Wireless Home Networking - Index of

Chapter 11: Gaming Over a Wireless Home Network
PSP: Your passport to Wi-Fi gaming
If you’re into handheld gaming devices, the
Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) may be just the
ticket. For about $200 (for a Value Pack including
a couple of games and accessories), this slick
little handheld lets you take your gaming with
you. But there’s more to the PSP than just
gaming. The PSP is an all-purpose media player,
with a Memory Stick DUO slot designed to let
you carry photos, music, and even video along
with you.
That’s all cool, but what’s cooler is that the PSP
has a built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b) adapter that lets
you connect to any 802.11b or 802.11g Wi-Fi network.
The initial PSPs shipped with support for
only WEP encryption, but a firmware upgrade in
2005 lets you connect even the older models to
a properly secured WPA network. When connected
via Wi-Fi, you can play online games
against others on your network or over the
Internet. There’s even a built-in Web browser,
so that when your thumbs need a break from all
that hot gaming action, you can surf your
favorite Web sites.
has been essentially “sold out” for over a year. (It’s just as hard to get one as
we write this as it was in 2006.)
With the Wii, Nintendo has pulled out all the online stops — the Wii includes
built-in Wi-Fi, a Web browser, loads of online games, and an online ecosystem
for you to enjoy using your motion-controlled gaming controllers.
Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection service provides free online gaming for the Wii
and also for Nintendo’s DS handheld gaming device (both have built-in Wi-Fi).
As is the case with the PS3, most networked Wii games can be played online
for free, but some titles require you to purchase a subscription with the
game’s software vendor.
The Wii also includes an Internet Channel — which is Wiispeak for a Web
browser (specifically the Opera Web browser) that allows you to surf the
Web on your TV. Additionally, like the other gaming consoles, the Wii
includes an online store for buying games, downloading game demos, and
more.
In previous editions of this book we talked about the online gaming hardware
and service available for Nintendo’s older console, the (very cute little)
GameCube. Online gaming never took off with the GameCube (most likely
because the target audience for that console was younger kids), and in the
end only three games were available for online play. As of April 2007 there
were none, as online play for those games has been suspended. So get a Wii!
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