Wireplay is an
online gaming service (for PC users) originally created in 1997 by
British
Telecom (BT) for customers with BT phone lines to access via dial-up modem.
Wireplay was later dropped by BT and subsequently bought by the
Gameplay company,
with whom Wireplay still operates today.
Wireplay came, and still comes, with its own dial-up software providing the
user with a dedicated environment from which to chat to other gamers, search
for servers and launch their desired game, much like other online gaming software
such as Gamespy and Barrysworld. The service operated on a 'pay as you play'
system with one price for daytime access and another, cheaper, price from evenings
and weekends, and no subscription charge. The access charges were later dropped,
and the service is now free.
The first game to be supported on Wireplay was a football game based on the
Euro '96 tournament. The service evolved to offer first person shooter games
such as Duke Nukem 3D and later Quake/Quake II, as well as real time strategy
games such as Command & Conquer and Age of Empires. One of the main
attractions of Wireplay is the tournaments and ladders systems where players
are ranked against each other. A vibrant Quake 2 community grew up around
the Wireplay service, supported by players moving on from Duke3D and the original
Quake, forming many unique clans. Wireplay began hosting its own Quake 2 deathmatch/CTF/2v2
leagues which kept the servers in constant use.
Today Wireplay supports over 30 different games across many genres, IRC chatrooms
and forums, as well as their own broadband internet connection services.
Official Website: http://www.wireplay.com