Andy Interview
Andy, one of the leaders in tunneling the DS at XLink, took some time out of his busy day to talk about his upcoming service. Andy tells us about the DS tunneling and how Xlink will be operating with the tunneling.
DS Update: Now what exactly is your position at Xlink?
Andy: I'm project manager, but I'm also responsible for the win32 version of Kai, and for the network which runs kai - the Kai Orbital Mesh.
DS Update: Yes, I very much like the program you have going, so what are you currently working on?
Andy: Well, obviously we're hard at work on the Nintendo DS, but we've just got the PSP working, and we're preparing to release an opwnWRT version of our software - so people won't need PC's to tunnel anymore.
DS Update: So how has the work on the DS tunneling gone so far?
Andy: Pretty much all the way - we have played the Metroid demo over the internet - with roughly a 100ms roundtrip, with no issues. We're currently working packaging what we have for general release - we like things to be tidy - otherwise we get killed with support requests.
DS Update: Now how many games will your system be compatible with?
Andy: Any game which can be played wirelessly using a Nintendo DS, will be available using Kai. Obviously we don't now how much roundtrip time will affect future games, but so far everything looks fine.
DS Update: That sounds good, what equpiment do you need to play the DS tunneled?
Andy: That's the big question. All our work is being done using the openWRT platform, on a WRT54G router. We'll be officially supporting that platform, although we'll obvious release the source for the "bridge" application in BSD Licensed form - so other developers can benefit from the abstraction between data and protocol with the DS.
DS Update: What equipment should the consumer be prepared to buy for your service, besides an internet connection?
Andy: Again, it's impossible for me to be sure right now - it would be irresponsible for me to tell people to go buy anything right now. As I said before, best case, you will buy nothing (if you use Linux / OSX) - worst case you will need to buy a WRT router. If you use Windows, you *will* need to buy a router.
DS Update: Well that's not too bad as its sounding, now with your service how will the consumer find others to play the DS? Will he/she have to give out their IP or will there be an Instant messenger type program?
Andy: They will use the existing Kai user interfaces - available for many platforms. They will be able to browse a tree of available games, and add buddys for quick-play with friends. This part of Kai is already established - it's going to be nice to use it with the DS.
DS Update: It sounds like you have it all planned out, when can we expect the service to be available to the mass market?
Andy: We never like to give release dates - people just get disappointed when it doesn't happen. I would like it to be available by Christmas, but that might slip. I'll certainly keep people informed of exactly where we are though.
DS Update: That sounds appropriate.
DS Update: Will people need more than one game pack for your service on games that only require one game pack for multi-palyer?
Andy: Well, that's something I intend to confirm as soon as possible. Our architecture certainly supports the sharing of a game pack, although how long it takes to start the game will probably vary massively, based upon both user's upstream bandwidth.
DS Update: Now it appears that another group, Nitro, is developing online tunneling as well. How do you plan to deal with Nitro and competition in general?
Andy: I don't plan to deal with them at all. They will develop their own code, I will manage the development of ours. The users will use whichever tunnel best suits their needs.
DS Update: Will demasked and Chad Paulson's development team affect your service?
Andy: That's essentially for them to decide. Demasked is not something which affects our plans regarding the DS, until we, or anyone else actually knows what exactly it is. Right now, it's not relevant to Kai, or DS users who want to go online.
DS Update: Do you expect Demasked to have an affect on your service once it does come out?
Andy: All I can give you is my personal opinion. And that is, in all honesty, that I do not think that Demasked will provide a means by which you can play DS games online. The DS WiFi architecture, and everything which everyone has learned about the DS since it's release, precludes online play without tunnelling - and I believe Warppipe have explicitly said that Demasked is not a tunnel. Therefore, I expect Demasked will be some form of player matching, or community building software. Who knows - perhaps they will be able to use it to allow people to matchmake on Kai.
DS Update: Now with your service how many users do you expect to attract?
Andy: Ahh I don't really know - I mean, the DS has sold well, but tunnelling will always be a fairly inaccessible technology for the mainstream - although one of the Kai Project's main goals is to address that issue. I'm sure I speak for the rest of the team when I say that, if only 2 people end up playing on Kai with DS units and enjoying the experience, then we've achieved what we set out to do.
DS Update: What has been the general reaction from members of your site and the community to hear about you tunneling the DS?
Andy: We've seen a good few people come over and take a look at us - I hope they stay - but Kai is a strange place. Our demographic is a little different to sites which Nintendo fans may be familiar with - we're more of a development community - the average age of users is 22, and we're often accused of being "adult-content" on our forums - something which I can't deny, nor apologise for. We are what we are - we're a group of people who share the same beliefs regarding online gaming, and have a good time playing about with it.
DS Update: Well your service in the past has been good, to say the least. How are you preparing for the launch of the DS tunneling? I have not seem alot of hype created.
Andy: We just do our thing on our own site - if you guys choose to cover us, we appreciate the exposure - but we're kinda insular in a way - I see no real reason to aggressively market what we do. If people want to play DS online, they will eventually find their way to Kai anyway.
DS Update: Very true, do you expect to be doing alot of interviews, or getting alot of media coverage from sites?
Andy: I don't mind doing interviews - as long as I have an hour or so spare. I suppose media coverage is always nice - but in the end, all that matters is if the software does what it says on the tin - that's our main focus.
DS Update: Now many have said that upcoming online programs such as demasked will mean the end of tunneling, how do you respond to that?
Andy: Well, as I said before, I pretty much know for a fact that the games currently available for DS will not be able to be played online without a tunnel. There is nothing which Demasked or anyone else - even Nintendo, at this late stage, can do to change that. That's not just my opinion - it's the facts, based on the DS hardware / software. Like I said, everything which the Demasked group has said so far indicates that Demasked will not be a system to play online with - more a community building / matchmaking system.
DS Update: Any closing comments?
Andy: Yeah - thanks for taking the time out to chat with me - it's actually nice to discuss what we're doing in here with someone from an external site. Lastly, I hope we can get you guys online as soon as possible.
There is tunneling from the view of Xlink opposed to Nitro, both services sound promising and we will have to wait to see which one the community chooses. I'm glad Andy took some time out to talk to me, and tell me about his work. Tunneling the DS is very interesting and both sides of the equation are looking to equal out, the only left is to hear what Demasked will be. For everyone to looking at tunneling your DS, choose which service which will best fit you.
-Ultimate Zelda Guru
DS Update: Now what exactly is your position at Xlink?
Andy: I'm project manager, but I'm also responsible for the win32 version of Kai, and for the network which runs kai - the Kai Orbital Mesh.
DS Update: Yes, I very much like the program you have going, so what are you currently working on?
Andy: Well, obviously we're hard at work on the Nintendo DS, but we've just got the PSP working, and we're preparing to release an opwnWRT version of our software - so people won't need PC's to tunnel anymore.
DS Update: So how has the work on the DS tunneling gone so far?
Andy: Pretty much all the way - we have played the Metroid demo over the internet - with roughly a 100ms roundtrip, with no issues. We're currently working packaging what we have for general release - we like things to be tidy - otherwise we get killed with support requests.
DS Update: Now how many games will your system be compatible with?
Andy: Any game which can be played wirelessly using a Nintendo DS, will be available using Kai. Obviously we don't now how much roundtrip time will affect future games, but so far everything looks fine.
DS Update: That sounds good, what equpiment do you need to play the DS tunneled?
Andy: That's the big question. All our work is being done using the openWRT platform, on a WRT54G router. We'll be officially supporting that platform, although we'll obvious release the source for the "bridge" application in BSD Licensed form - so other developers can benefit from the abstraction between data and protocol with the DS.
DS Update: What equipment should the consumer be prepared to buy for your service, besides an internet connection?
Andy: Again, it's impossible for me to be sure right now - it would be irresponsible for me to tell people to go buy anything right now. As I said before, best case, you will buy nothing (if you use Linux / OSX) - worst case you will need to buy a WRT router. If you use Windows, you *will* need to buy a router.
DS Update: Well that's not too bad as its sounding, now with your service how will the consumer find others to play the DS? Will he/she have to give out their IP or will there be an Instant messenger type program?
Andy: They will use the existing Kai user interfaces - available for many platforms. They will be able to browse a tree of available games, and add buddys for quick-play with friends. This part of Kai is already established - it's going to be nice to use it with the DS.
DS Update: It sounds like you have it all planned out, when can we expect the service to be available to the mass market?
Andy: We never like to give release dates - people just get disappointed when it doesn't happen. I would like it to be available by Christmas, but that might slip. I'll certainly keep people informed of exactly where we are though.
DS Update: That sounds appropriate.
DS Update: Will people need more than one game pack for your service on games that only require one game pack for multi-palyer?
Andy: Well, that's something I intend to confirm as soon as possible. Our architecture certainly supports the sharing of a game pack, although how long it takes to start the game will probably vary massively, based upon both user's upstream bandwidth.
DS Update: Now it appears that another group, Nitro, is developing online tunneling as well. How do you plan to deal with Nitro and competition in general?
Andy: I don't plan to deal with them at all. They will develop their own code, I will manage the development of ours. The users will use whichever tunnel best suits their needs.
DS Update: Will demasked and Chad Paulson's development team affect your service?
Andy: That's essentially for them to decide. Demasked is not something which affects our plans regarding the DS, until we, or anyone else actually knows what exactly it is. Right now, it's not relevant to Kai, or DS users who want to go online.
DS Update: Do you expect Demasked to have an affect on your service once it does come out?
Andy: All I can give you is my personal opinion. And that is, in all honesty, that I do not think that Demasked will provide a means by which you can play DS games online. The DS WiFi architecture, and everything which everyone has learned about the DS since it's release, precludes online play without tunnelling - and I believe Warppipe have explicitly said that Demasked is not a tunnel. Therefore, I expect Demasked will be some form of player matching, or community building software. Who knows - perhaps they will be able to use it to allow people to matchmake on Kai.
DS Update: Now with your service how many users do you expect to attract?
Andy: Ahh I don't really know - I mean, the DS has sold well, but tunnelling will always be a fairly inaccessible technology for the mainstream - although one of the Kai Project's main goals is to address that issue. I'm sure I speak for the rest of the team when I say that, if only 2 people end up playing on Kai with DS units and enjoying the experience, then we've achieved what we set out to do.
DS Update: What has been the general reaction from members of your site and the community to hear about you tunneling the DS?
Andy: We've seen a good few people come over and take a look at us - I hope they stay - but Kai is a strange place. Our demographic is a little different to sites which Nintendo fans may be familiar with - we're more of a development community - the average age of users is 22, and we're often accused of being "adult-content" on our forums - something which I can't deny, nor apologise for. We are what we are - we're a group of people who share the same beliefs regarding online gaming, and have a good time playing about with it.
DS Update: Well your service in the past has been good, to say the least. How are you preparing for the launch of the DS tunneling? I have not seem alot of hype created.
Andy: We just do our thing on our own site - if you guys choose to cover us, we appreciate the exposure - but we're kinda insular in a way - I see no real reason to aggressively market what we do. If people want to play DS online, they will eventually find their way to Kai anyway.
DS Update: Very true, do you expect to be doing alot of interviews, or getting alot of media coverage from sites?
Andy: I don't mind doing interviews - as long as I have an hour or so spare. I suppose media coverage is always nice - but in the end, all that matters is if the software does what it says on the tin - that's our main focus.
DS Update: Now many have said that upcoming online programs such as demasked will mean the end of tunneling, how do you respond to that?
Andy: Well, as I said before, I pretty much know for a fact that the games currently available for DS will not be able to be played online without a tunnel. There is nothing which Demasked or anyone else - even Nintendo, at this late stage, can do to change that. That's not just my opinion - it's the facts, based on the DS hardware / software. Like I said, everything which the Demasked group has said so far indicates that Demasked will not be a system to play online with - more a community building / matchmaking system.
DS Update: Any closing comments?
Andy: Yeah - thanks for taking the time out to chat with me - it's actually nice to discuss what we're doing in here with someone from an external site. Lastly, I hope we can get you guys online as soon as possible.
There is tunneling from the view of Xlink opposed to Nitro, both services sound promising and we will have to wait to see which one the community chooses. I'm glad Andy took some time out to talk to me, and tell me about his work. Tunneling the DS is very interesting and both sides of the equation are looking to equal out, the only left is to hear what Demasked will be. For everyone to looking at tunneling your DS, choose which service which will best fit you.
-Ultimate Zelda Guru
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