Classic console networking

[cyberfluxor]

Okay, people today network their current gen systems to play multiplayer and even go online casually. Back in the 90's Sega, Nintendo and 3DO [before then there was the C64 :)] were racing to network their consoles and allow multiplayer usage and download play (well ahead of its time) but of course we know what happened. But what about today? I've read on here every now and then about people still dialing up for head-to-head and even some people (Flack comes to mind) that still host some games with the C64 online (via nullmodems IIRC). But has anyone tried networking Genesis and other systems online and having a host system where people can download from? There'd be a very tiny market for it but haven't heard of any such attempts. It would be similar to what the big companies did but instead of through the dial-up or tv channels it's just broadcasted over IP.

[cyberfluxor]

I'm guessing not? It would be interesting to see someone hosing a central gaming machine for people to download classic games from via their system cartridge.

[MarioMania]

it would be nice playing someone in other states from you on the Genesis & Super NES even on the 32X..There's No demand for it..How many people going to actully use it

[CosmicMonkey]

It would be perfectly possible to build a device similar to the Sega Channel that plugs in the cart slot and has an ethernet port. You could then connect straight to a server and download games directly to the cart from the comfort of your TV.

However, unless you're licensed to do this, you're sat on a server full of Romz.

The closest you're gonna get is to connect to someone else's server full of romz via your PC, and put the files on a Tototek flash cart.

Consider that all old games will be available for download to Virtual Consoles on all future games machines and you're halfway there.

[Trebuken]

I believe some emulators allow for playing against someone over the internet. I believe the NES had a modem released in Japan, could it be used for something? There may even have been some experiments with an Atari modem if I recall correctly. If these things exist it's likely someone could program the software.

[CosmicMonkey]

There are the X-Band modems for the SNES, Megadrive and Saturn. It'd mean plugging the X-Band into your PC and using software on the PC to send/receive the signal via Broadband. But it could probably be done. Online MarioKart would be quality.

[agbulls]

There are the X-Band modems for the SNES, Megadrive and Saturn. It'd mean plugging the X-Band into your PC and using software on the PC to send/receive the signal via Broadband. But it could probably be done. Online MarioKart would be quality.

We use to actually use Warp Pipe to play Mario Kart on Cube online. Not exactly Super Mario Kart, but it was still a blast. The setup was easy and we had full voice chat. How? XB Live headsets.

[jcrosby]

Myself and a friend have talked about this very concept before on multiple occasions, and ultimately came to the conclusion that although it would be utterly badass ... the market just isn't there for the amount of money and time something like that would require to get off the ground.


I believe some emulators allow for playing against someone over the internet.
Yep, it's called Netplay and is built into some of the emulators.

[XYXZYZ]

My cousin had X-band for SNES back in it's day. I remember playing Super SF2 against some guy using Vega... the game was sporadically pausing every other second, and that was throwing my game way out of whack. I thought it was the other guy constantly pausing and unpausing to mess me up, so I got pissed off at him and said "Fuck this!" turning the game off. when I turned it back on a message came up warning me never to turn the game off like that.

Of course, now I know that it was heavy lag that was causing the sporadic pauses. Oops!:embarrassed:

[cyberfluxor]

Well I'm sure the current generation of systems support this, just would be interesting to see if this is possible. Maybe not spend the money doing it but just look at theoretical methods?