Sega.com Inks Technology Agreements with Nintendo and Sony

Sega.com Inks Technology Agreements with Nintendo and Sony

Sega.com has announced that it has entered into agreements with Nintendo and Sony to provide the console manufacturers with its SNAP online gaming middleware and related services for the GameCube and PlayStation 2.

The Sega Network Application Package (SNAP). SNAP is a collection of various technologies and services that provides game publishers and developers a means to set up networked multiplayer gaming environments. The suite includes capabilities like communications, authentication, and reporting. SNAP can also provide optional services like hosting, billing, consulting, and Q&A testing.

Sega.com now has two of the three game console manufacturers on board, but don't expect Microsoft to sign anytime soon. Nintendo and Sony employ an open model for their respective online gaming services where publishers can use the tools of their choice to independently develop their own online game environments. In Microsoft's Xbox Live, on the other hand, online-enabled games from all publishers operate in a single Microsoft-proprietary framework.

SOURCE: Gamemarketwatch.com