80°

Is your online gaming experience in jeopardy?

13
"What would you do if your online gaming experience was determined by your internet provider and not whether a server was dedicated or not? You may soon be given the opportunity to find out, as Virgin Media's CEO, Neil Burkett, has decided "this net neutrality thing is a load of bollocks." Burkett happens to also run a cable operator that provides around 3.6 million people in the UK with internet service. What makes this dangerous is the fact that Virgin is already in talks with unnamed content providers about having their content delivered faster than companies that aren't willing to pay for the privilege. This makes it a depressing reality over the horizon." -PSU.com
Read Full Article >>   
psu.com

[via psu.com]
DavePSU - contributor
Published: 578 days 20 hours ago | Article | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | Wii | Sony PSP | Nintendo DS | Mobile | PlayStation 2 | GameCube | Gaming | PC
 
 

Showing: 1 - 12 of 12 Comments
Shut this user up Let user speak
PirateThom - 578 days 20 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
1 -
And that's why no one should use Virgin.
Agree(2) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Shut this user up Let user speak
Dark_Overlord - 578 days 19 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
2 - Virgins Response...
http://www.theregister.co.u...
Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Shut this user up Let user speak
DavePSU - 578 days 19 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
2.1 -
Overlord, that response is what you'd call "PR Spin." The truth behind this matter is that ISPs worldwide have been trying to find ways to implement this exact experience behind closed doors without the knowledge of their subscribers knowing. The reason why the Burkett comment was taken so harshly is because this was the first instance where an ISP exec came out to the forefront to make the claim. It was a bold move. To honestly believe that they'll give people who don't pay a speedy access route while giving those who do pay a faster access route, still presents the same problem. The slower "bus lane" will still feel like lag in comparison to the "speedy bus lane".
Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report
Shut this user up Let user speak
Dark_Overlord - 578 days 12 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
2.2 - LOL
I wasn't saying that I belived them, I just thought rather than post a new story about their response I'd just post it in the comments.

I have virgin broadband, and if they do attempt to do this I'll definetly be switching
Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report
Shut this user up Let user speak
Extra Guy - 578 days 17 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
3 -
First they take over Blueyonder, then they reduce my speed at times to an abysmal rate, then they make people pay to phone up the help desk and now this? I can't fathom how they could have done much of a worse job internet wise. It's just such a shame that i've got such a good television deal with them. Sky is looking rather nice though.
Agree(1) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Shut this user up Let user speak
waldopepper - 578 days 13 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
3.1 -
From May the broadband support phone line went back to being free from a Virgin phone. Also if your download speeds are really low but you suspect you're not hitting the download limit then give them a call - sounds like you have a problem.
Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report
Shut this user up Let user speak
OC Shock Value - 578 days 9 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
4 -
NO
Agree(2) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Shut this user up Let user speak
Revvin - 578 days 7 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
5 -
I'm not sure how they would do this without inspecting packets to see what they are being used for. At present they do not so with games using standard ports to access the internet then I don't see how they will achieve this. I do know they throttle high useage customers because a friend of mine if on Virgin cable while I am with BT and despite my connection being half as fast as his I downloaded a demo file in the region of a few hundred MB in half the time - to say he wasn't impressed would be an understatement :)

I feel this story has more to do with video content than gaming though, Virgin are testing the waters now before users start using download movie services more and chewing up huge ammounts of bandwidth. By putting down their 'marker' now they can go to the various movie download companies and offer them incentives to provide a faster service for their customers - thats where the real money is going to be.
Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Shut this user up Let user speak
Shenzilbur - 578 days 6 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
6 -
Holy crap. I had delivered a speech on this subject highlighting it to people only a couple of days ago. When you put the research into it, the end of net neutrality is quite a threatening thing. For anyone who might be interested on the subject go to www.savetheinternet.com it has more than enough information. Seriously, if this were to happen we might not even be able to use this website.
Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Shut this user up Let user speak
riksweeney - 578 days 1 hour ago
PM
Track
Ignore
7 -
I made the fatal mistake of going with Virgin. Now I'm stuck with a sh!tty ISP that only gives me decent bandwidth between 11.30pm and 8am.

I could leave, but it'll cost me £50 to do so, and £50 to join another ISP, which sucks.
Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Shut this user up Let user speak
mirroredderorrim - 578 days ago
PM
Track
Ignore
8 -
In order for Digial Distribution to work, they would have to change the internet a bit, but I don't agree with giving priority bandwidth to a "certain" people, if you will. It angers me that the internet is bound for regulation, it has not happend yet because it's barely in the works, the planning stages if you want.

It's a serious matter, as companies are looking to squeeze us for every hard earned dollar we earn.
Only thing that could combat this, is to work for an ISP... does not sound half bad, actually. o_O
Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Shut this user up Let user speak
SaiyanFury - 577 days 20 hours ago
PM
Track
Ignore
9 -
No online gaming? I don't think I'd care to be honest. I like keeping in touch with people on my consoles, but since I never game online, it doesn't matter to me in the least.
Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Add Comment (Gamer Zone)
Gamer Zone Posting Guidelines
The Gamer Zone is for members who want a more friendly and civilized discussion. This section is heavily moderated by the N4G staff, so leave your fanboyism at the door please. Members who are unable to behave in a mature and respectful manner will be temporarily or permanently restricted from posting in the Gamer Zone. Using words such as Xbots and Sony droids, or other words from the console war vocabulary, is strictly prohibited in this Zone.
Read More...
 
 
You must log in to post comments.
Username:  
Password:  
 
 
About N4G
N4G is a social game news site that covers the game industry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
More Info... | Submit News