Nintendo Online

GameKinG · 05-15-2003, 08:37 PM

You may have read this story about Nintendo/Gamespy's onlnie plan:

Quote:

GameSpy Industries today announced yesterday its support for the just-announced Nintendo GameCube online gaming initiative. The company, which has become an authorized Nintendo tools provider, will port its middleware and back-end services developer suites for the Nintendo GameCube, for shipment to developers in early July.

"GameSpy provides game developers with a collection of middleware tools which, when combined with GameSpy's back-end server infrastructure, enable a low-cost turnkey online gaming solution. GameSpy's tools are easy to integrate and interface-neutral, allowing developers to provide the following functionalities seamlessly within their Nintendo GameCube games:

-In-Game Player Matchmaking
-Text Chat, Instant Messaging, and Buddy Lists
-Online Competitions and High Score Ladders
-Online Data Storage (for virtual memory card applications)
-Usage and Game Statistics Reporting and Analysis
-Data Transfer to and from the Internet

GameSpy's tools greatly reduce the cost and time required for developers to bring their titles online, and to manage the online gaming experience after game launch.

Nintendo GameCube developers will be able to purchase GameSpy's Developer Toolbox for $995, which provides complete SDK source code, sample applications, and documentation, in early July, to begin testing code and back-end integration. Pricing for deployment licenses is based on the specific toolkit suites used by the game developer."
"Our middleware tools will allow Nintendo developers to add critical online features to their Nintendo GameCube games within a day or two, in most cases," said Mark Surfas, CEO of GameSpy. "But that's just the beginning of what GameSpy provides. We operate the servers, provide the bandwidth, and manage the whole online back-end once the game ships, saving publishers and developers hundreds of thousands in potential hardware, connectivity and staffing costs."

"By working with GameSpy, we're able to bring our developers proven technology, a fully-outsourced back-end solution, and years of expertise in making the best online experiences for game players," said Jim Merrick, Network Marketing Director, Nintendo of America Inc.

Here is some info on Mario Kart's set-up:

Quote:

Today I went to the Gamespy booth to conduct a small and simple interview with GameSpy's President, Jon Epstein. After exchanging business cards, the questions began.

The word "tunneling" was introduced to many gamers with the software that Gamespy released for Halo and many of other Xbox games that didn't utilize Xbox Live but did use LAN.

Tunneling IS NOT being used for any of Nintendo's upcoming LAN utilized games. The information which came to me as a huge shock, is actually better than it sounds. According to Gamespy, Nintendo came to them about a year ago for LAN software. Nintendo did not want to use "tunneling, because it would require gamers excessive hardware such as hooking up multiple cables, computers, hubs, and what not.

Instead, Mr. Epstein, went on to reveal that Nintendo will be using Gamespy developed "in-game" software. Much is not known about this except the fact that all gamers have to do is hook an internet cord from the Gamecube to their broadband modem and that's it. You are online as soon as you plug in the ethernet cord and choose the LAN option.

I repeat: "tunneling" will not be used and extra hubs, computers, and extra ethernet cords will not be needed as Nintendo wanted to keep it simple. It is simple in-game software that will be used in upcoming Nintendo LAN games.

Thats from GCAdvance.

GameMaster · 05-15-2003, 08:45 PM

So, should I begin telling everyone I know that Mario Kart: Double Dash is going to be an online racer?

GameKinG · 05-15-2003, 09:18 PM

I dunno if its exactly for MK, thats just what some people think he is refering to.

Crash · 05-15-2003, 09:34 PM

waaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! yipppeeeeeeeeee

One Winged Angel · 05-15-2003, 09:46 PM

:O OMFG! MAYBE THERE IS HOPE

Jason1 · 05-15-2003, 09:50 PM

Um...it sounds more to me like they wont use the tunneling software in Mario Kart...so it wont be online...or am I taking this wrong way?

GameKinG · 05-15-2003, 09:55 PM

It says tunneling wont be used for upcoming LAN software, instead its something better used for LAN software to put it online. It then goes on to talk about it. Mario Kart is an upcoming LAN software.

Seth · 05-15-2003, 10:06 PM

What I got from the article is something like, Double Dash and other LAN games are actually ONLINE with the help of 3rd party gamespy.

This almost sounds like Nintendo's going through gamespy for their online stuff.

Just hook up your cable line to the broadband adapter and you're set. If that isn't online play i don't know what is

One Winged Angel · 05-15-2003, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bouncer_agb
What I got from the article is something like, Double Dash and other LAN games are actually ONLINE with the help of 3rd party gamespy.

This almost sounds like Nintendo's going through gamespy for their online stuff.

Just hook up your cable line to the broadband adapter and you're set. If that isn't online play i don't know what is

If it's that easy, then I'm glad. Tunneling is way to complex for me.

viruscool · 05-16-2003, 12:33 PM

From what i've read does it mean you HAVE to have a broadband modem (connection) on your PC.

Crono · 05-16-2003, 02:42 PM

Hmm. Well this is rather interesting. MK: DD does support LAN, right? Because If I can play online with MK: DD then I would probably buy it. But anyway, this is pretty cool. Although I would have rathered Nintendo have their own online network, but oh well.

Jason1 · 05-16-2003, 05:09 PM

If its free, and its online, who cares?

Seth · 05-16-2003, 07:07 PM

Gamespy's whole network is pretty solid. As much as it would've been nice if Nintendo set up their own "live" type of online community, I can't see it being much better than gamespy's. Gamespy has years of online gaming experience under their belt. Since this online thing is more official than tunneling....wouldn't it be sweet if we had voice chat? I can dream.

Jonbo298 · 05-16-2003, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bouncer_agb
Gamespy's whole network is pretty solid. As much as it would've been nice if Nintendo set up their own "live" type of online community, I can't see it being much better than gamespy's.

Well, you have to think. This is basically Nintendo's first major step into online gaming. And since they really don't have the full knowledge like Microsoft does about online gaming, Nintendo could be using GameSpy as their "Guinea Pig" to see the full intricacies (spelling?) of online gaming, and use that info. come next gen. if Nintendo decides to branch off and use their own service.

Canyarion · 05-17-2003, 06:14 AM

Hm... this sounds very cool.... but I was wondering:

With LAN MK

D, you can only hook up 2 GCs.... with each 4 players.
So does this mean you can't play online 8-player matches unless you have 4 on each??

You can't play online against 7, or 3 other gamecubes??
That would be too bad...