Perfect Stu
08-02-2002, 04:22 PM
SOURCE (http://www.gamedaily.com/features/ps2_online/)
PS2 Online Details
http://jin.jcic.or.jp/kidsweb/cool/00-01-03/ps2.jpg http://www.gamedaily.com/features/ps2_online/networkadapter.jpg
GameDaily recently had the opportunity to chat with Mark DeLoura, manager of developer relations for Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), about the imminent release of the company's PlayStation 2 Network Adapter and the ability to play online with the console.
The online era for the PlayStation kicks off on August 27, when the console's Network Adapter becomes available for $39.99. DeLoura told GameDaily that SCEA would have more than enough adapters available for launch, with additional shipments ready to go in the weeks after. DeLoura stated that SCEA is ready to handle upwards of 500,000 online users at launch and will add support for more as the need rises.
A quick glance at available titles for the launch of the adapter shows only a trio of "AAA" titles that are certain to be on shelves for consumers to snatch up on August 17: Madden NFL 2003, Sega Sports NFL 2K3 and Socom: US Navy Seals. It's tough to gauge how the adapter will sell, Madden alone could account for a large chunk of adapter sales and certainly the NFL 2K series has a large following as well. Socom has garnered a lot of press and settles into a different niche than the sports titles, but questions linger. Will PC gamers who own consoles bother to play Socom online? Bottom line, even if the adapters sell out, they will be replenished quickly.
So what do you get for your $39.99 besides a piece of hardware? The bundle will contain the adapter, playable demos of Madden NFL 2003, Frequency Online, videos of Tribes Aerial Assault, ATV Offroad Fury 2, Tony Hawk 's Pro Skater 4 and a "secret mystery video." Also included will be a mail-in voucher for a free copy of Twisted Metal: Black Online.
On the included start-up disc is software to help set up the network adapter. Dial-up users will enter the phone number they dial to access the Internet while broadband users will enter DHCP or other network related information. The information will then be saved onto the memory card, from then on logging on is automatic. A handful of ISP's will be offered to gamers who lack one.
AOL provided SCEA with its "slightly different" network protocol, which has been implemented into PS2 network drivers and passed along to developers, enabling the 30+ million AOL users out there to play on the network with no problems.
Players will congregate online in game-specific lobbies. With Madden 2003 inserted in your PS2 for instance, accessing the online browser will take you directly to a Madden lobby. USB keyboards can be used to chat in the lobbies, but will depend on support in the specific game to enable its use. If a game doesn't support the use of a keyboard for play, it will not work in the lobby.
We asked DeLoura about how a third-party developer goes about implementing online play into PS2 titles. He said the first order of business is for developers to design their game from the outset to be online capable and in turn "keep in mind how much information is being sent over the network."
Developers have the option of integrating Sony's online code into their games, but can also opt to use other online applications from GameSpy or a host of others. SE-RT is Sony's online solution and, other than certain features which can be enabled or disabled, it's fully functional and ready to go.
DeLoura added that while some developers switched gears in the middle of development of a title in order to add online play, it isn't the optimal way to do it. For instance, a single player game can contain more expansive and larger environments, but the same game destined for online play should pare down the size of maps relative to the number of players expected to compete in the title online.
SCEA's approach to online gaming is in direct contrast to Microsoft's with Xbox Live. Sony will not charge 3rd party developers royalty fees or take a percentage of profits from revenue derived from online games. PS2 developers are on their own when it comes to managing servers and implementing any pay-for-play schemes. Microsoft, on the other hand, will manage every aspect of online, running servers and charging developers fees. Also, Xbox Live is for broadband users only, while the PS2 will support modem and broadband users.
DeLoura was asked to compare the two different approaches to online game management and third party developers. He responded, "Microsoft's approach is to design a system and make everyone use their exact specifications. The bad news is you have to do exactly what they say; the good news is you now what you are getting. What that leaves out, and why we think our plan is better, is innovation. What we are really interested in is seeing our developers thinking about how they can make their game better than everyone else's, and they use some different ideas for online play that we probably wouldn't have thought of, and they provide that to the players."
"We think about the Network Adapter as a peripheral. We make money on every game sold," DeLoura responded when asked about Sony not deriving any revenues or fees from 3rd party online games.
The Internet isn't the most secure environment around, so DeLoura was asked about any security features implemented. He responded that the software SCEA provides to developers has security features built into it, which can prevent spoofing (assuming other users names or IP's) and won't allow any type of cheats to be run. DeLoura added, " I'd like to think we got 100 percent of everything covered, but this is the Internet. There are a lot of smart people out there and it's not possible to guard against every situation. We may support the ability to download security patches directly to the owners PlayStation 2 in the future."
How about the future of the PS2 online? "We are in an exploratory stage right now, Tivo-like capabilities have been discussed, the voice over IP capabilities used in Socom can be tailored for other applications. Streaming songs, or short video clips and the addition of email and web browsing also may be offered," DeLoura stated
PS2 Online Details
http://jin.jcic.or.jp/kidsweb/cool/00-01-03/ps2.jpg http://www.gamedaily.com/features/ps2_online/networkadapter.jpg
GameDaily recently had the opportunity to chat with Mark DeLoura, manager of developer relations for Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), about the imminent release of the company's PlayStation 2 Network Adapter and the ability to play online with the console.
The online era for the PlayStation kicks off on August 27, when the console's Network Adapter becomes available for $39.99. DeLoura told GameDaily that SCEA would have more than enough adapters available for launch, with additional shipments ready to go in the weeks after. DeLoura stated that SCEA is ready to handle upwards of 500,000 online users at launch and will add support for more as the need rises.
A quick glance at available titles for the launch of the adapter shows only a trio of "AAA" titles that are certain to be on shelves for consumers to snatch up on August 17: Madden NFL 2003, Sega Sports NFL 2K3 and Socom: US Navy Seals. It's tough to gauge how the adapter will sell, Madden alone could account for a large chunk of adapter sales and certainly the NFL 2K series has a large following as well. Socom has garnered a lot of press and settles into a different niche than the sports titles, but questions linger. Will PC gamers who own consoles bother to play Socom online? Bottom line, even if the adapters sell out, they will be replenished quickly.
So what do you get for your $39.99 besides a piece of hardware? The bundle will contain the adapter, playable demos of Madden NFL 2003, Frequency Online, videos of Tribes Aerial Assault, ATV Offroad Fury 2, Tony Hawk 's Pro Skater 4 and a "secret mystery video." Also included will be a mail-in voucher for a free copy of Twisted Metal: Black Online.
On the included start-up disc is software to help set up the network adapter. Dial-up users will enter the phone number they dial to access the Internet while broadband users will enter DHCP or other network related information. The information will then be saved onto the memory card, from then on logging on is automatic. A handful of ISP's will be offered to gamers who lack one.
AOL provided SCEA with its "slightly different" network protocol, which has been implemented into PS2 network drivers and passed along to developers, enabling the 30+ million AOL users out there to play on the network with no problems.
Players will congregate online in game-specific lobbies. With Madden 2003 inserted in your PS2 for instance, accessing the online browser will take you directly to a Madden lobby. USB keyboards can be used to chat in the lobbies, but will depend on support in the specific game to enable its use. If a game doesn't support the use of a keyboard for play, it will not work in the lobby.
We asked DeLoura about how a third-party developer goes about implementing online play into PS2 titles. He said the first order of business is for developers to design their game from the outset to be online capable and in turn "keep in mind how much information is being sent over the network."
Developers have the option of integrating Sony's online code into their games, but can also opt to use other online applications from GameSpy or a host of others. SE-RT is Sony's online solution and, other than certain features which can be enabled or disabled, it's fully functional and ready to go.
DeLoura added that while some developers switched gears in the middle of development of a title in order to add online play, it isn't the optimal way to do it. For instance, a single player game can contain more expansive and larger environments, but the same game destined for online play should pare down the size of maps relative to the number of players expected to compete in the title online.
SCEA's approach to online gaming is in direct contrast to Microsoft's with Xbox Live. Sony will not charge 3rd party developers royalty fees or take a percentage of profits from revenue derived from online games. PS2 developers are on their own when it comes to managing servers and implementing any pay-for-play schemes. Microsoft, on the other hand, will manage every aspect of online, running servers and charging developers fees. Also, Xbox Live is for broadband users only, while the PS2 will support modem and broadband users.
DeLoura was asked to compare the two different approaches to online game management and third party developers. He responded, "Microsoft's approach is to design a system and make everyone use their exact specifications. The bad news is you have to do exactly what they say; the good news is you now what you are getting. What that leaves out, and why we think our plan is better, is innovation. What we are really interested in is seeing our developers thinking about how they can make their game better than everyone else's, and they use some different ideas for online play that we probably wouldn't have thought of, and they provide that to the players."
"We think about the Network Adapter as a peripheral. We make money on every game sold," DeLoura responded when asked about Sony not deriving any revenues or fees from 3rd party online games.
The Internet isn't the most secure environment around, so DeLoura was asked about any security features implemented. He responded that the software SCEA provides to developers has security features built into it, which can prevent spoofing (assuming other users names or IP's) and won't allow any type of cheats to be run. DeLoura added, " I'd like to think we got 100 percent of everything covered, but this is the Internet. There are a lot of smart people out there and it's not possible to guard against every situation. We may support the ability to download security patches directly to the owners PlayStation 2 in the future."
How about the future of the PS2 online? "We are in an exploratory stage right now, Tivo-like capabilities have been discussed, the voice over IP capabilities used in Socom can be tailored for other applications. Streaming songs, or short video clips and the addition of email and web browsing also may be offered," DeLoura stated