Broadband 4 Gamers

[Essay @ Kustom]

Freedom 2 Surf have just launched a new broadband option called "Broadband For Gamers" aka BB4G. ( Marketing tip #482: If a new product can't be acronymised with a number in there somewhere, it's just not good enough. )

BB4G claims to reduce ping and hops ( down to only 2 hops ) and no traffic shaping. asterisk. The asterisk being, no traffic shaping on any connection between you and the Wireplay servers. Also, only 2 hops between you and the Wireplay servers.

So, what happens if you play a game not on the Wireplay servers? You get all the regular traffic management and high pings you normally associate with online gaming.

I'm not saying the scheme is worthless, I just think it's catering to too niche a market ( i.e. those who already use Wireplay for gaming or those with no fixed stomping ground ).

Full story at Wireplay (http://www.wireplay.co.uk/2007/08/15/wireplay-gets-its-own-dedicated-broadband/) and F2S (http://www.freedom2surf.net/adsl/broadband-for-gamers/?is=hpm).

[Tom]

You can only hope that the small few who aren't locked into over half of a lengthly contract, and do regularly play online games via the Wireplay servers might give F2S enough reason to start extend their 'minimal hop' approach to other gaming services.

That or, they couldn't possibly afford to cater for any more services, without massively increasing the price.

[[M]uuhh]

so basicaly its regular broadband with traffic shaping unless you play on wireplay.

[phycho]

ill stay with webtapestry thanks, where i get the following:

a) low latency
b) good peering
c) *true* unlimited broadband (yes theres a fup but its not enforced)
d) 7.1mbit after overheads and around 830KB/sec+ on torrents/p2p so no shaping.

none of which you get under the pipex/tiscali group. (aka freedom2surf/nildram/pipex etc).

i get all the above for 25pm.