User:Monsieur Crow/Netplay
Netplay is the act of playing games in the Super Smash Bros. series over the internet with other players. Thus far, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and both versions of Super Smash Bros. 4 have had netplay officially supported by Nintendo; while released without native netplay capabilities, modern methods exist for playing both Smash 64 and Melee online.
In Super Smash Bros.
- See also: Project64k
The Nintendo 64 does not natively support online play, though the idea was explored as part of the 64DD add-on. As such, online play for Smash 64 is accomplished through the use of emulators, such as Project64k. Owing to the lower system requirements of Nintendo 64 emulators and the rather fragmented community surrounding Smash 64, netplay is among the most common ways to play the game in the current scene.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
- See also: Dolphin
While the Nintendo GameCube does have limited support for internet connectivity with appropriate adapters, Melee was released prior to the official release of these adapters, and as such, it does not natively support netplay.
Experimental netplay was previously supported by a variety of tunneling software that could utilise the GameCube's broadband adapters to directly connect GameCube consoles to one another, such as via XLink Kai or exploits in Phantasy Star Online for the GameCube. These methods, however, were difficult to set up, required extensive knowledge of the software on hand and networking protocols, and required both players to be using the same version of Melee. Matches themselves often had desyncs, with items notably being implicated.
Netplay eventually experienced mainstream popularity with the GameCube and Wii emulator Dolphin, which allowed for considerably easier connectivity between players, as well as being considerably more reliable in terms of synchronisation. Initially holding only niche popularity due to Dolphin's high system requirements, the gradually increasing power of personal computers has allowed for more Melee players to join netplay.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Main article: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The Nintendo Wii was the first Nintendo console to put a focus on online gaming, with Nintendo allowing the device to take advantage of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. As a result, Brawl was the first game in the series to support netplay. In addition, mods for Brawl could also be unofficially played online via this protocol, though all players would need the mod in order to prevent desyncs from occuring.
Offical support for netplay in Brawl was ended on 20 May 2014. A variety of methods, however, still allow for Brawl to be played online; Canadian smasher pidgezero_one developed a method to play Brawl via the Wii, and Dolphin also supports netplay via the computer. Once again, mods can also be played online.
In Super Smash Bros. 4
- Main article: Nintendo Network
Like Brawl, both Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS natively support netplay, though this time, the service is provided via the Nintendo Network. The service also offers a variety of benefits over Brawl's netplay, particularly in regards to options and matchmaking.
Currently, there are no methods to play Smash 4 online outside of the Nintendo Network; that said, experimental emulators Citra and CEMU, for the 3DS and Wii U respectively, could potentially see netplay occur on personal computers like previous games in the series.
