OnLive: The End of Console Gaming?
The video game industry is the fastest growing industry in the world. More and more people are buying games, consoles, going to video game creating schools, colleges are having classes about it, it is taking over the world!
In the world of video games, there are 2 ways you can play them: PC’s and consoles. There are three different types of consoles on the market today; the Microsoft X-box 360, the Sony Playstation 3, and the Nintendo Wii. To play a video game these days you have to have one of these consoles, that is, until now.
With a new device simply called OnLive, you can stream any top-named video game, from either the PS3, 360, Wii, or PC, straight to your television just like a youtube video to your computer. At least thats the vision of Palo Alto, startup for OnLive., which plans to launch this revolutionary gaming service this winter. A small box, roughly the size of a Nintendo DS, will sit upon your t.v. This box plugs into your t.v. and your home broadband network. From this point you can start playing games exactly like those found on a console. The best thing is that there is no installation time or download time and the OnLive box can be continuously updated meaning you will never have to buy the latest and greates console whenever it comes out.
You are probably thinking “How? High-profile games won’t work like this.” Well, the fast-paced racing game Burnout Paradise worked without a hitch and the PC game Crysis: Warhead, which typically takes a high caliber PC to run also worked fluently. It is very easy to start playing games too. OnLive has a nice interface that requires only a few hits of the buttons and you’re off and running.
There are also things on OnLive that resembles that of your home DVR. OnLive has a replay feature which allows you to rewind the last 10 seconds of gameplay and save it so you can send it to your friends.
OnLive’s services can also be accessed from your Mac or PC Computer which works the some way as the t.v. version. The company also boasts that OnLive’s hardware requirements are so low that even the top-notch PC games will be able o be played on a $300 notebook. The company has already signed deals with industry big names like EA, Ubisoft, and Take-Two. OnLive promises to have an up-to-the-minute selection of game titles like Grand Theft Auto IV, LEGO Batman, and Mirror’s Edge, just to name a few.
Now while this all sounds too good to be true, well, it might be. There is one catch to OnLive. Because OnLive is an online streaming service, your box will only be as good as the internet connection you have. High-Def resolution will require you to have a higher-end broadband connection. Also, if your connection is prone to drop put unexpectedly, then you might become a little frustrated. Plus, all the streaming videos might give you some unwanted attention from you ISP’s modem users.
OnLive won’t talk price. The only thing they did say was that their price will be competitive with subscription services like Xbox Live. The company says the box itself is cheap and easy to make and that it is easy to see it getting thrown in with subscription prices like a cable or satellite set-top box. Games will most likely e available to to be rented or bought, and most games will have free demos that do not require a download.
So is this the end of console gaming as we know it? Or just another chapter in the infamous “console wars”? Personally, I don’t think OnLive will replace console or PC gaming. The market is to strong and people fear new, unknown products. If this device gets the backing of a big name industry representative or strong gaming media coverage, then it might do well. This is kind of the same thing as companies like GameFly or other game renting companies like that. They’re goal was to stop people having to go to the video stores, causing the stores to close down, and that isn’t happening anytime soon. So, I think OnLive will get a lot of service, like those game rental companies, but I don’t think it will be anywhere as big as killing console gaming altogether.
written by: Zack Duncan
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Time is ps3 time.
Aside from the inevitable lag that will result from a high number of subscribers to such a service, my main concern with this idea is the environmental impact. Massive data centres runnings powerful servers to stream HD games to what (I would assume) will eventually be millions of gamers?
I read a news article recently that suggested a couple of simple Google searches produce the same amount of carbondioxide as boiling a kettle. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5489134.ece
Translate this to running high end games and I shudder at the energy costs involved.
I wonder if this was touched on at all in their launch? Most likely not.
no where close to the end. Many people actually like to own physical copied of games.