GameRanger
Encyclopedia
GameRanger is an Internet gaming service for the Macintosh and Windows
computing platforms. The service includes custom software and unlike other gaming services is not strictly web-based. GameRanger was created by Scott Kevill and was first released in July 1999 for Macintosh with support for 11 game titles. In the same year, it achieved an award of "Best Internet Gaming Achievement" by Macworld
Magazine. The service today supports over 600 titles.
In November 2008, GameRanger released a client for Windows. Initially, 526 Windows games were supported with 27 of them able to connect to Mac users running the same game.
The service is regulated, updated and administered by Scott Kevill. In addition to hosting and playing games the service acts as a chat room with varied topics. However, today it must compete with the vast majority of developers who are choosing to adopt custom tracking software and maintain their own trackers. NetSprockets now belongs to an open source project called OpenPlay
that has experienced very limited success in its adoption. Changes in networking technology as well as market expectations have also largely eliminated games that do not allow cross-platform network play. GameRanger continues to support a range of cross-platform games including those with custom trackers.
GameRanger is available to download for free at the GameRanger Website. The software has three choices for use. Basic membership is free and allows users to have a maximum of 50 buddies and host or play most supported games. Silver membership costs $19.95 US per year and allows players to have a unique account name, have up to 100 buddies, take advantage of ladders/rankings/ratings, use voice communication, have a custom icon, and have access to exclusive chatrooms in addition to the Basic membership features. Gold membership, costing $39.95 US per year, allows up to 500 buddies, removes ad banners, permission to host chatrooms, set auto-reply away messages, and access to an expanded user profile in addition to benefits from Silver membership. Both Silver and Gold have a 30 day refund.
Haxial's response to Gameranger's blocking of voice-chat software - http://web.archive.org/web/20070107193648/http://www.haxial.com/products/kdx/faq/gameranger/
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
computing platforms. The service includes custom software and unlike other gaming services is not strictly web-based. GameRanger was created by Scott Kevill and was first released in July 1999 for Macintosh with support for 11 game titles. In the same year, it achieved an award of "Best Internet Gaming Achievement" by Macworld
Macworld
Macworld is a web site and monthly computer magazine dedicated to Apple Macintosh products. It is published by Mac Publishing, which is headquartered in San Francisco, California...
Magazine. The service today supports over 600 titles.
In November 2008, GameRanger released a client for Windows. Initially, 526 Windows games were supported with 27 of them able to connect to Mac users running the same game.
The service is regulated, updated and administered by Scott Kevill. In addition to hosting and playing games the service acts as a chat room with varied topics. However, today it must compete with the vast majority of developers who are choosing to adopt custom tracking software and maintain their own trackers. NetSprockets now belongs to an open source project called OpenPlay
OpenPlay
OpenPlay is the name of an open source cross-platform networking library created by Apple Computer. OpenPlay compiles and runs on the Mac OS, Mac OS X, Windows and Linux operating systems. OpenPlay is a high-level networking solution for game applications...
that has experienced very limited success in its adoption. Changes in networking technology as well as market expectations have also largely eliminated games that do not allow cross-platform network play. GameRanger continues to support a range of cross-platform games including those with custom trackers.
GameRanger is available to download for free at the GameRanger Website. The software has three choices for use. Basic membership is free and allows users to have a maximum of 50 buddies and host or play most supported games. Silver membership costs $19.95 US per year and allows players to have a unique account name, have up to 100 buddies, take advantage of ladders/rankings/ratings, use voice communication, have a custom icon, and have access to exclusive chatrooms in addition to the Basic membership features. Gold membership, costing $39.95 US per year, allows up to 500 buddies, removes ad banners, permission to host chatrooms, set auto-reply away messages, and access to an expanded user profile in addition to benefits from Silver membership. Both Silver and Gold have a 30 day refund.
Controversy
Gameranger has generated controversy by taking unusual positions on banning users, and has been seen by some as demonstrating questionable business practices, such as allegedly preventing competitors' software to be run simultaneously.Haxial's response to Gameranger's blocking of voice-chat software - http://web.archive.org/web/20070107193648/http://www.haxial.com/products/kdx/faq/gameranger/