Online gamers up in arms over Telecom decision

By PAUL BRISLEN

Online game players are up in arms over Xtra's decision to axe the JetStream games realm but marketing manager Chris Thompson says there's one easy way to change his mind: use the service.

The JetStream games realm allows users to play online without incurring traffic charges and to access software updates and patches for games. Users also access the realm at full JetStream speed regardless of the speed of their plan. However users have to log in via their JetStream routers and Thompson said that "clumsiness" combined with low usage lead him to conclude the resources spent on the realm are better spent elsewhere.

"It doesn't matter if it's game servers or a channel on the Xtra website or whatever. We're committed to resourcing those services that users want and they're constantly under review."

Thompson said Xtra would not close down any game servers but is reviewing whether or not the games realm itself will be discontinued. Xtra already offers games servers outside the realm and Thompson said they are expanding that side of the business.

Thompson would not confirm or deny whether gamers would be charged for data traffic or whether those on the slower plans would see their speed reduced from 2 Mbps (megabits per second) to 256 kbps (kilobits per second) when playing games.

"Neither of those statements is necessarily true. That would imply a product announcement. What we've said is that the logging in and out of modems is not a great user experience."

Thompson said the introduction of higher traffic caps on JetStream Surf plans mean the need to offer a service where traffic isn't counted has diminished.

However gamers have been making their feelings known on various online forums around the country.

One gamer, with the online name of Spigalau, said he is shocked and bitterly disappointed with Xtra's decision.

"I rely on it for game downloads and for software downloads in general." He said if the move goes ahead he will be looking for another broadband provider with better traffic capacities.

"The thing is, the games realm was one of those things they offered that lured us into signing up with JetStream. If they remove it they're going back on their word."

Thompson said the number of online game players is relatively small, although they are vocal.

"To be a best selling PC game in New Zealand you only need 7000 sales so it's quite a small audience we're talking about."

But at least one gamer is sceptical about whether that's the real reason.

"Once they introduce unbundled bitstream the speed of the connection will be controlled by the internet provider, not by Telecom. They're getting rid of it because they won't be able to offer the same services once the new regime is in place."

Thompson also floated the idea of a service for Xtra customers only.

"On the one hand you want to play with your friends regardless of which service they're on. But at the same time Xtra customers who don't play games online are subsidising the service for non-Xtra customers."

Spigalau said he could understand Xtra introducing such an offering but that there are huge downsides to such a proposal from a gamer's perspective.

Thompson said he has been fielding numerous inquiries about the games realm since the Herald story appeared on Tuesday and wanted to make it clear the game servers will remain in operation even if the realm itself is removed.