Online Gaming: The Fight for Living Room Domination Continues …
For its American debut in late 1999, the Sega Dreamcast was light years ahead of other gaming consoles with its visual detail and online game play. The Dreamcast network was accessed by a 56k modem within the console in conjunction with your dialup Internet provider. Gamers could even use the Dreamcast as a Web browser, although there were many limitations.
Fast forward to the present where three consoles are fighting for living room domination, each now offering online capabilities. Each manufacturer has taken a slightly different approach to the way their players will interact with both the network and your pocketbook.
If you do not already have a game console, this story may help you decide on the one you should choose. If you already own a modern console mentioned here, then you can decide if its network adapter is going to cost you more in the long run.
Nintendo's GameCube network adapters are $35 attachments that plug into a hollow port beneath the console. There are two types available providing either a Broadband Adapter for cable modem or DSL users, or a 56k Modem Adapter for ISP connectivity. Keep in mind that the modem version is not compatible with AOL, CompuServe or free providers at this time. They also have chosen a unique "per game, per month" charge for using this online service. Finally, if you upgrade your home from dialup to broadband access, you will need to buy a new adapter.
Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2) has the best deal of the bunch with a combination broadband/modem adapter that costs $39, and currently has no monthly or yearly fees to play games with others online. Broadband users will be able to play all network-enabled games while 56k modem users will be limited by some titles. With the PS2's unique standard USB and Firewire ports, some games provide drivers for USB Ethernet adapters and local "Firewire networking" for multi-player multi-console games. However, USB networking has been sparse, and drivers vary per game.
Now that the official PS2 network adapter is available, I would stay clear of even promised "compatible" USB adapters since you may see game developers dropping support for these in the future. Sony is the clear winner here in both pricing and capabilities.
Microsoft Xbox users must pay $49 per year for access to their online gaming network. This is no more than a setup CD since the console included a broadband network connection from day one. Originally, it only allowed you to play some games console to console - with a crossover Ethernet cable, much like what is available with the PS2's Firewire port.
In order to play games over the Internet with the Xbox you must have a broadband Internet provider, the Xbox network starter kit and a product like the Linksys Broadband Gateway if you wish to share net access between your PC and your console. This network starter kit includes a CD to setup access and a headset and microphone, which plug into the joystick's data port.
Rather than use the PS2's on-screen keyboard for chatting within games, the Microsoft hardware allows you to actually talk to your teams or opponents. Note though that some games on the PS2 like "SOCOM Navy Seals" come with a headset for voice capabilities as well.
Although I have not played network games on the GameCube, I have played several games on my PS2 console and a few on the Xbox. Overall, I experienced very little game lag or screen freezes and have really enjoyed playing my friends and even random people over the Internet. Thanks to network gaming I don't have to worry about my buddies coming over and eating all my food if I want to kick their butts on a video game!
Note: These network adapters should not be made available to younger brothers and sisters in your house. Chat rooms can get intense and verbally abusive, so if they are not allowed to chat on the PC, adults should consider this rule on the gaming console as well.
Dave Mathews lives in Dallas where he broadcasts as the "Gadget Guy" on TV and radio.
More stories and video clips can be found online at DaveMathews.com.
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