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Well, that changes everything. I take everything Mark "Subscription Whore" Surfas tells me as prophecy.

As some people have noted, there were traditional tunneling programs for Xbox and Playstation 2. Even PC tunneling programs have been tools for quick and dirty PS2 online gaming.

However, the GameCube uses a "plug and play" protocol called Universal Plug and Play (UPNP). As per my original specification details, the main challenge with bringing the GameCube online was authenticating two GameCubes on two different networks. This is a challange because UPNP broadcasts packets that have a TTL value of only 1. This challange, along with a few others, prompted me to start an open source project in order to enable online play for all LAN based GCN games.

As for the GameSpy speculation, Nintendo has entered into an agreement with GameSpy. However, this agreement is only for middleware which would allow the game to be played online right out of the box. This middleware would be authored by GameSpy and included in various GCN games. The first games with this middleware included are expected to ship early 2004. Specific titles have yet to be announced.

I used to work for GameSpy, running 3DActionPlanet -- violence in video games was a topic which we covered several times. Yeah, it's possible that violent games cause violence in teens... but isn't it also possible that violent teens are DRAWN to violent games? :) Stupid people. Take some fucking responsibility!

I like the All-Seeing Eye too, and use it quite frequently. But it doesn't support all the games Gamespy does. And it takes time to support newer games, where Gamespy and their "parteners" get a jump on it. Electronic Arts is now going to use Gamespy for their games. Press release here: http://www.gamespyindustries.com/press/releases/20 02-november-eamla.shtml.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Gamespy end up being the only way to play EA games in the near future. The All-Seeing Eye developers have managed to keep up this far with most of the big-name titles, but with their program growing in popularity I think this is a recognition of a threat.

E-Books are like E-Jobs -- they don't feel "real" to most people.

Case in point -- I work for GameSpy Industries, doing writing, editing, and management. However, their offices are located in Irvine, California. This is quite a daily commute from Winnipeg, MB, Canada. The solution? Telecomutting.

However, people don't seem to quite grasp the fact that, even though I'm at home, I'm still working. My mother asks me to do housework, people say "dammit Cary, get a real job".. and I make almost 3x as much as they do at their real McJobs.

I imagine that the e-book situation is quite similar -- because there is no tactile book to hold, it isn't "real". (I've been told that, if I had to go to an office but still telecommute, then I have a real job.

(if someone actually has an important, legit reason for using a messenger service, please correct me...).

.. I thought I should share my worst job experience. Before I went to work for GameSpy, I worked for Famous Players' Silver City Polo Park in Winnipeg, MB, and it was the worst job ever. Let me tell you why.

Let's start with the physical stuff, and work from there. While I was working at Silver City, I was a member of the 'floor staff.' It's not as glamourous as it sounds -- we were responsible for cleaning up theatres and bathrooms. 'Pfft, that's alright' you think. 'Popcorn, drinks.. easy' Oh, yeah right. Over the 9 months that I have worked there, I've had to clean up many a puddle of vomit, blood, alcohol, and a used condom. And all that for minumum wage. ($6 per hour.)

Don't get me started on the management. Favouritism ran rampant -- some people would get tons of shifts, while others would get one per week. In fact, that happened to me (one shift a week) -- I even wrote a nice long letter expressing my discontent, but it didn't help.

So, that's MY sob story...

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CitizenC

.. I find that the best way, besides money, is to provide a plesent working environment. Don't restrict employees to cubicles -- sit down with the talent and say 'Alright, how do you want your workspace to look?' They will be much more happy working in an environment that they had at least a small part in designing.

Second, make sure that they KNOW you appreciate their work. I currently work as a freelance employee for GameSpy Industries. Because I don't live in California, I work from my home. And I can tell you right now, it is the best job that I've had. Not only is it working in an area that I have both a lot of knowledge in, and pure interest, but my contact with my boss(es). If I have an idea, I send one of them an ICQ msg, and we talk it over. If they have concerns, they let me know. I don't know if this is simply a bi-product of telecomutting, but the openness in communication really goes A LONG WAY.

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CitizenC
My name is not 'nospam,' but 'citizenc'.