stalwarts of the home computing world, Gates' men have a clear idea of what they want when it comes to online stuff: Xbox Live, a pay service, where you get to do just about all you could wish for. So, PS2's wheels are in motion, albeit slowly, whereas the XBOX's engine is roaring and ready to go; where is Nintendo?
Famously cautious when it comes to the online industry, Nintendo bigwigs have shyed away time and again when asked about the Gamecube going online...but things are finally starting to happen. We've heard a few messages from The Big N, basically telling us that they're going to 'wait and see'. They've already told us they're a games machine, and that the GCN isn't DVD compatible for a reason, yadda yadda yadda...but Nintendo could be left behind. Enter: Sega. They've already told us all they're not going to wait around as Nintendo dithers about with cables and servers...they're bringing Phantasy Star Online to the GC. ONLINE. They're planning a modem/game pack, and so, pretty soon, we'll not only have three great next-gen consoles...but three great ONLINE next-gen consoles.
Will the Gamecube suffer from the headstarts made by the opposition? Will the XBOX's well planned operation shine through the PS2's slow but steady broadband progress? Only time will tell...but the Future of Gaming is looking bright...and it's looking to be online. Are you disappointed by the lack of online activity with the boxes under your TVs? Are you angry that you'll have to shell out at least £100 for a hard drive and internet gaming on your PS2, when the XBOX is already well equipped? Do you have an idea for the Big Three? I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on this subject that's been playing on my mind for a while...
Thanks for reading...and please reply. Last time I posted this was in FOG Chat, and not only was it buried within minutes...it got no replies (and I'll be damned if I spendt that time writing it for nothing). So please, gimme your thoughts on online gaming.
Even more recently, we've seen the price war. When the consoles came out, it looked like this:
PS2: £199
XBOX: £299
NGC: £149
But then, MS took a look at disapointing sales, and decided to make their console £100 cheaper. But of course, Nintendo was determined not to be outdone, and slashed the GC's price to leave the state of play, right now:
PS2: £199
XBOX: £199
NGC: £129
So, there's the option of buying an console already well established, with out of the box DVD compatibility for £199; or a brand spanking new console, with four controller ports and a hard drive, not to mention a game winning every award under the sun (Halo) ready, and a plethora of titles in devlopment for the very same price...and for a whole seventy squids less, you can get the Nintendo Cube, with enough hot prospects to give you sunburn. Taking a look at them all, there's one thing you immediately think: it's a great time to be a gamer. I mean, gaming films are being made left right and centre, and the market is outselling even the music industry...but there's very little to choose between them. In addition, there's the ever-present PC-owner attack: "Yeah, but can it go online?"
See, some of the greatest console moments are with mates: your first headshot with a sniper rifle in Goldeneye...thrashing your mates in Virtua Tennis doubles...but they don't really come close to the awe inspiring thought that you've just fragged some kid sitting in his room, on the other side of the WORLD. The internet has been around for a while now, so of course games have taken advantage of the information superhighway. Ranging from games of chess using Shockwave, to full blown, total chaos with nothing but a PC, a modem and a copy of Unreal Tournament...these experiences have been at the forefront of the online gaming phenomenom. That's the one thing, the ONE THING that has really separated PCs from consoles...but that's all about to change.
Already, with a third-party jiggery-wotsit or two, and a high speed connection, the likes of THPS3 on the Playstation2 can be played online, but that's hardly living up to the bold promises made by Sony when it comes to getting on the web.
It was announced from the very beginning that the PS2 would go online...but hang on; it's been two years! We were told of add-ons: a hard drive (already available in Japan), and the possibility of not just a modem, but a full blown broadband service...and lo and behold, look what's recently serviced in the Land of the Rising Sun!
"Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that the authentication system for the PlayStation 2 broadband service has started in Japan. The Dynamic Network Authentication System (DNAS) is used for content authentication and copy management based on the user ID of the PlayStation 2 hardware unit. Now that the DNAS is in operation, users can change their network settings upon installing the PlayStation BB Navigator.
Internet service providers in Japan began distribution of the PlayStation BB unit (PS2 hard disk drive) along with the PlayStation BB Navigator disc over the weekend. Upon installing the PlayStation BB Navigator Version 0.10 onto the PS2, users cannot access the memory card menu or the CD player features. The company has commented that an downloadable patch to solve the problem will be available in the future. Users are advised to detach the PlayStation BB unit to prevent the problem for the time being."
Finally, some real ground-breaking progress...but more teething problems that will need to be sorted out. Then again, look at how long it takes consoles to arrive over here after being released in Japan...we could be waiting at least a year for our PS2s to 'get connected', by which point no doubt the PS3 will be announced, with more claims of online goodness. One thing, say, Max Payne on the PC held over its baby brothers on the XBOX and PS2 was the mods...but with internet compatibility we could soon see mods, skins, and extra levels (to name but a few ideas) being downloaded super-fast.
Again, the XBOX shines through. With the PS2, as aforementioned, you will need to shell out on a HDD, and a broadband adaptor whereas this is all in the BOX (geddit?!) for MS's baby. Naturally, being stalwarts of the home computing world, Gates' men have a clear idea of what they want when it comes to online stuff: Xbox Live, a pay service, where you get to do just about all you could wish for. So, PS2's wheels are in motion, albeit slowly, whereas the XBOX's engine is roaring and ready to go; where is Nintendo?
Famously cautious when it comes to the online industry, Nintendo bigwigs have shyed away time and again when asked about the Gamecube going online...but things are finally starting to happen. We've heard a few messages from The Big N, basically telling us that they're going to 'wait and see'. They've already told us they're a games machine, and that the GCN isn't DVD compatible for a reason, yadda yadda yadda...but Nintendo could be left behind. Enter: Sega. They've already told us all they're not going to wait around as Nintendo dithers about with cables and servers...they're bringing Phantasy Star Online to the GC. ONLINE. They're planning a modem/game pack, and so, pretty soon, we'll not only have three great next-gen consoles...but three great ONLINE next-gen consoles.
Will the Gamecube suffer from the headstarts made by the opposition? Will the XBOX's well planned operation shine through the PS2's slow but steady broadband progress? Only time will tell...but the Future of Gaming is looking bright...and it's looking to be online. Are you disappointed by the lack of online activity with the boxes under your TVs? Are you angry that you'll have to shell out at least £100 for a hard drive and internet gaming on your PS2, when the XBOX is already well equipped? Do you have an idea for the Big Three? I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on this subject that's been playing on my mind for a while...
Thanks for reading...and please reply. Last time I posted this was in FOG Chat, and not only was it buried within minutes...it got no replies (and I'll be damned if I spendt that time writing it for nothing). So please, gimme your thoughts on online gaming.
===SONICRAV---> wrote:
> Well, good post, but it's far to long... the first half way soooo
> "console wars" style that I just skimmed through the rest,
> and have probably missed all the points about online gaming itself!
LOL, well thanks for at least giving it a go...same to Lawless Fever. Cheers for giving me confirmation that my existence is not futile.
> Well, good post, but it's far to long... the first half way soooo
> "console wars" style that I just skimmed through the rest,
> and have probably missed all the points about online gaming itself!
LOL, well thanks for at least giving it a go...same to Lawless Fever. Cheers for giving me confirmation that my existence is not futile.
We know you did, but stop plugging it in someone elses topic, especially as it's a prime topic, that deserves good replies, as I will try to do in a moment...
.....
Yes, decent topic, but I'm with Sonic here - the topic was far too long and did go on and ramble a little about irrelevant drivel, but still, as I said, a good topic. Well done Swander, may the forks be with you :)
.....
Yes, decent topic, but I'm with Sonic here - the topic was far too long and did go on and ramble a little about irrelevant drivel, but still, as I said, a good topic. Well done Swander, may the forks be with you :)
I wrote a topic on online gaming pros and cons.
http://ukchatforums.reserve.co.uk/display_messages.php ?threadid=45117&forumid=416
http://ukchatforums.reserve.co.uk/display_messages.php ?threadid=45117&forumid=416
Well, good post, but it's far to long... the first half way soooo "console wars" style that I just skimmed through the rest, and have probably missed all the points about online gaming itself!
Well, recently we've seen the last of the Holy Trilogy released in the UK (the Gamecube, moron...HEY, SHUT UP! IT'S A GREAT METAPHOR!), so now there's not one, not two, but three console companies vying for your cash. In order to get at it, they've done a number of things. In Sony's case, made their console backwards compatible, and released it ahead of the pack, not to mention securing many fabulous franchises to make sure their console is not short of those ellusive 'Killer Apps'. For Microsoft, it's been the case of sticking in a 40GB hard drive to practically eliminate the need for buying Memory Cards, and making sure all their games that ARE on other consoles still haver XBOX-only stuff (see: Spiderman The Movie, Onimusha, Tony Hawk's etc.). When it comes to Nintendo, they've already got a market waiting for them: pre-schoolers. Hehe, only joking: Nintendo has been around for the longest, and so have the most experience. This has led to them having perhaps the greatest First-Party line-up of all the consoles (Zelda, Perfect Dark, Mario etc.), not to mention having link-up compatability with the smash hit of the summer, the Game Boy Advanced.
Even more recently, we've seen the price war. When the consoles came out, it looked like this:
PS2: £199
XBOX: £299
NGC: £149
But then, MS took a look at disapointing sales, and decided to make their console £100 cheaper. But of course, Nintendo was determined not to be outdone, and slashed the GC's price to leave the state of play, right now:
PS2: £199
XBOX: £199
NGC: £129
So, there's the option of buying an console already well established, with out of the box DVD compatibility for £199; or a brand spanking new console, with four controller ports and a hard drive, not to mention a game winning every award under the sun (Halo) ready, and a plethora of titles in devlopment for the very same price...and for a whole seventy squids less, you can get the Nintendo Cube, with enough hot prospects to give you sunburn. Taking a look at them all, there's one thing you immediately think: it's a great time to be a gamer. I mean, gaming films are being made left right and centre, and the market is outselling even the music industry...but there's very little to choose between them. In addition, there's the ever-present PC-owner attack: "Yeah, but can it go online?"
See, some of the greatest console moments are with mates: your first headshot with a sniper rifle in Goldeneye...thrashing your mates in Virtua Tennis doubles...but they don't really come close to the awe inspiring thought that you've just fragged some kid sitting in his room, on the other side of the WORLD. The internet has been around for a while now, so of course games have taken advantage of the information superhighway. Ranging from games of chess using Shockwave, to full blown, total chaos with nothing but a PC, a modem and a copy of Unreal Tournament...these experiences have been at the forefront of the online gaming phenomenom. That's the one thing, the ONE THING that has really separated PCs from consoles...but that's all about to change.
Already, with a third-party jiggery-wotsit or two, and a high speed connection, the likes of THPS3 on the Playstation2 can be played online, but that's hardly living up to the bold promises made by Sony when it comes to getting on the web.
It was announced from the very beginning that the PS2 would go online...but hang on; it's been two years! We were told of add-ons: a hard drive (already available in Japan), and the possibility of not just a modem, but a full blown broadband service...and lo and behold, look what's recently serviced in the Land of the Rising Sun!
"Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that the authentication system for the PlayStation 2 broadband service has started in Japan. The Dynamic Network Authentication System (DNAS) is used for content authentication and copy management based on the user ID of the PlayStation 2 hardware unit. Now that the DNAS is in operation, users can change their network settings upon installing the PlayStation BB Navigator.
Internet service providers in Japan began distribution of the PlayStation BB unit (PS2 hard disk drive) along with the PlayStation BB Navigator disc over the weekend. Upon installing the PlayStation BB Navigator Version 0.10 onto the PS2, users cannot access the memory card menu or the CD player features. The company has commented that an downloadable patch to solve the problem will be available in the future. Users are advised to detach the PlayStation BB unit to prevent the problem for the time being."
Finally, some real ground-breaking progress...but more teething problems that will need to be sorted out. Then again, look at how long it takes consoles to arrive over here after being released in Japan...we could be waiting at least a year for our PS2s to 'get connected', by which point no doubt the PS3 will be announced, with more claims of online goodness. One thing, say, Max Payne on the PC held over its baby brothers on the XBOX and PS2 was the mods...but with internet compatibility we could soon see mods, skins, and extra levels (to name but a few ideas) being downloaded super-fast.
Again, the XBOX shines through. With the PS2, as aforementioned, you will need to shell out on a HDD, and a broadband adaptor whereas this is all in the BOX (geddit?!) for MS's baby. Naturally, being stalwarts of the home computing world, Gates' men have a clear idea of what they want when it comes to online stuff: Xbox Live, a pay service, where you get to do just about all you could wish for. So, PS2's wheels are in motion, albeit slowly, whereas the XBOX's engine is roaring and ready to go; where is Nintendo?
Famously cautious when it comes to the online industry, Nintendo bigwigs have shyed away time and again when asked about the Gamecube going online...but things are finally starting to happen. We've heard a few messages from The Big N, basically telling us that they're going to 'wait and see'. They've already told us they're a games machine, and that the GCN isn't DVD compatible for a reason, yadda yadda yadda...but Nintendo could be left behind. Enter: Sega. They've already told us all they're not going to wait around as Nintendo dithers about with cables and servers...they're bringing Phantasy Star Online to the GC. ONLINE. They're planning a modem/game pack, and so, pretty soon, we'll not only have three great next-gen consoles...but three great ONLINE next-gen consoles.
Will the Gamecube suffer from the headstarts made by the opposition? Will the XBOX's well planned operation shine through the PS2's slow but steady broadband progress? Only time will tell...but the Future of Gaming is looking bright...and it's looking to be online. Are you disappointed by the lack of online activity with the boxes under your TVs? Are you angry that you'll have to shell out at least £100 for a hard drive and internet gaming on your PS2, when the XBOX is already well equipped? Do you have an idea for the Big Three? I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on this subject that's been playing on my mind for a while...
Thanks for reading...and please reply. Last time I posted this was in FOG Chat, and not only was it buried within minutes...it got no replies (and I'll be damned if I spendt that time writing it for nothing). So please, gimme your thoughts on online gaming.
Even more recently, we've seen the price war. When the consoles came out, it looked like this:
PS2: £199
XBOX: £299
NGC: £149
But then, MS took a look at disapointing sales, and decided to make their console £100 cheaper. But of course, Nintendo was determined not to be outdone, and slashed the GC's price to leave the state of play, right now:
PS2: £199
XBOX: £199
NGC: £129
So, there's the option of buying an console already well established, with out of the box DVD compatibility for £199; or a brand spanking new console, with four controller ports and a hard drive, not to mention a game winning every award under the sun (Halo) ready, and a plethora of titles in devlopment for the very same price...and for a whole seventy squids less, you can get the Nintendo Cube, with enough hot prospects to give you sunburn. Taking a look at them all, there's one thing you immediately think: it's a great time to be a gamer. I mean, gaming films are being made left right and centre, and the market is outselling even the music industry...but there's very little to choose between them. In addition, there's the ever-present PC-owner attack: "Yeah, but can it go online?"
See, some of the greatest console moments are with mates: your first headshot with a sniper rifle in Goldeneye...thrashing your mates in Virtua Tennis doubles...but they don't really come close to the awe inspiring thought that you've just fragged some kid sitting in his room, on the other side of the WORLD. The internet has been around for a while now, so of course games have taken advantage of the information superhighway. Ranging from games of chess using Shockwave, to full blown, total chaos with nothing but a PC, a modem and a copy of Unreal Tournament...these experiences have been at the forefront of the online gaming phenomenom. That's the one thing, the ONE THING that has really separated PCs from consoles...but that's all about to change.
Already, with a third-party jiggery-wotsit or two, and a high speed connection, the likes of THPS3 on the Playstation2 can be played online, but that's hardly living up to the bold promises made by Sony when it comes to getting on the web.
It was announced from the very beginning that the PS2 would go online...but hang on; it's been two years! We were told of add-ons: a hard drive (already available in Japan), and the possibility of not just a modem, but a full blown broadband service...and lo and behold, look what's recently serviced in the Land of the Rising Sun!
"Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that the authentication system for the PlayStation 2 broadband service has started in Japan. The Dynamic Network Authentication System (DNAS) is used for content authentication and copy management based on the user ID of the PlayStation 2 hardware unit. Now that the DNAS is in operation, users can change their network settings upon installing the PlayStation BB Navigator.
Internet service providers in Japan began distribution of the PlayStation BB unit (PS2 hard disk drive) along with the PlayStation BB Navigator disc over the weekend. Upon installing the PlayStation BB Navigator Version 0.10 onto the PS2, users cannot access the memory card menu or the CD player features. The company has commented that an downloadable patch to solve the problem will be available in the future. Users are advised to detach the PlayStation BB unit to prevent the problem for the time being."
Finally, some real ground-breaking progress...but more teething problems that will need to be sorted out. Then again, look at how long it takes consoles to arrive over here after being released in Japan...we could be waiting at least a year for our PS2s to 'get connected', by which point no doubt the PS3 will be announced, with more claims of online goodness. One thing, say, Max Payne on the PC held over its baby brothers on the XBOX and PS2 was the mods...but with internet compatibility we could soon see mods, skins, and extra levels (to name but a few ideas) being downloaded super-fast.
Again, the XBOX shines through. With the PS2, as aforementioned, you will need to shell out on a HDD, and a broadband adaptor whereas this is all in the BOX (geddit?!) for MS's baby. Naturally, being stalwarts of the home computing world, Gates' men have a clear idea of what they want when it comes to online stuff: Xbox Live, a pay service, where you get to do just about all you could wish for. So, PS2's wheels are in motion, albeit slowly, whereas the XBOX's engine is roaring and ready to go; where is Nintendo?
Famously cautious when it comes to the online industry, Nintendo bigwigs have shyed away time and again when asked about the Gamecube going online...but things are finally starting to happen. We've heard a few messages from The Big N, basically telling us that they're going to 'wait and see'. They've already told us they're a games machine, and that the GCN isn't DVD compatible for a reason, yadda yadda yadda...but Nintendo could be left behind. Enter: Sega. They've already told us all they're not going to wait around as Nintendo dithers about with cables and servers...they're bringing Phantasy Star Online to the GC. ONLINE. They're planning a modem/game pack, and so, pretty soon, we'll not only have three great next-gen consoles...but three great ONLINE next-gen consoles.
Will the Gamecube suffer from the headstarts made by the opposition? Will the XBOX's well planned operation shine through the PS2's slow but steady broadband progress? Only time will tell...but the Future of Gaming is looking bright...and it's looking to be online. Are you disappointed by the lack of online activity with the boxes under your TVs? Are you angry that you'll have to shell out at least £100 for a hard drive and internet gaming on your PS2, when the XBOX is already well equipped? Do you have an idea for the Big Three? I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on this subject that's been playing on my mind for a while...
Thanks for reading...and please reply. Last time I posted this was in FOG Chat, and not only was it buried within minutes...it got no replies (and I'll be damned if I spendt that time writing it for nothing). So please, gimme your thoughts on online gaming.