Joystiq

Command & Conquer 4 won't have LAN support or dedicated servers

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:30:00 EST

Based on the precedent set by your reaction to similar news for StarCraft 2 and Modern Warfare 2, we're guessing you're not going to like the information Command & Conquer 4 lead designer Sam Bass recently shared with Destructoid. According to him, the FMV-filled strategy title won't provide any LAN or dedicated server support to its players.

These two features were apparently struck from the game in favor of a server-based character progression system. Bass explained "if you go to another machine -- friend's house, Internet café -- whatever, you can login with your profile and all the stuff you've unlocked is accessible to you there. It all lives on a server so you can't really do dedicated servers with that." He also explained that the game's online networking is "a lot more solid," so you won't be left completely high and dry, as far as multiplayer skirmishes are concerned.

Still, we're worried about the future of the LAN-friendly strategy game, which appears to be turning into an endangered species. We've contacted Bono to see if he'd lend his musical support to a charity concert event.

Gallery: Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight

Command & Conquer 4 won't have LAN support or dedicated servers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seen@PAX: One million billion computers

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:00:00 EST

To a non-PC gamer, the sixth floor of the Seattle Convention Center is currently filled with an impossible number of computers, all playing a number of dirty keyboard-and-mouse-controlled games, and all linked together in a nebulous Local Area Network. Their users are strange and otherworldly, and their ranks are unexpectedly strong.

To hardcore PC gamers, the sixth floor of the Seattle Convention Center is currently a vast, luminous sea of infinite pleasure.

Seen@PAX: One million billion computers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft 2 may sport semi-LAN solution

Justin McElroy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST

You'll likely remember almost two months ago when Blizzard announced there would be no LAN support for StarCraft 2. No? It was that time you tried angrily tearing your favorite Kerrigan poster in twain before collapsing breathlessly on the floor of your grandmother's rumpus room.

It may be lucky your attempt failed, though: Blizzard tells Shacknews it's working on a "pseudo-LAN" solution to the problem, that might allow play very similar to a regular LAN party, with Battle.net only being pinged once or periodically for authentication purposes.

Even better, Shacknews also reports that a similar system will be included with Diablo III. While it's not quite offline play, we're hoping it's close enough to keep both developers and fans happy.

StarCraft 2 may sport semi-LAN solution originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surprising no one, StarCraft II fans petition for LAN support

Justin McElroy — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST

You can say that we're getting old, but this petition, created by StarCraft II fans that want to see LAN support included in the game, is actually making us a little nostalgic. The air is once more thick with with slight, reedy voices crying fruitlessly out for ultimately inconsequential change! It's intoxicating!

But we have to admit that their opener, "We, your most loyal fans, implore you to reconsider adding LAN as a network feature to StarCraft II," is a little soft for our taste. C'mon guys, when this totally doesn't work at all, you need to feel like you gave it your best shot.

[Via Eurogamer]

Surprising no one, StarCraft II fans petition for LAN support originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft II: Blizzard responds to lack of LAN support

Kevin Kelly — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Well, it's definitely true. Blizzard has killed LAN support in the upcoming StarCraft II, and here's the official word from Bob Colayco at Blizzard PR:

"We don't currently plan to support LAN play with StarCraft II, as we are building Battle.net to be the ideal destination for multiplayer gaming with StarCraft II and future Blizzard Entertainment games. While this was a difficult decision for us, we felt that moving away from LAN play and directing players to our upgraded Battle.net service was the best option to ensure a quality multiplayer experience with StarCraft II and safeguard against piracy.

Several Battle.net features like advanced communication options, achievements, stat-tracking, and more, require players to be connected to the service, so we're encouraging everyone to use Battle.net as much as possible to get the most out of StarCraft II. We're looking forward to sharing more details about Battle.net and online functionality for StarCraft II in the near future."

So, let it hereby be noted that pirates killed the LAN parrrrrty.

StarCraft II: Blizzard responds to lack of LAN support originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LAN support not included in StarCraft II

JC Fletcher — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST

According to an IncGamers interview with members of the StarCraft II team, one of the major components of the original game won't be included in the sequel -- LAN play. "We don't have any plans to support LAN," VP of game design Rob Pardo told the site. Blizzard has reportedly confirmed to IGN that LAN support is indeed out the window. We're reaching out to Blizzard for comment as well, so don't throw out all your cables yet.

If this is true, Battle.net is the only multiplayer option in StarCraft II, and the era of the LAN party has officially ended -- we suppose you could still bring your computer over to someone else's house, but you no longer need to. More than that, we suspect that this will be just one of the things that thousands of daily StarCraft players are going to freak out about, because it's something in the new game that is the slightest bit different from the old game.

[Via IGN]

Gallery: Starcraft 2 (6/29/09)

LAN support not included in StarCraft II originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seen@PAX08 LAN room: Waldo and a lonely MacBook

Ross Miller — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, PC, Galleries

Call it dumb luck, but we caught that ever-elusive striped shirt aficionado taking a break from the PAX 2008 showfloor to play some Team Fortress 2 (we'd love to say he was playing as the appropriately-elusive spy, but we think it was actually Heavy class). Also spotted amongst the masses of giant modded PCs, a lone MacBook Pro. Check out some more crazy sightings from the BYOC (that's "Bring Your Own Computer") room.

Gallery: PAX 2008: Awesome PC mods

Gallery: PAX 2008: Cosplay (Full)

Seen@PAX08 LAN room: Waldo and a lonely MacBook originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: wi-fi vs wired internets

David Hinkle — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

So your Wii has built in wi-fi to connect to the internet, but that doesn't mean everyone is down for that. Many of the fine folk cruising these tubes that make up the interweb still do so through trusty wires, perhaps too scared to enter the domain of wireless solutions available. Are you one of these individuals that had to snatch up a LAN adapter to get online or are you down with the wi-fi?

Wii Warm Up: wi-fi vs wired internets originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play PC games on your PS3 with StreamMyGame

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hacks, PC, Sony PlayStation 3

We're not just ragging on the PS3 when we say this -- we're all admittedly going through a bit of a video game drought. Perhaps there's a few PC games from last year's surplus that you'd like to play, but you've recently developed serious allergies to computer monitors ... and you lack the appropriate cables to hook your PC up to your television. Okay, the requirements for the StreamMyGame service to be useful are somewhat outlandish, but at least you have the option now, right?

The service lets you stream games running on your Windows or Linux PC onto your Linux-enabled PS3 via a LAN. It's not as complicated as it sounds, and is completely free of charge -- plus, imagine how freaked out your friends will be when they walk in the room and see you running Halo 2 off your PS3. Tell them it's the new PS360, and cackle maniacally as they run to Best Buy to get their own.

Play PC games on your PS3 with StreamMyGame originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today in Joystiq: January 30, 2007

Ross Miller — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 23:59:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

Here's a picture worth at least 7,752 words. That's the number of people Guinness counted, making it the biggest LAN party recorded in gaming history. Other interesting numbers include 7,788 computers in attendance (those poor, lonely 76 36 computers ...) and 10,000 tickets sold. Wow. Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Joystiq hands-on: NBA Street Homecourt (PS3/Xbox 360)
Readers pick best webcomic: your mom
Today's raddest game video: GTA San Andreas bike stunts

News
Sega's Yakuza goes from game to movie
PSP downgrader: 3.03 to 1.50 in 8 simple steps
Nintendo's Reggie needs an assistant
Telltale looking for Wii programmer, Sam & Max far behind?
Epic to churn out Gears of War until the Sun explodes
SimCity DS footage to drool over
Windows Vista launches with megaton title
Wii & "Wario Wear" win International Toy Fair award
British cops caught playing PSP on duty
Vista security too tight on casual games, claims WildTangent
PS3 hurts Sony profits, but less than expected
Sony picks party promoters, fashion insiders to aid PS3 UK launch
Buger King 360 promo games spur company's sales
Ritual not done with SIN just yet
Halo 3 for cheap, if you buy now
Xbox Live Arcade takes a break, but Microsoft assures it won't be long
Wii auctions outpacing PS3 on eBay
GameTap forgets half its name, adds music content
Arthur game team shared offices with movie group
SplitFish ready to get Sixaxis a'rumblin
Help mtvU design AIDS Awareness game, win $5,000
Trash talk: Bioshock designer scolds uncultured peers
Pixies frontman Frank Black wails for GRAW 2

Rumors & Speculation
Streamlined PS3 production may facilitate price drop in '07
Rumor: Next-gen N-Gage garners interest
Today the most signifcant day in gaming? Not so much.

Culture
Losing Faith in Miss Video Game competition
The future of video games according to 1982
A Wii bit lazy
Trying to buy a 360 from Wal-mart (three strikes, you're out)
Shadow of the Counter-Strike

Today in Joystiq: January 30, 2007 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jan 2007 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A legendary HBO Halo LAN

Dustin Burg — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Multiplayer, Fan stuff

We all know halo.bungie.org (HBO) is a great resource for Halo news, but did you know they throw some of the best LAN parties on the face of the planet? Recently HBO invited some close friends, community members, and Bungie employees to their "Connecticut HQ" for a memorable Halo 2 throw-down. The LAN was held at HBO stud Louis Wu's house and was packed full of people, televisions, gaming consoles, food, and did we mention people? Cheers to you HBO for pulling off another memorable Halo LANfest ... now only if we could get invited. Full story and lots more photos after the jump.

A legendary HBO Halo LAN originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO players convene after E3

Jennie Lees — Tue, 16 May 2006 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Online, RPGs, E3, MMO

Those of us heavily invested in massively multiplayer games are part of a community, just as FPS clans have a brotherhood borne out of hours of playing together. Events like BlizzCon provide an opportunity for MMO guilds and players to meet up -- for the unknown to meet the infamous.

E3 may have been over, but that didn't stop NCsoft arranging a player get-together last Saturday. Over 400 players signed up, some travelling from as far as Arizona for this one evening. While NCsoft had rented out a LAN centre for the event, players spent just as much time talking as they did playing, with a sizeable contingent of developers and community managers on hand to help the event along. NCsoft celebrities including Richard Garriott and Matt "Positron" Miller attended the event, showing a pleasing commitment to the player base.

Continue reading MMO players convene after E3

MMO players convene after E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 May 2006 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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