New network games and ResNet create the ultimate gaming eperience Penn affords a unique opportunity to experience this new phenomenon, one unavailable almost everywhere else. High-speed Ethernet connections elevate games to a new level, so take advantage of this resource while you have the chance. (Off-campus students or students in non-Ethernet residences need not fear; most games allow modem play but with fewer people.) Games that support network play let gamers face human opponents anywhere in the world in real time. It's not turn-based, like chess, where one person moves and then waits for his opponent. In network gaming, all players move around a virtual world simultaneously, sometimes cooperatively, usually trying to kill each other. To enter this remarkable new reality, you need a computer. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to buy one, it just means you need access to one. Many campus labs will kick you out if you're hogging a machine to play Doom all day, but you can get away with it during off-hours. Still, your best bet if you don't have your own is a friend with a hotshot machine he or she doesn't know what to do with. Next, you need a game to play, and you should probably practice in single-player mode so you know what you're doing. There's a million-and-one games to chose from, from the mainstay Doom II to intense strategy games like Warcraft II. More on which games are best in a moment. After you're up and running, naturally you need human opponents to blow away. If you've never had the pleasure of blowing up your best friend, you're in for a real treat. But you need to recruit a solid core of serious players to make sure there's always someone you can take on when your trigger finger starts trembling. Recruit from your floor first, then from your building. If you can't find a lot of local people, get on the newsgroup upenn.talk and advertise. (The newsgroup upenn.sci-tech-wing isn't a bad place to look, either; STWingers are always looking for a match.) With the current network gaming craze, you shouldn't have any problems getting a game together. Those are the basics. The specifics involve finding a game you enjoy that supports networking. Topping the list right now is Duke Nukem 3D, a first-person perspective Doom clone. It has the best weapons for multi-player, some truly intriguing levels, and a lot of nifty options, like flying. It's a real shame that Duke is so good, because it's also the third-most sexist game ever created. (Catfight from Atlantean Interactive just took the title of number one from Virtual Valerie II.) If you have a problem with computer-generated, scantily-clad damsels-in-distress, avoid Duke like the plague. On the other hand, it has personality that other first-person shoot-'em-ups lack. You can download a free shareware version from http://www.apogee.com. In the same genre, you've probably heard a lot about Quake, which -- despite long delays -- should be available now. Quake is good, and also has a free shareware version (http://www.idsoftware.com). Though it doesn't have the bad-ass attitude that Duke Nukem exudes, the dark, polygon world of Quake will give you nightmares for years to come. The weapons are satisfying, if not particularly well-rounded. Setting up a network can be as simple or difficult as you like. A truly unique command mode lets you extensively customize the game, from disallowing friendly fire to one-button special moves. While most of the latest stuff is available only for IBM-compatible computers, older games have moved to the Mac platform. And now Mac developers are getting into the act. Most notable within this group is Marathon Infinity from Bungie (http://www.bungie.com). With a far better plot than Quake or Duke, the Marathon series has a touch of the bizarre that makes it stand out above nearly every DOS-based action game. In all likelihood, LucasArts will port its upcoming network-ready releases to the Mac, as it has in the past. Until then, Marathon Infinity is the last word. Blood and gore are fun, but not everybody likes to see decapitated heads flying everywhere. If you're in the mood for some action that requires true mental skill, Warcraft II is king. Both challenging and fun, Warcraft will insure hours of high-tension battles. For Crusader: No Remorse fans, Total Mayhem is worth checking out. A new patch has supposedly fixed some early control problems, meaning that Mayhem now offers a solid choice for some hi-tech destruction. A demo is available at http://www.domark.com. The "mini-mechs" of Total Mayhem won't satisfy those used to the massive BattleMechs of the Mechwarrior series. Fortunately, Activision will soon release NetMech, a DOS patch that will allow up to eight players to go head to head in Mechwarrior 2. Info is available at http://www.activision.com. And don't forget to check out the underdog Shattered Steel, an impressive clone that offers 16-player network action. Due out soon, a demo can be downloaded from http://www.interplay. com. Want something a little more cutesy? Even the classic Lemmings series has joined the network gaming craze with Lemmings Paintball. A highly addictive puzzle game, in network mode it's every lemming for itself in a capture-the-flag paint fest. Even computer game haters can have a good time. As many games as there are that support multi-player competition, more are on the way. In fact, within a few years you won't be able to buy a game without network support. There are some "coming soon" releases that look particularly hot, however. Number one on the "I can't wait!" list is LucasArts's X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. It will be one of the first space simulators to offer multi-player action, and it will probably set the standard for all that follow. And keep an eye out for Jedi Knight, a Doom clone that will shame even Quake and Duke Nukem. But Duke's creators at 3D Realms have hardly been resting on their laurels; their next title, Prey, will hit shelves soon. Finally, Unreal, from long-time shareware masters Epic Megagames will try to get a piece of the first-person action. No one seems to be catching up to Blizzard Entertainment, however, as it takes Warcraft II into outer space, calling it -- go figure -- Starcraft. Whatever your tastes, network gaming can be very satisfying. Humans offer far more challenging competition than artificial intelligence, and there's a social aspect as well. Sitting in front of a monitor no longer means you have to be isolated while playing. Whether you want to unwind with a little Lemmings Paintball or kill 'em all and let God sort them out in Duke Nukem, network gaming is where it's at.
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