OnLive

[goh]

This seems pretty cool:

"You may never buy a new video card ever again. Actually, the only PC gaming hardware you might ever need will cost you less than a Wii, should OnLive's potential live up to its promise.

OnLive is a new video games on demand service that may just change the way you play PC games. The brainchild of Rearden Studios founder Steve Perlman, formerly of Atari, Apple, WebTV and more, and Mike McGarvey, formerly of Eidos, the technology looks to revolutionize the way computer games are brought home. Instead of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on the latest video game hardware that will make games like Crysis playable at nearly maxed settings, let OnLive's servers handle the processing. All that's required is a low cost "micro console" or a low end PC and a broadband internet connection.

How does it work?

The concept is simple. Your controller input isn't going from your hand to the controller to the machine in front of you, it's going from your hand to the controller through the internet to OnLive's machines then back again as streamed video. Whether you're using a USB gamepad, Bluetooth wireless controller, or tried and true keyboard and mouse, the processing and output happens on OnLive's side, then is fed back to your terminal, with the game "perceptually" played locally."

http://kotaku.com/5181300/onlive-mak...sis-on-your-tv

[Stroehms]

Re: OnLive

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Kinda scares me but seems really cool. Price could be a ball buster though.

[stiffarmleft]

Re: OnLive

This is one of those times where I say "why didn't I think of that?".

[pfunk880]

Re: OnLive

This is next-gen right here.

[techhokies]

Re: OnLive

If there's not too much lag, this will be huge. I expect a little lag and maybe even onlive not to be the biggest thing. But the idea is what is important, because once it's out, other companies will try copying it if it doesn't work perfectly.

[thmst30]

Re: OnLive

Yea this has a 50/50 chance of being a complete joke or absolutely brilliant. Either way, can't wait to see it in action.

[Cusefan]

Re: OnLive

This is a reason why you should get a Fiber optic line eventually. Basically if this is successful it will mean the end for Console gaming as we know it. No longer will games be hindered by software requirements.

I could really see this becoming the next big thing 5-10 years from now.

[av7]

Re: OnLive

What about download limits that Comcast puts up for their users? Or does this not involve that? Might be a pain to get this going with ISP having download limitations

[Cusefan]

Re: OnLive

What about download limits that Comcast puts up for their users? Or does this not involve that? Might be a pain to get this going with ISP having download limitations

I can see this thing dying out because quite frankly, it is ahead of its time... Anyone remember Sega Channel?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Channel

Hopefully Onlive waits a few years so the Technology can catch up, I could see this working really well through a Fiber optic Line. With So many people on Cable lines, if this thing got big it could really slow down connections. Fact is, when it launches it needs to be flawless or people will only know that it is unstable.

Personally I think this IS the future of Gaming, Just Imagine what developers will be able to do with games without Hardware Restrictions. Sony, Nintedo, and Microsoft Better be scared because this really could negate all future Consoles...

[bkfount]

Re: OnLive

this sounds incredible, but I doubt the internet infrastructure in America is really at a point where this can shine. It'll probably take a decade for that to even catch up to these kinds of ideas.

[spit_bubble]

Re: OnLive

this sounds incredible, but I doubt the internet infrastructure in America is really at a point where this can shine. It'll probably take a decade for that to even catch up to these kinds of ideas.

I read it requires 1.5Mbps for 480p and 5.0Mbps for 720p. So yeah, it seems kind of borderline.

Nonetheless, this type of service was inevitable. Hopefully it makes for a more conducive publishing and developing environment, and uplifts the quality of games. I'm just glad someone stepped up and actually took this bold step, because it seemed the big three weren't going to get off their fat a**es any time soon. Who knows, they might now though.

[DickDalewood]

Re: OnLive

This is some really cool stuff. And it makes sense; we are already seeing the print industry fall apart because of the internet and other instant access services, I don't see any reason gaming hardware and disc-based media can't/won't eventually follow.

Still though, with that said, let's see how it works first

[DaveDQ]

Re: OnLive

Very impressive and the people behind it are long running veterans of the industry. Here's the press conference where they show it off.

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[spit_bubble]

Re: OnLive

^ Thoroughly impressed by that presentation.

No hardware compatibility issues for publishers...

They seem to be all good with major ISPs in terms of ensuring proper bandwidth...

I also liked the little things like watching other gamers live, and the possibility of renting games instead of buying them...

Now let the games flow... Both literally and figuratively.

Winter 2009... If the price is right I may be on board from the get go.

[Dondadda]

Re: OnLive

I could only watch the first 20 min. on lunch break . . . but . . .HOLY!!!!!!!!!!!


This thing deserves a huge amount of attention. What a waste of money the 360 and PS3 will seem compared to this. The Wii is the only console that will stil survive, unless OnLive can incorporate motion controls, and which point the Wii is toast, too. What would be the point of one of these consoles.

The features that this thing offers made me drool. I'm stunned.

And by the way, think of the non-gaming implications of the various components of the OnLive technology. My lord, this is going to really up the ante in home entertainment. This is a potentially groundbreaking development.

It just . . . better . . . work . . .