IQ, thanks for re-assuring that we're pretty much on the same page here bro.
Those guys are asking for the world, while I only want a slice of cheese. I was going to start a different thread about GGPO/Mame/etc, but since this one is already open I may as fire off a few rounds of Q's....
1)Who exactly is responsible for Final Burn Alpha's netcode? Who was it that made it possible? And do you think this person would be persuaded to implement it into MAME? I'm just curious.
2)IQ you have an influence on a lot of people....I'm willing to bet Ponder is one of them. I'm willing to bet he would listen to you. Do you think you could persuade him to add more games to GGPO? I honestly don't understand why he hasn't done so in the last few months.
3)You mentioned you'd like to see the source code for GGPO. I'm curious....what would you do with it? Are you implying that you'd create your own version of GGPO, only this time you'd add ALL the games in FBA's roster? That'd certainly be the bees knees
4)You mention you don't enjoy or play too many 3D games. It's ironic, I'm the same way. Unfortunately most gamers do not share our tastes. Hence the reason why hardly anyone plays the non-fighting games in ggpo, and stick mostly to King of Fighters and Third Strike.
Finally, I am going to go on a rant here so please bare with me.....
I really cannot tell you how much it depresses me to see things the way they are with regards to the current state of 2D emulation and online gaming.
IQ, I'd like to get your personal theories on this....but in your own opinion, why do you suspect things are the way they are, in regards to FBA having great net code, while MAME only has Kaillera?
Why do you suppose the MAME devs are so against netplay in MAME? Do they not realize that netplay means multiplayer, and that many games in MAME are multiplayer(meaning 2 or more people playing the game)?
I just find it sickening how here we have MAME.....a fantastic emulator capable of emulating over 8000 wonderful arcade games. And yet none of the mame team devs are willing to have an open mind about netplay, and hold this absurd philosophy about how it doesn't belong in the emu. Give me a break. If anything, not having it is a detriment to the enjoyment of the emu in my opinion. If they feel having netplay in mame is inappropriate or not worth it, then how do you explain the
RIDICULOUS success of Xbox Live Arcade?
XBLA is BOOMING because many of the old arcade 2D classics can be played online....and tons of people have told me and have mentioned in different forums how much adding netplay to those games have given them a
huge breath of fresh air, and a giant shot in the replayability arm!
C'mon mame devs, it's all about online and multiplayer games these days. I don't see how having netplay would hurt the mame scene. It's already in there via Kaillera and that hasn't stopped you guys from doing what you want to do. Why not just give the mame fans what they want and add this one little thing? It will help bring mame back into the limelight and I bet many people would donate to the project as a thank you to the devs for adding it.
If anyone from the mame team is reading this, I hope you guys re-consider your philosophy, and approach the netplay idea from a different perspective.
In a perfect world, MAME would have built in netplay on par with FBA. Ponder would then use it for GGPO as its emu, and everybody and their mother would be playing all the oldschool 2D games night and day, all day long online with no lag.
I'd open up a room for Metamorphic Force, and there'd be hundreds of thousands of people playing it co-op. Ditto for all the other 2-player non-fighting games. GGPO would have the user base of Halo 3 and CoD4
combined! And Ponder would sit back and be proud that so many people are there using his program.
Oh well, perhaps in an alternate reality this may happen