Geist to utilize LAN gaming

by Ross Miller { Aug 10th 2005 at 9:00AM }

geist

As discussed earlier with the history of Saturn article, the company itself can have a direct (and adverse) effect on their product, and Nintendo's decision to make the GameCube's broadband modem impossible to find pretty much gave no company an incentive to make GameCube games go online, and the number of LAN-equipped GameCube games is less than a handful (Mario Kart, Phantasy Star Online, and…um… that's it I believe) and are horribly implemented. That's what makes me so sad to hear about Geist's upcoming multiplayer features, because they are so good that I wish there was an online community. I love Nintendo, I do, but I wish this game was on another console, too.

The biggest reason is Geist's hunt mode, which GameSpy describes as follows: "In this mode, players are divided into two groups: ghosts and hosts. Ghosts must inhabit the host body and attempt to kill it by any means possible." So, essentially, you grab a body and proceed to kill yourself - genius idea, I think, but as a 2on2 or 3on1 match…not as much fun. It's a shame, really. But I hope all those with a modem enjoy the hell out of this game.

[Thanks, Sanchez]

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

homer @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I've never been that into online gaming...at least with strangers. I've enjoyed playing Diablo on my pc with a friend, but playing Sega online was a bad experience overall. Not b/c of the lag (which wasn't that bad over dialup), but b/c it seemed like most of the other gamers had cheats installed, which let them do lots of neat stuff, like freeze my character, kill me instantly, etc. Takes the fun out of the experience. Guess that's why the Gamecube's lack of online support doesn't bother me. Plus, I wouldn't want to have to pay extra to be able to play online...I already pay for DSL.

CapAmerica @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

'Mario Kart', 'PSO I & II', 'PSO III', 'Kirby's Air Ride', and '1080: Avalanche' are the only games that I know of that were LAN-equipped. So Nintendo had a total of 5 games.

Its a real shame that they didn't add it to 'Geist', It was also a shame they didn't add it to 'Metroid Prime 2' We can only hope that if a sequal to 'Geist' is made on the Revolution that Online play will be added.

Goob @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I think this is a fine case of "too little too late". They should have been rolling out LAN games since day 1, and letting 3rd parties in on the fun a bit more often too. So sad.

Kamalot @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

We had a LAN party last year where people brought their GameCubes. We played networked Mario Kart and 1080. Both were hell'a fun on the LAN and a good time was had by all.

Shame more games didn't support LAN play cause the cube is small and portable. A VGA box means you don't have to cart around a TV but instead can use a fflat-panel monitor. Sweet!

Mike @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

why do you say that the GC's broadband adapter is 'impossible to find'? i just did one google search and found it immediately in stock at a few places for about 40 bucks.

gamespot lists 10 games total for GC that are online or lan enabled - all 3 PSO's, Mario Kart, Kirby's Air Ride, 1080 Avalanche, TMNT: Mutant Melee, Tiger Woods 05, NHL 05, and *gulp* Judge Dredd.

still, nowhere near enough incentive to use it.. xbox live still has online pretty wrapped up at the moment - until someone matches or improves on the XBL experience, they'll continue to put out the most online/lan games. so i play online/lan with the xbox, but i still LOVE my gamecube for many other reasons :)

Michael McGuire @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Don't forget that XLink Kai (http://www.teamxlink.co.uk/) is compatible with the Gamecube.

Jake Fry @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Maybe if we're lucky, they'll make a remake or a sequel of it on the Revolution. I mean, why the fudge not? This is gotta be Nintendo's 2nd or 3rd new franchise this generation, why not stick with it for a few more titles?

Danny Boy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I have played Mario Cart Online with A friend using XBconnect, It works! Try it!

courtney @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

yeah I wonder if WarpPipe will work like it does with Mario Kart and 1080?

Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Yeah, the internet is an easy way to find one, you're right, but despite the ever-growing technology that is internet shopping, it still isn't as available, and it definitely was not as widely used when the GameCube came out. And that's what matters - in 2001, most of us who got a console then probably got it from a store, and very few retailers at the time (or even now, though I have seen a few dialup connectors) have available the modem. And to be honest, no one likes buying adaptors - just look at the 64DD, the 32X or, or any other number + letter add-on device.

It's easy for us to find, yes, but not so much that the general population could really use it. The internet to me is still going out of your way to buy it. The online ability should be something that was inherent to the console, so that kids could figure it out without having to make a financial commitment.

And yeah, that is a more games than I knew that used LAN capabilities. *Sigh,* its still small enough to count on one hand though, which makes for but a fraction of the GC's entire library.