online gaming - via isp account?

[killing_floor]

A stray comment on online gaming got me wundrin'...

does the access to the internet work via your extant isp provider? or does the online access come with the various peripherals needed to get the console online?

obviously you will need broadband at least, can't see anyone going online on dial-up! not with today's consoles anyway - hmm, how did the DC work online? just comes off the phonebill (as in, did you just plug it into the phone socket and the bill would come off along with the calls) ?

I've only looked into the hardware for online gaming, so am asking to see if it's best to get the most download time from your isp (as there tend to be tiered rates for broadband now) - if you have the limited download limit on your isp for example, how does that affect gaming?

[RuBiQ]

IF you re-write that in English ill try and help

The more I read the more confusing it becomes!!

If you pay for a ISP like NTL per month, you DONT get billed extra using the PS2 or DC, as for Xbox, im not sure as I dont own one!

[sam1981]

A console will connect to the internet in exactly the same way a PC does. So yes, you use your ISP. Once it's connected to the net, you may then need to pay for services such as Xbox live or certain PS2 online games, etc...

[VR46]

If you pay for a ISP like NTL per month, you DONT get billed extra using the PS2 or DC, as for Xbox, im not sure as I dont own one!

They "try" and charge you ?5 a month extra to use Live (Xbox), however a quick visit to nthellworld.co.uk tells you how to get around it

[Commander Marklar]

Yea, you don't buy their Xbox package

[killing_floor]

When I read posts like RuBiQ's there, I am reminded as to why I won't be getting ntl.

Thanks for the other, normal, replies.

Ah well, I suppose I can't expect anything decent from someone with Bi in their name. With a capital B.

[killing_floor]

So, back a few years before folks like BT were offering internet connections - what ISP services were DC owners / users signed up to then? Or was the older days just no use at all for gaming online in the UK?

[charlesr]

To get my DC online, I used to use my btinternet ?15/month unlimited dial-up isp (same one I used to surf the net on my PC). You just plugged teh DC modem into the phone socket and put in your isp login details when prompted by the game (in my case, Quake III with mouse and keyboard). If you found a good server, the game was very smooth and lag free, even with a 33k modem. Only 4 players at once though.

[sam1981]

what ISP services were DC owners / users signed up to then?

If you didn't have an ISP, then you'd connect into Dreamarena which was a Sega / BT combo I think. SO basically BT was your ISP and you just paid for the phone calls (no ?xx per month and use it when you like stuff).

[Firsty]

Ah well, I suppose I can't expect anything decent from someone with Bi in their name. With a capital B.

o_O
what?