GameSpy Arcade
Encyclopedia
GameSpy Arcade is a shareware
multiplayer game server browsing
utility. GameSpy Arcade allows players to view and connect to available multiplayer games, and chat with other users of the service. It was initially released by GameSpy Industries, a division of IGN Entertainment, in early 2000, to replace the aging GameSpy3D program. Version 2 is the latest offering of the software, boasting additional features such as increased speed and advanced server sorting abilities.
, Command & Conquer: Renegade
, Counter-Strike
, Unreal Tournament 2004
, as well as various other First-Person-Shooters and Strategy games. Additionally, there were Parlor Games, but these were removed due to security flaws found in the actual Parlor Games. Some of the Parlor Games that existed were Y.A.R.N (story making) Reversi
, Poker
, Checkers, Chess
,and Backgammon
.
elements as well as for showing more concern regarding minor issues such as swearing inside the programs chat system, while the issue of spam is left unattended to. More recently, the issue of spam has been given more focus, with a new warning message whenever a user joins a game lobby.
Some users feel that they have been pressured into using the GameSpy Arcade software, as there is no alternative with sufficient game support or the large user base. This was especially the case with the recent closing of MSN Gaming Zone, an alternative game server software. Many of the games previously supported by MSN Gaming Zone were moved to GameSpy Arcade, forcing users to install the new software to be able to continue playing these games online.
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
multiplayer game server browsing
Game server browser
A game server browser, or game scanner, is an application enabling users to locate online multiplayer servers for various compatible PC games...
utility. GameSpy Arcade allows players to view and connect to available multiplayer games, and chat with other users of the service. It was initially released by GameSpy Industries, a division of IGN Entertainment, in early 2000, to replace the aging GameSpy3D program. Version 2 is the latest offering of the software, boasting additional features such as increased speed and advanced server sorting abilities.
Features
GameSpy Arcade includes various other features which enhance its overall functionality:- Ability for users to have their own profiles .
- Scanning a user’s hard disk for Arcade compatible games.
- A basic web browser.
- Voice Chat
- Buddy Instant Messaging
- Game Staging rooms
- Dedicated Server browsing
- User Rooms
Subscription
GameSpy Arcade is free. However the software maintains shareware status as there are three different subscription levels. These levels provide benefits, each according to their price.Basic users
"Basic users" can be created for free at the GameSpy website. They are able to display and connect to games, as well as chat to users inside the game lobby. Advertisements are shown inside the program for these users.GameSpy Arcade
"GameSpy Arcade", the first pay subscription service, provides extended functionality such as no advertisements and in game voice chat. As well as priority service for technicians to assist in solving problems with the software.Founders Club
"Founders Club", the second pay subscription service, is the highest possible level of membership to GameSpy arcade. This subscription has benefits which apply across the entire GameSpy network, including FilePlanet access, and ‘Insider’ newsletters. This is the most expensive of the subscriptions on offer. Currently there are some issues ongoing with the "Founders Club" subscription that cause this subscription to show up as a normal subscription on GameSpy Arcade.Games
GameSpy Arcade allows users to play games online such as HaloHalo (series)
Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
, Command & Conquer: Renegade
Command & Conquer: Renegade
Command & Conquer: Renegade is a first and third person shooter video game developed by Westwood Studios and is part of the Command & Conquer series. It is the only C&C game that uses the first person view...
, Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike is a tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation which originated from a Half-Life modification by Minh "Gooseman" Le and Jess "Cliffe" Cliffe...
, Unreal Tournament 2004
Unreal Tournament 2004
Unreal Tournament 2004, also known as UT2K4 and UT2004, is a futuristic first-person shooter computer game developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes...
, as well as various other First-Person-Shooters and Strategy games. Additionally, there were Parlor Games, but these were removed due to security flaws found in the actual Parlor Games. Some of the Parlor Games that existed were Y.A.R.N (story making) Reversi
Reversi
Reversi is a board game involving abstract strategy and played by two players on a board with 8 rows and 8 columns and a set of distinct pieces for each side. Pieces typically are disks with a light and a dark face, each face belonging to one player...
, Poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
, Checkers, Chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
,and Backgammon
Backgammon
Backgammon is one of the oldest board games for two players. The playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of their pieces from the board. There are many variants of backgammon, most of which share common traits...
.
Criticism
Gamespy has often been criticized for containing adwareAdware
Adware, or advertising-supported software, is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer. These advertisements can be in the form of a pop-up. They may also be in the user interface of the software or on a screen presented to the user during...
elements as well as for showing more concern regarding minor issues such as swearing inside the programs chat system, while the issue of spam is left unattended to. More recently, the issue of spam has been given more focus, with a new warning message whenever a user joins a game lobby.
Some users feel that they have been pressured into using the GameSpy Arcade software, as there is no alternative with sufficient game support or the large user base. This was especially the case with the recent closing of MSN Gaming Zone, an alternative game server software. Many of the games previously supported by MSN Gaming Zone were moved to GameSpy Arcade, forcing users to install the new software to be able to continue playing these games online.