Actualy, it shouldn't be too hard...
Only thing is that it's a GC game we're talking about...
Figuring out how it handles stuff is a bit difficult, but can be done...
+There's a lot of games that have had "fake-servers"...
Most of them are PC games... (No game data has been altered, only a special set-up for the "host/server" pc that "deals" the data around and stuff...)
But you can fake a server with console games too!
So...
What's actualy needed is someone who can do a bit more about it than just the "story telling" about it... (that's my job)
Why fake a server?
Well, that gives you a "fake-Lan"
As the game doesn't have LAN support, we'll just have to mess up an alternative
Okay, here's the best sample of WHY you can fake a server (just do a basic comparing)
We all know what an Emulator is, right?
A program (or hardware) that "fakes" something else.
Okay, here's propably THE best example:
Zsnes,
fakes a snes. (emulates a snes)
There are add-on chips for the Snes, DSP, C4, SA-1... just to mention a few...
These are also emulated, so you can actualy play games that uses those too...
And IF there is data that PSO (GC) needs from the Sega server (level, quest, whatever..., not speaking of data that another gc has sent)
Here's a sample of how that can be done...
Star Ocean,
Far East of Eden Zero
Street Fighter Alpha/Zero 2
All of these uses special graphics compression chips...
None of the chips are emulated yet,
but all the graphic data have been logged, and runs seperatly...
(The emulator knows that when the game asks for X, it wants X, but since the emu can't fullfill the requirements to give X, the emu must get X from somewhere else)
So... All that's needed to make a fake server is:
1x Computer,
1x router...
1x (or more) persons to make it.
1x (or more) persons to evt. log data from the sega server while playing PSO (GC) (this can be done with a router, or just a split cable... Data tapping
)
2x (or more) GCs to play (actualy one, but why the HELL would you want to set up a 1player LAN?)
+ some other stuff...
(these are just the "basics")