Sega.com is going to provide the Network Multiplay Solution for the Nintendo GameCube!
With the online console gaming market expected to reach 114 million players in the next four years, the world's pioneer in online console game technology, Sega.com, announced today that they have signed middleware agreements with two of the top console manufacturers.
Game developers now have access to Sega.com's expertise, technologies, and services that will allow them to set up network gaming environments for gameplay on PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and Nintendo GameCube. Sega.com helps developers successfully take their games online across multiple platforms with SEGA Network Application Package (SNAP), a suite of technologies and services designed to provide a multi-platform, end-to-end, network multiplay solution.
SNAP provides game developers and publishers with a comprehensive suite of technologies and services that allows them to easily incorporate networked gameplay into their titles, saving valuable development time and costs. Featuring state-of-the-art technology, SNAP includes community building tools and a custom network transport optimized for gameplay, allowing for quick and flexible communication. SNAP also provides secure user authentication that promotes community trust by preventing fraud, and facilitates revenue by connecting to billing systems. Reporting technologies enable ladders, tournaments, rankings, and other stats-based activities that are crucial to cultivating a game's online community.
News source: GameCube Europe