User:Monsieur Crow/Netplay

Netplay is the act of playing games in the Super Smash Bros. series with other players via the Internet. Thus far, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and both versions of Super Smash Bros. 4 have had netplay officially supported by Nintendo; while released without native netplay capabilities, modern methods exist for playing both Smash 64 and Melee online.

In Super Smash Bros.

 * See also: Project64k

The Nintendo 64 does not natively support online play, though the idea was explored as part of the add-on. As such, online play for Smash 64 is accomplished through the use of emulators, such as Project64k. Owing to the lower system requirements of Nintendo 64 emulators and the rather fragmented community surrounding Smash 64, netplay is among the most common ways to play the game in the current scene.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

 * See also: Dolphin

While the Nintendo GameCube does have limited support for internet connectivity with appropriate adapters, Melee was released prior to the official release of these adapters, and as such, it does not natively support netplay. Like Smash 64, netplay for Melee is generally accomplished through emulators, particularly Dolphin.

Prior to Dolphin featuring netplay functionality, experimental netplay was previously performed by a variety of tunneling softwares that could directly connect GameCube consoles to one another, such as via or exploits in  for the GameCube. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070217120842/http://www.geocities.com/the_psychotic_worm/ssbmonlinetutorial.htm? These methods], however, were difficult to set up, required extensive knowledge of the software on hand and networking protocols, and required both players to be using the same version of Melee. Matches themselves often had desyncs, with items notably being implicated.

Netplay eventually experienced mainstream popularity with the GameCube and Wii emulator Dolphin, which allowed for considerably easier connectivity between players, as well as being considerably more reliable in terms of synchronisation. Initially holding only niche popularity due to Dolphin's high system requirements, the gradually increasing power of personal computers and improvements to Dolphin's performance has allowed for more Melee players to partake in netplay.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

 * Main article: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

The Nintendo Wii was the first Nintendo console to focus on online gaming, with Nintendo allowing the device to take advantage of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. As a result, Brawl was the first game in the series to support netplay, allowing players to fight against either strangers or friends. In addition, gameplay mods for Brawl could also be unofficially played online via this protocol, though all players would need the mod in order to prevent desyncs from occuring.

Offical support for netplay in Brawl was ended on 20 May 2014. A variety of methods, however, still allow for Brawl to be played online; Canadian smasher developed a method to play Brawl and Brawl gameplay mods via the Wii, and Dolphin also supports netplay via the computer.

In Super Smash Bros. 4

 * Main article: Nintendo Network

Like Brawl, both and  natively support netplay, though this time, the service is provided via the Nintendo Network. The service also offers a variety of benefits over Brawl's netplay, particularly in regards to options and matchmaking. The overall concept, however, remains the same, with players being able to play against either strangers or friends via the internet.

Currently, there are no methods to play Smash 4 online outside of the Nintendo Network; that said, Citra and CEMU, experimental emulators for the 3DS and Wii U respectively, could potentially see netplay occur on personal computers like previous games in the series.