Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Online gaming is driving internet growth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/online-gaming-is-driving-internet-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/online-gaming-is-driving-internet-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/online-gaming-is-driving-internet-growth/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Online games, be they MMOGs like World of Warcraft or co-op/multiplayers like Team Fortress 2, are driving internet growth according to Vlad Ihora, head of gaming at TeliaSonera. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, he explains how the attitudes of internet service providors (ISPs) are changing toward online gamers and why he believes digital distribution of games will eventually become mainstream.

TeliaSonera, who look after Blizzard Europe's networking solutions for WoW, have noticed an increase in companies not even related to gaming wishing to hook up to their network. Also, internet usage has shot up by 52% in the last 12-18 months and ISPs are paying much more attention these days than ever before to issues that affect gamers such as connection lag, packet loss, etc..

In reference to digital distribution, Ihora states that from his side of things, it would be as simple as flipping a switch because there is so much more bandwidth available and he believes the networks that support the internet can handle the strain. He also believes the conversion from boxed to digital distribution will happen gradually rather than all-at-once, comparing it to the CD and MP3 music formats.

MassivelyOnline gaming is driving internet growth originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddigital-distributionispteliasoneravlad-ihoraworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 20 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T says internet data caps and overage fees 'inevitable']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/atandt-says-internet-data-caps-and-overage-fees-inevitable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/atandt-says-internet-data-caps-and-overage-fees-inevitable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/atandt-says-internet-data-caps-and-overage-fees-inevitable/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is a time really coming when internet use in America will be capped? AT&T sure seems to think so and we're inclined to wonder if they're right. Internet service providers could go about capping bandwidth in a couple of ways. They could be reasonable (hah!) and set the cap up high where it will only hurt people who're constantly downloading large amounts of files through P2P networks or -- and this is more likely, we think -- they could setup a tiered system. This could be problematic for online gamers depending on how the tiers are setup. A higher cap means a higher price. So then depending on your gaming, surfing and -- most importantly -- downloading habits you could feel some monthly bill-burn. If you were recently involved in the Age of Conan betas just think back to all that downloading you did. Consider all the game trailers you've either streamed or downloaded. Also, one computer playing an online game may not hurt much but we're fairly certain there are plenty of homes with upwards of two or three computers hooked up to the network.

Another issue is how this system reeks foul of classic greed. As time goes on and the internet infrastructure hopefully improves throughout America, will the internet service providers fairly adjust the monthly, weekly or daily caps to represent that? We also have to wonder whether or not this problem is stemming from a lack of infrastructure investment from these companies to begin with, which is a possibility as well.

MassivelyAT&T says internet data caps and overage fees 'inevitable' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocdata-capfuncominternetispoverage-feesp2pTue, 17 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sell your soul to AT&T for three free months of WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/sell-your-soul-to-atandt-for-three-free-months-of-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/sell-your-soul-to-atandt-for-three-free-months-of-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/sell-your-soul-to-atandt-for-three-free-months-of-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Blizzard is in bed with the ginormousness that is AT&T; if you're presently using cable internet and you choose to switch to SBC AT&T DSL, AT&T will send you a free game card good for 3 months of World of Warcraft.

There's no way for us to either recommend or discourage this deal, because the quality of the different high-speed internet services varies from city to city. But hey, it's kind of cool if you don't mind shameless corporate promotions and if for some reason or another your cable internet provider isn't doing its job.

You do need to be an already-existing subscriber of World of Warcraft to be eligible for the deal. That's okay, though, since one would expect that only the WoW hardcore (if even them) would actually switch ISPs for three free months of game time.

[Via WoW Insider]

MassivelySell your soul to AT&T for three free months of WoW originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atandtattbell-southblizzardbroadbandgame-timehigh-speed-internetisppromotionsubscriptionworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 08 Nov 2007 17:26:00 EST