OnLive

[pleaseinsertacoin]

So the tech media is all a-buzz with this new "big thing", OnLive. Being an *extremely* casual gamer (due to "financial restraints" and getting bored of what the gaming world had to offer a few years back) I really am looking forward to see what this might evolve into. But since I'm really not at home with gaming I couldn't really decide for myself if OnLive is actually a good thing or not because I've heard that some hardcore gamers didn't like the fact that they aren't the ones in total control.

So does this concern any of you? What do you think OnLive will become?

I personally would love to see some kinda "controller freedom", so if you already have like 2 xbox controllers you could keep them AND if you had a friend with a ps3 controller and you had an xbox one, both could be used. This would be super sweet. Probably not for me, but anyway.

[talkingorange]

From what I saw at GDC that is exactly how it will work. You can use any USB controller you'd like.

I'm very cautiously optimistic about OnLive. I *want* it to work because I want to give up on having to maintain a top-of-the-line PC. BUT, I know for a fact my 'net connection can't support their 720p HD service and I've gotten pretty spoiled with playing games at 1920x1200. Still, maybe the money I would be spending on keeping a gaming PC updated can go into a better 'net connection. 720p really is all I *need* to enjoy my current-gen games, but I can't take it on faith that OnLive will live up to it's promise. I need to have it in my hands and in my home and see for myself. The Intertubes are messy and I'm not sure any awesome, new tech can get around that. That being said, I have faith in the company's founders given their pedigree. Who better to create an amazing new video codec than the main person responsible for Quicktime?

[dolson]

I am not ready to ditch owning something I paid for just yet.

So, I'm hoping that by the time OnLive releases, the world will have already ended. :)

[darknessgp]

From what I saw at GDC that is exactly how it will work. You can use any USB controller you'd like.

I'm very cautiously optimistic about OnLive. I *want* it to work because I want to give up on having to maintain a top-of-the-line PC. BUT, I know for a fact my 'net connection can't support their 720p HD service and I've gotten pretty spoiled with playing games at 1920x1200. Still, maybe the money I would be spending on keeping a gaming PC updated can go into a better 'net connection. 720p really is all I *need* to enjoy my current-gen games, but I can't take it on faith that OnLive will live up to it's promise. I need to have it in my hands and in my home and see for myself. The Intertubes are messy and I'm not sure any awesome, new tech can get around that. That being said, I have faith in the company's founders given their pedigree. Who better to create an amazing new video codec than the main person responsible for Quicktime?

huh? You spend a lot of money keeping your PC top of the line? Seems silly to me, the component market seems to be in an odd place. A 2 generation old video card will work great, even on the newest games (sans Crysis) quad core cpus aren't really cheap, but they are not way expensive. Just wondering. Though, there really hasn't been anything released recently on PC that I've really wanted to play. Maybe COOP could review a newer PC game that isn't well known, if there is one.

in any case, you are right. The network infrastructure is not in a place that would be able to support this. Also, we have some ISPs setting download caps... My guess is this will never be released. More than likely it'll be bought out by some company that'll incorporate the technology into its own project.

[subwayfox]

Ya I agree with Talk orange.

I wonder if you will buy the games still and then just install them on "your" computer.

If some how this could be arrange with a netflicks style account where its all you can eat for a set price.

Have a huge data base to where I can install from would be huge.

[pleaseinsertacoin]

If some how this could be arrange with a netflicks style account where its all you can eat for a set price.


gamefly.com/co-op ? it's exacly that and it's here, now.

[subwayfox]

Ya I know about that but I was thinking of onLive came out with the same service. Maybe a good idea for a partnership between the two.

[acey376]

I see a lot of promising possibilities for onlive, but not much that is solid or tangible (and not set up in a tightly controlled environment). I think in a perfect world this could replace both the console and PC markets. The service promises a lot but I mainly see it more of a solution for the PC market. I enjoy having an xbox and a wii and the communities that surround them. The competition between console manufacturers and their development is healthy for the industry. I don't however enjoy upgrading my PC all the time. I would much rather use that money to pay for increased bandwidth (great point @talkingorange). Sadly most likely what will happen is time warner, comcast, or verizon picking this small company up and just integrating their technology into their service packages. For instance AOL trying to get back in the spotlight by selling onLive in their subscribers' homes. Scary!