Networking X-box and PC

[QuickSilver]

I have several buddies with X-boxes who would like to come to our Halo shootout this February. Is it possible to network the X-boxes with the PCs?

[Yuanji]

it is possible to use system link via internet if that is what you are talking about but Lag makes the games virtually unplayable. you'd be much better off just paying and playing through Xbox live.

[Markman385]

if your talking about networking the two so some can play on pc and others on xbox i'm pretty sure it won't work

[QuickSilver]

Ok. I saw a short article on networking the two just using a standard hub, but it didn't say if you could actually game that way.

[corksil]

Just clarifying... Xbox and PC versions of halo will not play together. Your xbox friends will not be able to play the same matches etc. with the PC counterparts. If you just want to play with several xboxes, you can do that quite simply.

2 xboxes - one system link cable - easy as pie.
2+ xboxes - a standard ethernet hub, about 20$ at walmart etc. Hook everything into it an Viola!
1 xbox online - Contratry to popular belief, you can play Halo online, even though it does not support xbox live. You have to hook the xbox/xboxes to a PC in a number of ways. Then you have to Download and run a tunneling program for the PC, www.xbconnect.com seems to be the best. This is the program I use, and I recommend buying the advanced version for about 15$.

However, halo online, through xbox connect, can be quite laggy.
EXPLANATION: Halo was never meant to be played online. This may seem a bit complicated, but if you think for a sec you'll get it. Here you go: Halo was designed to be played over ethernet (system link). Ethernet is capable of transferring at 100mbs. Keep in mind, thats from one xbox to another. Internet, (even high speed) is MAXIMUM about 3mbs. To check yours, go to www.dslreports.com and take a speed test. When our friends at bungie designed halo, they built the multiplayer to operate (and work) at 100mb per second. So, the packets are (estimate) about 80MB. When you cram that through the internet, (3MB MAX) then you get the game running at about 1/40 of the required speed etc. Conclusion: Halo was designed to run at 100Mbs and the internet is only 3Mbs. That means lag. And lots of it.

Just wanted to clarify, from a fellow Halo-maniac. -Corksil