Choosing a Wireless Gaming Adaptor for Your Game System

In short, a wireless game adapter allows you to connect your gaming system (Xbox, PlayStation or GameCube) to your broadband service without a physical connection of any kind. Whereas online gaming systems used to connect to the Internet via Ethernet cable the same way a PC does, wireless game adapters afford gamers the luxury of having one less connection to worry about.

The Internet Gaming Boom Has Revolutionized Game System Design

The video game industry has seen something of a revolution over the course of the last 5 or more years. Where video games used to be primarily marketed towards children between 8 and 18, a new and lucrative market has opened up of gamers within the age bracket of 18 – 25. The introduction of Xbox 360, PS2 (PS3 coming soon) and GameCube (Revolution coming soon) gaming systems have expanded the customer base to the aforementioned age bracket, bringing with it a new level of profitability.

The conjunction of today’s gaming systems with broadband Internet services has produced a new phenomenon known as Internet gaming. Where Internet gaming services have been active through PC’s for a number of years, the bigger named systems such as Xbox and Playstation have only recently brought online gaming capabilities to its audience. Game systems connect to the broadband outlet via a standard Ethernet cable. This can be somewhat awkward if your gaming system is not in close proximity to your broadband connection. Because of this, many providers of broadband gear have generated wireless adapters that allow your gaming system to connect to your broadband service without a physical connection.

Types of Wireless Gaming Adapters

Linksys WGA11B Wireless – B Game Adapter: Affords any Ethernet capable gaming system, wireless connection capabilities. This wireless gaming adapter allows users to connect to a DSL or digital cable line without a connection. It also allows for a "cable-less cable" connection through which two gaming system consoles can take each other on head-to-head.

Noteworthy features include:

• Compatible with PlayStation, Xbox and GameCube gaming systems without any driver requirements.
• “Exclusive Channel Selector Button” makes it very easy to set up the wireless network.
• Head-to-head Internet gaming speeds of up to 11Mbps. (Lag-free)

Linksys WGA54G Wireless – G Game Adapter: Similar to the WGA11B model in that it affords users both a wireless connection to a broadband network and the “cable-less cable” connection option. Gamers looking for more speed and less lag should be more inclined to consider the WGA54G wireless game adapter for their online gaming needs.

Noteworthy features include:

• Head-to-head Internet gaming speeds of up to 54Mbps.
• In addition to the 54 Mbps connection, also connects to Wireless – B networks at 11Mbps.
• Compatible with PlayStation, Xbox and GameCube gaming systems without any driver requirements.