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Tristan
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 Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:53 am Post subject: Roundtable - Online Functionality |
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| Roundtable - Online Functionality by Tristan |  | | PALGN Feature: We discuss what we think of current online offerings. | | [View Article] |
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The Brett
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:56 am Post subject: |
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Everyone likes to be sceptical about Playstation Online's lack of "completeness," yet never actually explain what the service is missing that leaves it flawed. Achievements? Well, for the most part that isn't online-related, and it'll probably be announced soon anyway. From what I've seen, the service looks far more complete than anything I see on my Xbox Live, particularly with regards to downloadable games. Just think about how much money XBL makes for Microsoft- Sony are taking a huge hit by offerring the same service for free, and I sure as hell am going to enjoy having $500 more in my pocket over the next five years.
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renegadesx
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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According to rumors, Sony seem intending on copying the best Live has to offer with some of the Wii stuff (Mii's etc)
Back content
Nintendo is by far in my opinion the iTunes of old stuff. XBLA have a few cool old titles but not alot. Nintendo and Sega combined has an incredible back catalog which will be hard to beat (if beatable at all)
Multiplayer
Multiplayer online I would have to give it to Xbox Live, it has alot of content to be playable online, and the quality of it depends more on your internet connection than the software. I haven't heard too much about PSOnline, but apparently pales in comparison to Live, if it is, I am sure it will improve over time.
Wild Card
Nobody knows exactly how WiiConnet24 will turn out, Japanese know about multiplayer online Pokemon but thats it. We know what in theory its supposed to do, but its a real wild card. Will people embrace the friend code system? How will Smash Bros play online? Will Corruption go multiplayer online? What other channels do Nintendo have in store? How will 3rd parties utilize online?
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Spanca
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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It's good to see that you didn't all sit on the fence with this one 
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Jellyfish
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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Xbox Live trounces everything else that's available by a large margin at this moment. Though I agree that the offerings as a paid service so far are pretty poor, but I expect that to go up when MS's legal team finally beats down the free-to-air channels here and releases their TV Series/Movie service.
Nintendo's service is a complete and utter joke. Friends codes are extremely tedious and are driving some of the developers away from developing online titles. The Wii channels are fairly poor considering my computer can access all the things the (News/Weather/Internet) Channels can but with more content and at a much quicker speed. The virtual console is too expensive for what it's offering and won't get some of the better titles because of IP ownership.
The Playstation 3 isn't out yet, so I won't say anything as other people will no doubt tear holes into it.
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?oe?oe
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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Xbox clearly has the better all round service. Microsoft obviously knew excatly what they were doing.
Sony seems to have a reasonable service, though still with flaws.
Nintendo are new to the online and it shows. You can tell what they are trying to do, but they need to step it up and show us why this WiiConnect24 will be put to good use. New channels need more substance. And for god sakes Nintendo, gives 3rd parties online kits, because you're not doing much.
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renegadesx
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| nikack wrote: | Xbox Live trounces everything else that's available by a large margin at this moment. Though I agree that the offerings as a paid service so far are pretty poor, but I expect that to go up when MS's legal team finally beats down the free-to-air channels here and releases their TV Series/Movie service.
Nintendo's service is a complete and utter joke. Friends codes are extremely tedious and are driving some of the developers away from developing online titles. The Wii channels are fairly poor considering my computer can access all the things the (News/Weather/Internet) Channels can but with more content and at a much quicker speed. The virtual console is too expensive for what it's offering and won't get some of the better titles because of IP ownership.
The Playstation 3 isn't out yet, so I won't say anything as other people will no doubt tear holes into it. |
I disagree. Microsoft is a large margin ahead of online MULTIPLAYER. I like the Wii Channels, The purpose of the Weather Channel is to put those conditions INTO the game, so if its raining outside, its also raining in the game which I think is a cool idea. IP ownership so far only seems to be blocking Rare titles, although dissapointing, can make do without.
I think both online services, for what they currently delivers. VC is far superior to XBLA, survey channel is a cool idea, Friend Codes can be fustrating, but its aim is to keep kids away from pedophiles (or vice versa), so it makes parents feel safe when their kids play online.
I say reserve your judgment to which one is "better" once PSOnline and WiiConnect24 launches, but right now, they are both good at what they deliver
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slapshakle
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Bankshot Billiards should be 800pts, 1200pts for an overhead pool game is too much considering you can play a similar kind of game for free on Yahoo |
Push on the D-Pad to change it into full 3D mode. Lots of people seem not to know about that. 
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Jellyfish
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| renegadesx wrote: | | I like the Wii Channels, The purpose of the Weather Channel is to put those conditions INTO the game, so if its raining outside, its also raining in the game which I think is a cool idea. |
Haven't seen this mentioned before. While that is a good idea, I don't see how it's going to work on the Wii, the Wii requires you activate the channel first before it downloads any data. If I want to play Animal Crossing Wii I have to open up the weather channel before starting the game as the Wii can't do it while I'm in a game, as it's quite obvious the Wii wasn't designed to multitask like a PC can.
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Ellegarden
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Xbox live is good except you gotta pay. Wii needs to more unified rather then unadaptive system, channels is good but it needs to more together. PS3 I have no idea, so far it aint great.
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Chris
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 2:03 am Post subject: |
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| slapshakle wrote: | | Push on the D-Pad to change it into full 3D mode. Lots of people seem not to know about that. |
That wasn't added until months later, it was released at 1200points as an overhead-only Pool game. It has a bit more value to it now but I still think it's a bit expensive considering you can get Marble Blast for 800pts or download Tekken on the PSN store for the same amount of money.
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Googol
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:29 am Post subject: |
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| Mark (in the article) cut himself shaving, accidently put on ammonia instead of aftershave and screamed in pain for hours, then wrote: | | Then there’s the fact that they ensured that Wii Channels enabling people to create their own games and have them available for others would appear - although it hasn't |
I was under the impression that they were referring to the possibility of indie game developers releasing stuff on VC/Wii Shop, rather than a whole new channel created solely for the purpose of Wii gamers to create their own stuff. In which case, it was only an hopeful premise in the first place. Nintendo "ensured" that there would be this channel? Speculated, more like.
As I don't do much gaming online on my PC, and I don't do ANY online gaming on my consoles, I can't really comment on the article itself. But they way it looks to be is that Live is the best plain online gaming, the Wii has the most original approach (love it or hate it), and Sony take the least original approach, but (if the rumours are true) possibly take the best elements from both. A bit of mixed bag I say.
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NismoR34
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:13 am Post subject: |
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I think it's some of the smaller aspects that makes Live as good as it is. When people think of Live, they think of either the online play (which is good), or achievements (which isn't online based anyway). Then of course they think about the Xbox Live Arcade, which yes does suck at the moment save for a few games. What they don't remember though is some of things you can use Live for, private chatting while playing completely separate games for example. That's never mentioned as a good or bad thing about Live, neither is video chatting, using the messaging system with friends and stuff like that. Fair enough, they're not as important as the features that are mentioned, but I still think they're important and are reasons as to why Live is such a brilliant service.
The Playstation online service has most, if not all of these smaller features in its system so that just leaves it to be judged on how it will fair with online play and downloadable content, both of which Sony will have nailed in their own way. Whether they are better or worse than the Xbox Live service, well, too damn early to tell.
As for Nintendo's service, Virtual Console is a great idea and has lots of potential but the online play aspect of it sucks at the moment. We need to not only have games online for a start, but we need to know HOW this online service is going to work and well we just don't yet. Until then, I don't it can be fairly judged.
Oh and friend codes can rot in hell.
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renegadesx
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:42 am Post subject: |
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| nikack wrote: | | renegadesx wrote: | | I like the Wii Channels, The purpose of the Weather Channel is to put those conditions INTO the game, so if its raining outside, its also raining in the game which I think is a cool idea. |
Haven't seen this mentioned before. While that is a good idea, I don't see how it's going to work on the Wii, the Wii requires you activate the channel first before it downloads any data. If I want to play Animal Crossing Wii I have to open up the weather channel before starting the game as the Wii can't do it while I'm in a game, as it's quite obvious the Wii wasn't designed to multitask like a PC can. |
No it doesn't, it requires you to activate it once as long as you have WiiConnect24 switched on, otherwise if you cut power to it, or make it switch totally off you have to activate it again.
Animal Crossing will rely on WiiConnect24 anyways so I think the weather channel would fit in Animal Crossing perfectly, MySims would also be a good match with this functionality
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slapshakle
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Chris wrote: | | slapshakle wrote: | | Push on the D-Pad to change it into full 3D mode. Lots of people seem not to know about that. |
That wasn't added until months later, it was released at 1200points as an overhead-only Pool game. It has a bit more value to it now but I still think it's a bit expensive considering you can get Marble Blast for 800pts or download Tekken on the PSN store for the same amount of money. |
Really ? It had the 3D update on launch day here. I do agree that 1200 points is alot for that game, lucky it came free with the live starter kit
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?oe?oe
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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| NismoR34 wrote: | but we need to know HOW this online service is going to work and well we just don't yet. Until then, I don't it can be fairly judged.
Oh and friend codes can rot in hell. |
You just anwsered your own question - it's friend codes. Pokemon Battle Revolution uses individual friend codes not the system's code. But someone said that may be a one off until Nintendo realises that each system already has a friend code  . Stupid Nintendo, just use the systems code, which still is bad for them anyway.
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Googol
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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^^ It's probably because the DS games use individual friend codes and it was easier, or something. I don't really know. As long as they use the system code in the future, I don't give a crap. Oh, and *technically* Pokemon Battle Revolution was developed by Genius Sonority, not Nintendo (or even Game Freak). Useless fact - the company's current president, Manabu Yamana, directed two of the Dragon Quest titles on the SNES.
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realitybites
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| Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:05 am Post subject: |
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As writers most of you focused on the online download content.
Its a mixed bag as to what constitutes good content and that depends on your disposition towards each vendor.
Only a few of you actually tackled the main reason why people want online access. That is multiplayer.
In that regards only XBL does a very good job.
Nintendo have yet to find a balance and most of the titles available don't have online multiplayer/co-op aspects.
PS3 just happy to copy MS. Which in itself isn't a bad thing but shows lack of innovation.
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renegadesx
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| Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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| joejoe wrote: | | NismoR34 wrote: | but we need to know HOW this online service is going to work and well we just don't yet. Until then, I don't it can be fairly judged.
Oh and friend codes can rot in hell. |
You just anwsered your own question - it's friend codes. Pokemon Battle Revolution uses individual friend codes not the system's code. But someone said that may be a one off until Nintendo realises that each system already has a friend code . Stupid Nintendo, just use the systems code, which still is bad for them anyway. |
First before I say this stuff, I am in NO way saying I like Friend/System codes, they totally SUCK, but here is my understanding on why they have it in place. From what I have always heard from Nintendo, these code systems is to protect kids.
People tried suing MySpace coz some perv got his hands on their 13 year old daughter who he met on MySpace, even though it didn't work, the publicity didn't do MySpace many favors. I think Nintendo want to avoid anything like that at all costs (especially publicity wise).
You just dont have 13 year olds playing Wii potentially online, they want kids (7-8 year olds) and grandma (70 years old) playing online. They had to do something, if I had a broad audience like that, I'd implement something like that to avoid a publicity nightmare.
Like I said, I find friend codes frustrating and tedious, but I can I guess they can serve their purpose
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?oe?oe
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| Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| renegadesx wrote: | | Like I said, I find friend codes frustrating and tedious, but I can I guess they can serve their purpose |
It's pointless. A unique username, or the system nickname will do. It's kids fault if their username is "Jake from 3rd Street Vic" Nintendo are too optimistic.
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wobbler
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| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: |
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The multiplayer aspect of games can be so hit and miss from game to game but can't really be blamed on the manufacturer of each console. Sure there are the other services/features but as it has been mentioned before, the main reason for wanting an online feature in a console is to play multiplayer games. Some PC games have a well set out multiplayer menu and some are just plain confusing and buggy but no one blames the manufacturer of their PC for this.
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