Game Tunnel Client Links Xbox, PS2, and GC Games

SuperStar writes "XLink Kai, the only global gaming network that allows you to tunnel all link-compatible games for Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube, launched their new client. As almost all 'Online-enabled' games also allow 'link/network play', this makes Kai a free and legal alternative for Microsoft's Xbox LIVE and Sony's online PS2 service. Using psSDK (instead of WinPCAP) and a new MAC caching subsystem allows them to become the fastest frame tunnel available. They not only offer a win32 binary, but also one for Mac OS X and Linux. A hands on of this release is available."

Comments

DMCA?

[LiENUS]

How long till sony nintendo and microsoft collectively call upon the DMCA? (and hopefully get the DMCA struck down in the process)

Re:DMCA?

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't think the DMCA is applicable here since they are not bypassing any copyright controls. They are simply taking the network data from "system link" games and intercepting it and sending it across the internet to another console.

Re:DMCA?

[LiENUS]

see bnetd.... nugh sed.

Re:DMCA?

[LiENUS]

you still need a cd key to install the game to use bnetd, its just that you can use a generated cd key, actually on battle.net the real one you could use generated keys for a while.

In English please

[Anonymous Coward]

I think Slashdot is a great source of information, but sometimes the editors forget that we're not all IT professionals.

I have no idea what psSDKs, WinPCAPs, caching subsystems or frame tunnels are. If I don't know that stuff despite being a regular computer/internet user and gamer, it's pretty much a guarantee that others don't know what you're talking about either.

Please make some sort of attempt to put this in language most of us can understand.

Re:In English please

[unixbob]

I don't mean to be rude here but this IS Slashdot and the majority of readers here either:
a) know what WinPCAP and psSDK is or
b) are interested and switched on enough to go and find out for themselves

After all, this is "news for nerds" not "news for the casual internet user". If you want this stuff explained to you then Slashdot probably isn't the sort of news site you should be reading

Re:In English please

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sorry to tell you that with the sheer traffic this site gets, it's almost a guarantee that a significant portion of the readership *doesn't* understand the aforementioned terms.

Note also that this is Slashdot Games, not the frontpage or Developers section -- being a gamer shouldn't require the knowledge of obscure terms rarely used outside of the so-called nerd community.

And as for your suggestion that readers who are confused about these terms should go find out for themselves -- you're assuming that those readers are willing to put in that extra effort after being thoroughly confused and lost by a post that's complete Greek to them.

If not for the headline, I wouldn't have known the post had anything to do with console games and third-party online services.

And so I think while it's possible to write with a level of sophistication that will keep the traditional /. readers interested, to keep appealing to a growing readership you have to make these posts accessible to people who may not be as "l337" or knowledgeable. Judging from the way this site keeps expanding, it seems like the editors *do* want a growing audience. So, please, help the rest of us out a little and try to make posts more accessible.

Re:In English please

[WWWWolf]

Heh. I am an "IT professional" and I had no idea what the blurb really said. But I did manage to comprehend that it uses method X instead of the more popular method Y, therefore it's network performance is surprisingly good (read: it's pretty darn fast).

I think your comment just exemplifies the thing that we often forget in this side of the table: the people (management and end users), at least hopefully, don't care how you get the results, just that you get good results. Maybe the article would have been more legible if it had said stuff like "It's fast as hell" and they had put the technological discussion to next paragraph, for those who care about such things.

Re:In English please

[damiam]

I think you overestimate /. readers. I've been reading Slashdot regularly for years and I don't know either of those terms. Yes, I could go look them up, but a brief definition in the summary would be much easier.

Re:In English please

[forkazoo]

Frankly, anybody who gives a damn can always google for the afformentioned terms, and find the websites for the libraries, and information about things like tunnels. I've had plenty of /. articles on topics I wasn't familiar with, but I never bitched about it. Nerd doesn't mean one who knows everything. It means one who is willing to find out.

Re:Any good?

[parryr]

I hear you about Halo's pain over tunnel systems. Using Xbox Connect, or Xbox Tunnel (GameSpy), or whatever doesn't make a difference - the game seems tuned for LAN levels of latency and throughput.

A new tunnel system won't solve these problems, but a larger pipe and improvements to the speed of light probably will ;)

Re:I dont understand

[Anonymous Coward]

it's like using a link cable, except you use the internet instead (which provides more players, and even a medium for people to meet [a la gamespy])

Re:I dont understand

[wickedj]

No, you can't. Basically, if you have Midnight Club 2 for Xbox and PS2, you will not be able to link them and play against each other. This software is designed so that you can connect only the same consoles. The problem lies within the fact that each game is designed specifically for the console. Some have different level layouts, controls, hardware limitation, etc. which make it impossible to cross link. The only game I know of that allows a cross link is Final Fantasy 11 for PC and PSX. The other issue is region compatibility. If you have PAL as opposed to NTSC, most likely the consoles will be unable to link. Hope this answers your question.