More details on PlayOnline online adapter

[11.11.01] » It is not a beautiful and unique snowflake.

   When the PlayOnline online adapter was first revealed, the GIA speculated that it might be the latest in a series of several proprietary, company-branded adapters already available in Japan. Fortunately, this has been revealed not to be the case. The PlayOnline adapter is actually a generic NEC Aterm ISDN Terminal Adapter that has been specially branded for PlayOnline. The hardware itself is untouched, and the PlayOnline adapter will function properly with Windows, MacOS, and PS2/PlayOnline.

   An SCEA representative noted that "Tony Hawk 3 was just released in the US with support for USB analog modems and USB Ethernet adapters. USB ISDN Terminal Adapters [are] just another option for the Japanese PS2 market." The GIA asked if support for USB-compatible connectivity devices signified a shift in Sony's online strategy, and was told affirmatively not. "There is nothing here that indicates a shift in the online strategy. The official Network Adaptor (Ethernet/modem) won't cover the ISDN market segment, so there is a market for 3rd-party USB hardware. For Tony Hawk 3, USB hardware fills the need while the official Network Adaptor is unavailable."

   The cobranding on the USB ISDN TA is to encourage ISDN-using fans to use a standardized piece of hardware. This way, even if the USB ISDN TA specification should change at some point in the future, PlayOnline compatible games will be guaranteed to support at least this one specific piece of hardware. Given ISDN's relative lack of success in America, the ISDN TA is unlikely to cross the Pacific.

   Thanks to SCEA for the clarification.