Nintendo and GameSpy, Together at last.

[[HATE]MyLife]

Nintendo (http://www.nintendo.com) has just announced that they have partnered with IGN Entertainment (http://www.ign.com) for their new online gaming service to debut later this year. The service will first be available to use with the Nintendo DS. The full press release lives here. (http://www.nintendo.com/newsarticle?articleid=5bd75b1d-25f5-40f5-9a30-ef3ec7291401&page=newsmain)

I wonder how many advanced features (ala Live) will be added to the standard GameSpy service?

[bapenguin]

I don't even think I should post in this thread....

[sTubbs]

It still boggles my mind that Nintendo, a company that prides itself on making extremely polished products [although they have been slipping lately], would select the demon from the depths of hell that is GameSpy to handle their online service. GameSpy Arcade is by far one of the worst server browsers I have ever used. While that might not be an indicator of the quality this new service will have, it is certainly enough to make me question the choice that Nintendo has made.

[Morratut]

Xbox Live user.....'snigger and giggle' ;)

Only joking guys. Fingers crossed it may be good :D

I would've had been more impressed if they created their own. I imagined it would've been real cute with a little Kirby searching for a game in matchmaking or something :)

[Switcher]

It also boggles my mind that everyone and their mother would bash Nintendo for their lack of an online plan, and when they do establish an Online plan, people bash them.

They can't seem to win.

[CapnBob]

They don't really have THAT much to do here. Give me a friends list and a way to send them messages and that's all I need. But if someone CAN screw that up, it'll be Gamespy.

[Morratut]

I'm sorry Switcher. Here is hoping that Nintendo uses gamespy for some experience then gets rid of them :D

Nintendo should do their own dedicated network like the big M. I imagine it would've been great if Nintendo had their own dedicated online browser made by Nintendo all good,nice and intuitive.

[Rakael]

I don't even think I should post in this thread....

LOL

I'm staying out of it too.

[Reanimated]

Good lord save us. What in THE HELL would compel Nintendo to go this route? Horrible.

[[HATE]MyLife]

Good lord save us. What in THE HELL would compel Nintendo to go this route? Horrible.

Umm... Their complete lack of understanding in regards to online gaming?

[Borys]

Whoa.

Is that what you call a conflict of interests? Imagine DS.IGN.com rating multiplayer DS games now.

10/10 baby, no less!

On the other hand: thumbs up for Nintendo Online! Finally ;p

[Orphiuchus]

I hope they put IGN in charge of spelling.

[Rirath]

It also boggles my mind that everyone and their mother would bash Nintendo for their lack of an online plan, and when they do establish an Online plan, people bash them.

They can't seem to win.

Because the "established plan" is a poor one. People aren't bashing Nintendo for an online plan, their bashing them for what will probably turn out to be a very a poor decision to use GameSpy.

It's simple, really.

[kokyunage]

Except I would bet their product will look and play nothing like Gamespy. I would put money on that. Nintendo is very protective of their properties and the perception of their properties. This service will parrellel at least Microsoft's service in usuability.

[TrackZero]

They don't really have THAT much to do here. Give me a friends list and a way to send them messages and that's all I need. But if someone CAN screw that up, it'll be Gamespy.

Hell, screw just messages. Nintendo already revealed a long time ago they were writing up a voice protocol to go over this network using the DS's microphone. VoIP over a free network (despite mis-translated front-page articles to the contrary), I can't wait!

[Savok]

Who the hell is doing research at Nintendo? I want them fired, now. Spend 5 minutes on any forum and you'll see someone bashing Gamespy and/or IGN for being completely inept.

Dammit, I want to trade Pokemon/Battle Chips and do stuff with my DS online.

[TrackZero]

Good lord save us. What in THE HELL would compel Nintendo to go this route? Horrible.

$$$

Gamespy probably agreed to do it for free/nominal cost. It gets them into a market they'd kill for. They can start tying other premium services into it once it's going to make money at it.

[Savok]

Whoa.

Is that what you call a conflict of interests? Imagine DS.IGN.com rating multiplayer DS games now.

10/10 baby, no less!

Y'know, that's a very interesting point.

[KarmaGhost]

It also boggles my mind that everyone and their mother would bash Nintendo for their lack of an online plan, and when they do establish an Online plan, people bash them.

They can't seem to win.I would echo rirath's comment on this one. While I don't really have much of any opinion either way, bashing someone for not having a plan and then bashing them when they have one is generalizing too much. They probably should have a plan, but if it's no good what's the point? That's like in the early days of PC gaming where games used to get criticized for not having multiplayer support, but then when some games starting including it, it was horrible. What's the point in having it if it's no good.

But to be fair, I don't think we know enough about the service to pass judgement on it yet.

[jwbxx]

Gamespy make hulk smash and bash!

[CapnBob]

Nintendo actually announced a partnership with Gamespy a few years ago. Perhaps they were just waiting until Gamespy could develop a service that didn't suck?

[TrackZero]

I would echo rirath's comment on this one. While I don't really have much of any opinion either way, bashing someone for not having a plan and then bashing them when they have one is generalizing too much. They probably should have a plan, but if it's no good what's the point? That's like in the early days of PC gaming where games used to get criticized for not having multiplayer support, but then when some games starting including it, it was horrible. What's the point in having it if it's no good.

But to be fair, I don't think we know enough about the service to pass judgement on it yet.

Hell, I love Nintendo, but even I shudder at the mention of Gamespy. All I can hope is that Gamespy hired a brand new team of coders to make this from scratch and that it includes none of their previous design principles.

[if76]

Ok yes Gamespy does suck but in the same way AOL sucks. Both use up way too much RAM but neither one is really necessary. Gamespy was cool when it first came out but that was back when connecting to a game server meant typing in an IP address. You never see games without their own server browser anymore and thus Gamespy is useless so they load it up with crap that might encourage the "casual gamer" who still uses a dial-up modem and are probably running AOL in the background too.
I don't think gamespy's current form on the PC will reflect the quality of the browser it makes for Nintendo's consoles.

[Heretic Machine]

I don't think anyone here understands that using the Gamespy network DOES NOT MEAN using Gamespy Arcade. Halo PC, NWN, and dozens of other games have their own built in browsers that happen to connect to Gamespy. This will likely be the same concept, with each game having it's own browser, but connecting to Gamespy. Gamespy Arcade is entirely seperate from the Gamespy service. That said, the Gamespy server still sucks ass.

[Rirath]

I don't think anyone here understands that using the Gamespy network DOES NOT MEAN using Gamespy Arcade. Halo PC, NWN, and dozens of other games have their own built in browsers that happen to connect to Gamespy. This will likely be the same concept, with each game having it's own browser, but connecting to Gamespy. Gamespy Arcade is entirely seperate from the Gamespy service. That said, the Gamespy server still sucks ass.

Here's the thing though... we do. In every thread about GameSpy on EvilAvatar, someone brings that up. Then other people come along and point out that yes, they know this... and then say the multiplayer in (x game) that used GameSpy's (servers/service/browsers/what-have-you) internally, sucked too.

I haven't used any through Gamespy based games to my knowledge, because I try to avoid them, but give me the games that have their own master servers any day.

[president_fred]

Whoa.
Is that what you call a conflict of interests? Imagine DS.IGN.com rating multiplayer DS games now.

10/10 baby, no less!

You mean as opposed to the balanced and fair journalism they pioneer at the moment ;) At least Nintendo no longer has to spend an early review-copy of a game, wads of cash or cheeseburgers on IGN to get those scores.

[Heretic Machine]

Here's the thing though... we do. In every thread about GameSpy on EvilAvatar, someone brings that up. Then other people come along and point out that yes, they know this... and then say the multiplayer in (x game) that used GameSpy's (servers/service/browsers/what-have-you) internally, sucked too.

I haven't used any through Gamespy based games to my knowledge, because I try to avoid them, but give me the games that have their own master servers any day.

Well, then maybe you guys should just stop talking about how the Gamespy browser takes up too much RAM, or is too buggy :) Because as it is, it sounds like you have no idea what you're talking about.

[Doctor Setebos]

How come when I follow the link, I go to a blank Nintendo page? And I don't see the new listed on their "recent news" section, either.

:(

[netcraazzy]

Hell, I love Nintendo, but even I shudder at the mention of Gamespy. All I can hope is that Gamespy hired a brand new team of coders to make this from scratch and that it includes none of their previous design principles.

What? You mean you don't want to sit and watch a 30 second advertisement for Full Sail University every time you try to search for game servers? Oh wait, since it's on the DS the ad will probably be for Pokemon peagreen edition :D

[Morratut]

True rirath. The Gamespy browser was pants on BF1942.

[dr_wily]

hey it's better than nothin..

[mister_slim]

This sounds fine to me. I don't think Gamespy could fuck up connecting me with a buddy, and I couldn't care less about ladders.

[Kelegacy]

Gamespy....NOOOooooooooo

cant Nintendo hire someone to build an online service from the ground up? GOD! I'm starting to doubt their uberleetjackmeoffwithlube free online service for the Revolution now...hopefully they ditch Gamespy and opt to stun the online world with a different company....or something.

[Furious Wang]

I wonder how many advanced features (ala Live) will be added to the standard GameSpy service?

How about none? I wouldn't expect anything further than barebones. They'll probably even take features AWAY from the gamespy service.

[jadkins555]

Because the "established plan" is a poor one. People aren't bashing Nintendo for an online plan, their bashing them for what will probably turn out to be a very a poor decision to use GameSpy.

It's simple, really.

It would be simple, except that the GameSpy choice is fine. Tell me specifically what is wrong with it.

GameSpy has powered many games and services in the past. It hasn't caused them to bias their reviews before, so why should it start now?

I guess it is "cool" around here to bash GameSpy much like it is to dog on id Software. It's a different world we're living in.

[Rakael]

FUCK FULLSAIL!

I still "owe" those bastards two grand for less than a month's worth of "classes". Place is beautiful granted, but thats because they take the enormous amounts of money they charge to go there and put it into nice shiney brushed-aluminium light fixtures and other useless crap rather than into actually teaching.

Hate it for ya if you went to FS and loved it, they fucked me using my own tears as lube.

[TrackZero]

FUCK FULLSAIL!

I still "owe" those bastards two grand for less than a month's worth of "classes". Place is beautiful granted, but thats because they take the enormous amounts of money they charge to go there and put it into nice shiney brushed-aluminium light fixtures and other useless crap rather than into actually teaching.

Hate it for ya if you went to FS and loved it, they fucked me using my own tears as lube.

? Who mentioned Fullsail? WTF is it???

[mister_slim]

Game development "university" that advertises on Gamespy. DS would obviously get DigiPen ads.