Online Video Games
Dolby Podcast Episode 20, August 2, 2007
All about online video games with Matt Tullis from Dolby Games: Matt talks to Craig and Jack about the differences between console gaming and online gaming, including the competitive advantage surround sound gives players in person-to-person online gaming, the Nintendo Wii virtual console and Xbox Live, along with game recommendations and terminology. Plus listener, Danny, finds out how to listen to downloaded movies in surround sound.
[intro music]
Jack Buser: Hello! And welcome to Dolbycast, the insider's guide to entertainment technology from the experts at Dolby Laboratories. I'm Jack Buser.
Craig Eggers: And I'm Craig Eggers.
Jack: And we're here to give you the straight talk on everything you need to please your ears.
[musical interlude]
Jack: And we're on. What's up, Craig? How you doing?
Craig: Ladies and gentlemen, the Straight Talk Express, from Jack Buser!
Jack: [laughs] You've got it. I'm Jack Buser, as always. Across from me is Craig Eggers. And today's topic is actually going to be "online gaming." I just got back from E3. And ladies and gentlemen, if you don't know what E3 was...
Craig: Tell them what E3 is, Jack.
Jack: E3 was probably one of the craziest trade shows in the history of trade shows.
Craig: But, I heard they moderated it now, though, right?
Jack: They did. They did. There used to be this huge, extravagant trade show with all the latest video games and game consoles. I mean, I can't even begin to describe how absolutely mammoth this thing was.
Craig: I went to an E3 once, actually twice.
Jack: Yeah.
Craig: And what really struck me was these guys who were designing games walked through the aisles like gods.
Jack: Oh, I know. Absolutely.
Craig: There were people following them like disciples and stuff.
Jack: The lights, the sound. It was completely overwhelming. You'd go into this trade show, and probably, easily within a couple hours, you were just ready to go outside and go sit on a beach somewhere [laughs] to clear your head, because it was just too much. But, this year, they actually scaled it back. It was industry-only. And I think, it was just a fraction of the size. A lot more mellow. To be honest, I kind of miss the old E3.
Craig: I would think so.
Jack: Yeah, you know I loved it. I loved it...
Craig: Lots of excitement.
Jack: Lot of excitement in those old E3s. This time, it was definitely a lot more professional and scaled back. It was cool. But, I do miss the flash and pizzazz...
Craig: The flash, the flash.
Jack: [laughs]
Craig: So, Jack, I'm really delighted we're doing this program...
Jack: Yeah.
Craig: Because I'm really intrigued by games.
Jack: I know you are.
Craig: I'm afraid to make that leap because I know what's going to happen if I really make the leap.
Jack: I hear you're getting a 360. Is that right? You're thinking of getting one?
Craig: I'm thinking very hard.
Jack: Got to get the Xbox.
Craig: I talked to our guest, and I said, "What's a good way for me to get into it?" And he said, "Well, you can do PS3 or a 360." I'm investigating.
Jack: Yeah. You got to get them both. You know my answer, got to get them both. Got to get them both.
Craig: Got to have both. Well, we'll ask our guest that.
Jack: And don't forget the Nintendo Wii, too.
Craig: The Nintendo Wii. My sister told me, "You should get the Nintendo Wii. Then, you could lose weight playing tennis and golfing and boxing."
Jack: You know they just did a Wii Fit, a console for the Wii that you could do your exercises...
Craig: A Wii Fit? Is that right?
Jack: Yeah, just came out at E3. It was one of the things everybody was...
Craig: Cool.
Jack: So, they introduced that. And the other thing they introduced for the Wii, which is my personal favorite, is they have a chips and dips holder for your controller. [the Nyko Wii Party Station – Ed.]
Craig: Chips and dips...
Jack: So, you put your controllers in it. You can put your potato chips in there, and your dip in it. It even has a beer holder for you. It keeps your beers cold. [laughs]
Craig: Is that right? So you burn off the calories playing Wii, but you restore them with the beer and the chips.
Jack: [laughs] That's exactly what you do.
Craig: [laughs] That's cool. So, hey, listen. We have a reader/listener question.
Jack: Yes, we do, as always.
Craig: And this comes from Danny from Mesa, Arizona. And Danny writes, "iTunes movies of the ITMS come in stereo surround. So, is there a portable decoder available that could turn it into a surround sound experience for headphones?"
Jack: Absolutely. Well, Danny, for our listeners out there who don't know ITMS, that's the acronym for the iTunes Movie Store - often called the iTunes Music Store, but I guess now it's music and movies. And the question is, if I'm downloading movies off the iTunes Movie Store, is there any way so that if I play them back on my iPod video, or my new iPhone, that I can actually get surround sound?
Craig: You stood in line, didn't you?
Jack: [laughs] You know, I didn't. I didn't get an iPhone.
Craig: You didn't?
Jack: All my buddies got one, and I did not get one.
Craig: How does that make you feel?
Jack: You know what? A little insignificant, actually.
[laughter]
Jack: I actually didn't get one! I don't know why I didn't get one. I just didn't. I'm going to get one, though.
Craig: I know you will.
Jack: Anyway. So, the point is, if you're on the go and you want to get all that great Dolby surround sound that's stored in all those movies, you actually can buy a little dongle from JVC called the SU-DH1.
Craig: DH1.
Jack: And this thing runs on a couple AA batteries. And you can plug it in between your iPhone or your iPod and your regular, standard headphones. And it will turn all those movies into surround sound in such a way that, with any set of standard headphones, you'll be able to get that great 5.1 experience.
Craig: That's cool. And another thing you could do with the SU-DH1 is if you have a portable DVD player with a digital output.
Jack: Yes.
Craig: If you're sitting on a plane watching movies on your portable DVD player, you can enjoy them in private in Dolby Headphone and get the whole 5.1 experience.
Jack: Yes. That's exactly right. That's exactly right. So, not only does this unit have Dolby Headphone technology, which is what we're talking about, that actually allows you to do surround sound over your headphones, but it also has a Dolby Pro Logic II decoder.
Craig: And that takes any 2-channel source and converts it into a 5-channel.
Jack: Correct. And it also has a full Dolby Digital decoder as well, so for your portable DVD player, you can run a digital signal straight in the thing. It is too cool.
Craig: Very cool.
Jack: And I think, we've talked about that on the show before, maybe in reference to laptops, which it's actually quite good for as well.
Craig: I think, it was one of our favorite products, yeah.
Jack: For the Christmas episode. That's what it was.
Craig: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jack: Well, listen, Craig, I suppose we should go to the break. When we come back, today's topic is going to be online gaming.
Craig: How do we get beyond the console and make it even bigger?
Jack: And we've got a special guest.
Craig: A return visit.
Jack: Everyone's favorite, Matt Tullis, from Dolby's Game Group, product manager at large. He's here to tell us everything you need to know about online gaming.
Craig: And we'll be right back.
[musical interlude]
Announcer: Jack and Craig would love to answer your questions. Email them at dolbycast@dolby.com. That's dolbycast@dolby.com.
Craig: And we are back at Dolbycast, with a very special guest, Mr. Matt Tullis.
Jack: [cheers] Matt Tullis! [cheers]
Craig: Matt Tullis, Matt Tullis. Welcome back, Matt.
Jack: Crowd goes wild, man.
Matt Tullis: Thank you. Thank you. It was a pleasure the last time. I'm glad I could come back again [in “Game Sound for the Next Generation” in December 2006 –Ed.].
Craig: We are really glad. You did a great job the last time. We've actually had people write in and say, "Bring Matt back." So, here we are.
Jack: So, here we are.
Matt: Alright.
Craig: Here we are.
Jack: [laughs]
Craig: And I've got lots of questions for you. As you know, we had a conversation the other day in the hall: what's online gaming all about? And you look at the game community, people like me, who traditionally started out playing Asteroids, are now getting into console gaming, and it's becoming a big part of our lives.
And we've talked about all the Dolby technologies that are in games, but it's not just about playing a console anymore and sitting in front of the television set and, literally, you versus the machine. There is now this whole concept of online gaming, and we want you to talk about it.
Matt: Yeah. Well, Craig, there's all kinds of online gaming. The most basic, probably, is the idea where it's still you versus the machine, but now you can post your scores on a leaderboard. So, whereas you used to like playing Asteroids in your local bowling alley, you go down there and you have a high score.
Craig: It was a rock and roll bar, Matt.
Matt: Alright. It was a rock and roll bar.
[laughter]
Matt: And you'd have your high score. Well, now you actually can go on like Xbox Live, and there's a leaderboard and your score in like Geometry Wars will actually be posted, and you'll be competing against other people. So, even though you're still playing a game just versus the computer, your score will go up against other people. So, that's kind of the first level of online gaming.
Craig: OK.
Matt: The next level is probably most common with the sports games, right? So, you can play head-to-head against someone else online. And then, also, the big first person shooters have death matches, where you can go in there and you can play with up to 8 to 16 other people, where you all try to go in there...
Craig: You're on a team? Is everybody fighting against each other, or are you on teams?
Matt: It depends. Sometimes you're on opposite teams. Sometimes it's every man for himself.
Jack: You can choose.
Matt: Yeah, you can choose.
Craig: Every man or woman for themselves.
Matt: Yeah, every man and woman for himself.
Jack: My favorite, actually, is Capture the Flag, though.
Matt: Capture the Flag is a great game.
Jack: When you're playing online Capture the Flag, oh yeah. You got to go out, get the flag, and then carry it back to your own base before they come and get you. Or actually, you can take it to the enemy base in some cases as well, like where you have to capture the flag and take it to the enemy's base or back to your base. I don't know.
Matt: Yeah.
Jack: There's all these different modes you can play in these games. I love to just sit there and explore them.
Craig: So, you can play solo against a bunch of people, you can play against the machine and post your scores online, or you can play in a team.
Matt: Yeah, versus other people. And there's also a great method called “ co-op play ” that's becoming more and more popular.
Jack: That's what I like.
Matt: Yeah. The story mode that you used to play on your console by yourself, now you can have a buddy come and jump in, and he'll play right in your story with you.
Jack: And you're both working together to beat the machine.
Craig: OK. To beat the machine. OK. OK.
Jack: Yeah! That is fun. That's the way I like to play. Because, I'll be honest. I'll be honest. Although I shouldn't be this brutally honest in front of Craig, because I'll never hear the end of it...
[laughter]
Craig: Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!
Jack: But, with the death matches and the capture the flag and stuff, I often find sometimes that I'm just not - well, how shall we put this - as good as some of the kids online. [laughs]
Matt: Yeah.
Jack: They're completely just killing me, left and right. So, I like the co-op play, because that way you're still playing the game, but you're playing it with your buddies.
My question for you is, so, often times I just jump into these games and I go online, and I just instantly get killed in no time whatsoever. I mean, I just do not last long. What's the deal? There have to be, obviously, ways for you to get better matched up with players of your own skills. Some games seem to have it. Some don't. How does all that work?
Matt: So, some games have built-in level matching. So, after you've played the game enough, they know kind of what level you're at, and they'll specifically try to put you in with other people at your level, so you won't have that problem. At the very beginning, with no record, you may be matched up against some higher-quality people that you'll have to be thrown in against.
Jack: That would be my problem.
Matt: Yeah.
Jack: [laughs]
Matt: And you'll also notice that if you play late at night, when there's not as many people on, you may play against people that are way better than you, just because there's not enough people to create games.
Craig: Sure.
Matt: So yeah. But, then there's also a system-wide - I know Xbox Live has one, where you can actually choose what kind of level gamer you are: a hardcore gamer or a family-style gamer. So, you actually won't be...
Jack: The noob. [laughs]
Matt:.. .exposed to a lot of language that you may not be interested in as well.
Craig: So, if I die or if I'm eliminated - probably a better word, right? Do I go back to home base, do I regenerate, or am I just out of that game for the rest of the game?
Matt: So that's also different depending on the game.
Craig: OK.
Matt: Certain games give you the option to play either way. So, sometimes, it's last man standing, which is everyone has one life. And sometimes, you just keep regenerating, and it's just totally how many kills you get.
Jack: Respawn is the vernacular, by the way.
Craig: Respawn.
Matt: Respawn.
Jack: Respawn!
Craig: Sorry.
Jack: [laughs]
Craig: Sorry to all you gamers out there.
Jack: All you listeners are going to be saying "respawn" and "noob." And what's all the online vernacular? Come on. Give us some words for online gaming, so we can sound like we're hardcore.
Matt: "Camping."
Jack: Camping. Go ahead. Explain what these are.
Matt: So, camping is when you basically hang out in a certain area and just wait and sit. In games, where you try to get ahead...
Craig: That's called an ambush, right?
Matt: Yeah. You've built up a little bit of a lead, though, right? And so there's a timer counting down. And so, once you've built up a little bit of a lead, you can go camp somewhere and just sit there, where you have a total great angle on the doorway, the only way into the room.
Jack: That's called camping.
Craig: OK.
Matt: Yeah. So, the guy has to come in that way. And you could sit there and then wait and then just take him out.
Craig: Oh, man.
Jack: That's considered foul play.
Matt: That is debatable. I will not be the one to determine...
Jack: [laughs] Alright. What are some other words? So we've got camping...
Craig: Wait, wait, wait. I've got to ask him a question.
Jack: Alright. Go ahead.
Craig: Have you ever camped?
Jack: Yes.
Matt: Yeah, sometimes...
Craig: [laughs]
Jack: [laughs]
Craig: That's why you wouldn't comment on it, right?
Jack: Busted! Busted!
Matt: If there's money involved, right?
Craig: Money?
Jack: [laughs]
Matt: If there's a truly competitive game.
Craig: Money?
Matt: Oh yeah. They play these games for big-time money in a lot of cases.
Craig: Is that right?
Matt: Yeah.
Jack: There's a professional gaming league. In fact, down at E3, I was hanging out with a guy named Fatal1ty, who is the Quake champion.
Matt: He's the champion of most first person shooter games.
Jack: That guy's supposed to be the real deal, like incredibly hard to beat. I feel like, every time I go online, it's like a bunch of Fatal1ties coming after me.
Craig: The dude's name is Fatal1ty?
Jack: Literally, his name... Well, I mean, not on his birth certificate, I'm sure. [laughs]
Craig: [laughs]
Matt: That's his handle.
Craig: That's his handle.
Jack: "Handle," another piece of vernacular for you listeners. We're going to go to a break. When we come back, we're going to have more on online gaming with our good friend, Matthew Tullis.
Craig: How to set it up and how to make it happen.
Jack: You got it. Be right back.
[musical interlude]
Announcer: You're listening to Dolbycast, with Jack Buser and Craig Eggers. Email them at dolbycast@dolby.com. That's dolbycast@dolby.com.
Craig: And welcome back to Dolbycast. We're talking about one of my favorite subjects - getting ready to be a gamer, and getting ready to be online playing games. And we have a special guest today, Mr. Matt Tullis, of Dolby's Game division.
Matt: Yo, yo, yo.
Jack: Camping out here with us in the studio. [laughs]
Craig: Camping out with us, yeah.
Jack: Noobs!
Craig: So, Matt, couple questions. I guess, in gaming, I've got a couple options. I've got PC gaming. I've got the Xbox 360. I've got PS3.
Jack: And you've got Wii.
Matt: And you've got the Wii.
Craig: And I've got Wii, for gaming. Now, for online gaming, can you talk about what I need, what I will need to purchase, what cable connections or other type of connections I need to have?
Matt: Well, first, I should probably start with the PC, as this was the original online gaming machine. And I also didn't describe a type of game earlier that goes online, which is called “MMOs”, or massively multiplayer online games.
Jack: These are popular on PCs.
Matt: Yeah. These are popular on PCs. There's a few of them on the consoles, but these are really popular on PCs. And so the way, most of them work here, in the Western world...
Jack: Wait. MMO.
Matt: MMO.
Jack: Massively multiplayer online... Now, what happened to the rest of it? Wasn't it MMORPG or something like that?
Matt: Yeah, there's MMORPG, which is role playing games. World of Warcraft: this is the one everyone knows: WOW. This is the biggest game in the world right now. And this is the type of game where you actually can go online for free with your computer, right? So you don't have to pay for any service on the PC. But, you have to pay a subscription fee to Blizzard for the right to play their game.
Now, it works a little bit differently over in Asia, over in Korea and China, which is actually where I just was. I was at ChinaJoy, which is China 's version of E3. And if you thought that E3 in the States was crazy...
Jack: [laughs]
Craig: Is that right?
Matt: ChinaJoy was louder. It was amazing. I was shocked.
Jack: Wow! I'm going.
Craig: Wow.
Matt: Yeah. You've got to go. It's incredibly loud.
Jack: [laughs] I'm going.
Matt: It's a little bit different. It's not as much blaring music as just loud people on microphones yelling, trying to draw you into their booth.
Jack: Oh, that's pretty incredible.
Matt: It's a unique experience. But, MMOs dominate China.
Jack: We wouldn't know anything about loud people on microphones here at Dolbycast. [laughs]
Matt: Yeah. [laughs]
Craig: No, we wouldn't. Not at all.
Jack: We wouldn't know anything about that.
Matt: Similar to this booth.
Craig: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Jack: [laughs] Now, ChinaJoy. You were talking about China. MMOs are very popular over there. They're also popular over here. Everybody's been reading about World of Warcraft. What's that experience like? What is an MMO? When I go and buy World of Warcraft, what's that experience like? What can I expect?
Matt: So, there's a persistent world. So, that's the big difference here. So, when you go online and you want to play, let's say, one of the Halo games. If you go on, you actually go into a lobby, you create a room, and all 16 of you go in at the same time. And then, when everyone's dead and the game's over, that world disappears. In World of Warcraft, the world is always there. It's a living, breathing world that goes on whether you're logged in or you're not.
Craig: Interesting.
Jack: So, wait. Just because I've got to go to bed or go eat lunch, I could lose the game?
Matt: You can't lose. They'll keep on going on without you.
Jack: That's what I've never understood. Because I haven't played World of Warcraft. I've played a game called Second Life. Well, I guess it's not even a game, but that's a persistent world, where you just go in and you just kind of play around. And it didn't seem like a big deal when I logged off or when I had to go eat a meal, because it's like, "OK. Well, I'm just hanging out in Second Life. I've got to go do something else, so I'll just log out." And it wasn't the end of the world. But, how does that work in a game that's a persistent world?
Matt: Well, your character won't have the opportunity to level up; so other people might be going past you. So, there's this race to level up as fast as you can in these games.
Jack: "Level up" meaning get more powerful and get more...
Matt: Yeah, more experience points. And then, eventually, you can have better weapons, better spells. You can move your way up the food chain.
Craig: Help me understand something. If I'm playing a console game, I have an environment that I'm playing in, and there are opposing foes that are generated by the machine, and there's probably always some right pathway through the game to get to the end. What happens on online? What happens to the environment? What happens to the opposing foes?
Jack: Yeah, specifically in an MMO.
Craig: Yeah.
Matt: Well, in an MMO, they have these instances, or raids, that you go on. So, you get together with a team of people. So, you'd get together with a guild or a clan, and there might be 10 of you, 20 of you, 40 of you, depending on the game. Certain games have more or less. Then, you go out and you have these NPCs - these nonplayer characters - that you have to go out and slay. You know, like big dragons and big, crazy creatures.
Jack: Poor NPCs.
Matt: What's that?
Jack: Poor NPCs.
Matt: Yeah, poor NPCs. There are also PvPs, a term you'll hear a lot in MMOs. And that's “player versus player”. Where you go out and try to kill members of the other...
Craig: But, when you're playing online, all of the opponents that existed in the game you played on the console - when it was just you versus the console - those go away, and your opponents become the new opponents online?
Jack: You're playing people versus people, most of the time.
Craig: You're playing people versus people, right?
Matt: Yeah, that's especially true in first person shooters.
Craig: People versus people within the game environment that was created on the console game, right?
Matt: They actually have special levels for the online games. When you play a game like, let's say, Tom Clancy's "Rainbow Six”. When you go online it's going to be different than the story mode that you play by yourself against the computer. You're not going to be playing those same levels. They have special arenas that are set up and designed for player versus player combat. So, they're fair from both sides.
Jack: I get it. Let's say I'm bought in. I'm listening to this podcast. I want to do it. I've got a 360, I've got a PlayStation 3. Specifically, we've been talking about a PC. What do I have to do to get those things set up? I think, I understand now I have to start playing an MMO. I'm in. I'm in. In fact, I'm going to go get World of Warcraft, because it sounds sweet. But, what do I have to do to hook it up?
Matt: Your PC is most likely already online.
Jack: Your PC is already online. So, you just install the game.
Matt: You install the game. They'll probably give you a week or two free, and then, you're going to have to start paying. You get a subscription or you can buy these time cards, and you can go on and start playing.
There are other games like Guild Wars, where you actually buy the box. You buy your game and then you can go on and play in these games, and there's no subscription fee.
Craig: So, we need a broadband connection, right?
Matt: Yeah. If you want to play and have some fun, you should have a broadband connection. Dialup is almost no longer acceptable.
[laughter]
Matt: I'll say it is no longer acceptable from a gamer's point of view.
Jack: From a gamer's point of view, yeah.
Craig: What about listening to the game? What are my options there?
Matt: Well, listening to the game on the PC, you could have a 5.1 system for your game or a lot of people play on headphones. You can get some of the PCs out there that have Dolby Headphone. They're great for gaming because most of these games are in 5.1 anyway.
If you're playing online games on the consoles, let me explain how those go online. Let's start with the Xbox 360. It's similar to the Xbox. With the Xbox 360, you join Xbox Live. It's $50 a year, and you have the right to go online. You need a broadband connection. You'll get your own handle, your “gamer tag” as they call it. And you'll go online for your Xbox and you can create characters and different games when you go on. You can play against other people. The Xbox 360 obviously has Dolby Digital 5.1 built in.
Jack: Now Matt. You mentioned gamer tag. Are you willing to disclose your gamer tag here on Dolbycast in case there are any listeners out there that feel like they, maybe, know games or can play games better than you?
Matt: I suppose, I could let it out there. I actually, haven't been on in a little bit. I've been busy with work.
Jack: Alright, let out that gamer tag.
Matt: Are you going to put yours out here, too?
Jack: I will never put mine out there.
Matt: Oh, come on!
Jack: Because I'm too good. I wouldn't want to let our listeners down. [laughs]
Matt: People are going to know that I haven't been playing as much.
Jack: Alright. What's the gamer tag?
Matt: My gamer tag is dubzerowins.
Jack: Dubzerowins. How do you spell that?
Matt: It's like subzerowins but with a "d" - dubzerowins, no spaces.
Jack: Zero, not the little...
Matt: Yeah, all letters.
Jack: Listeners, if you're out there looking for somebody who is an easy target: Matt Tullis, dubzerowins, Xbox Live.
Craig: I could sign on as Matt and lower his whole competency rating.
Jack: Oh, that's not a bad....
Matt: It should be known that I do allow others that come over and visit my house to use my gamer tag. So, maybe, those aren't all my records.
Jack: OK. Good excuse, good excuse. [laughs] That's great.
Craig: So, you were talking about 5.1. Why is that important to an online gamer?
Matt: Really, the difference is that it gives you a competitive advantage. So, if you're playing a first person shooter and some people are shooting at you from behind, you will know that they are shooting at you. If I'm on a 5.1 system, and Jack's over here at his place - he's probably playing stereo...
Jack: No! All 5.1, all 5.1 - use somebody else because I'm a terrible example.
Matt: OK. OK. So, someone's over there and they've got a stereo set up. They will be hearing me. If I'm shooting from behind, it'll sound like it's from the right or the left. It will be in front of them, if they just have it hooked up to their TV. Whereas with my 5.1 system or if you have 7.1 system with Dolby Pro Logic IIx - which is great for gaming by the way - you will be able to her them all the way around you and you'll hear where they're trying to attack you. If they try to sneak up on you, you'll be able to hear it.
Jack: So, it's the message that you guys have putting out for a long time about surround sound giving you a competitive advantage in games, but I suppose for online games, since the game itself is inherently more competitive, because you're going person versus person, it really seems like that's sort of a necessary peripheral for online gaming. At least that's my very biased opinion. [laughs]
Matt: Mine as well. Mine as well.
Jack: But, I will make that claim. I will make that claim.
Matt: It is a necessity if you're going to be a serious online gamer. You should have some multi-channel solution.
Craig: Now Matt, if I have a PC game, can I play somebody that has an Xbox 360 or a PS3?
Matt: The first game that supports that functionality you described is called Shadowrun, and it's an Xbox 360 game as well as a PC game. You will actually be able to play across the consoles.
Jack: That's cool.
Craig: That's interesting.
Jack: That's pretty cool.
Matt: It is pretty cool.
Jack: We've talked a lot about the Xbox 360 and we've talked a lot about the PC. What about if I have a PlayStation 3? What about if I have a Wii?
Matt: On the PlayStation 3, similar to the Xbox 360, you'll create a handle or an ID for your PlayStation 3 console that will allow you to go online on the PlayStation network and play against other people. You'll be able to play any one of multiple games. Resistance: Fall of Man is really popular, and there is Rainbow Six Vegas - all these games, you can go online and you can play.
On the Wii, currently there are no games that you can actually play versus other people.
Jack: Online.
Matt: Online, online.
Jack: I was going to say, playing against other people is what I do on the Wii very well - bowling, which is my game.
Craig: Somebody told me you wore out the carpet in your living room playing Wii.
Jack: No, I didn't wear out the carpet, but definitely we've had some high impact games.
[laughter]
Jack: The Wii is just a blast!
Matt: It is. On their online functionality, what's really cool about the Wii is that they actually have this virtual console, which is a favorite amongst gamers like Jack and myself that have been playing for a long time, starting with the Nintendo, the TurboGraphx 16.
Jack: They have all the old games. That's the coolest thing. You just go on there, and for a few bucks you can download all your old favorite games from your childhood. It's the greatest thing.
Craig: Centipede. Lunar Lander. Asteroids.
Matt: Maybe, not those.
Craig: Pong. [laughs]
Jack: Maybe, not that old, but we're talking about Super Mario Brothers. There's some Kid Icarus action in there if you're a TurboGraphx player. We've got Blazing Lasers. There's Altered Beast and Genesis.
Matt: They just announced that Paper Mario is coming out.
Jack: Oh yeah! They have Mario Cart on there - one of my favorites. Again, it's a great multi-player game.
Craig: So, ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to let these two keep talking.
Jack: [laughs]
Craig: But, I think, it's time that we wrapped this thing up.
Jack: Aw man. Well, Alright.
Craig: I'm really sorry, because this has been a really informative session. I've really enjoyed learning about online gaming. Thank you very much.
Jack: Thanks for coming in.
Matt: Yeah, thanks for having me. It was a pleasure as always.
Jack: Absolutely. You'll come back, right?
Matt: I will.
Craig: Hey Jack, how do they contact us again?
Jack: That's right. We are dolbycast@dolby.com. And as always, if you have any questions, concerns or comments, write us at dolbycast@dolby.com and we'll be happy to answer anything you got on the air.
Craig: And meanwhile I'm Jack Buser.
Jack: And I'm Craig... Oh, wait.
[laughter]
Jack: I'm Jack Buser.
Craig: And I'm Craig Eggers.
Jack: We'll see you next time.
[music]