It takes a brave soul to take on the combined might of the Goliaths of Gaming, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft.
Introducing, ‘OnLive’, the Gaming world’s very own David, with one special slingshot – the cloud. This innovative computer gaming company believes they have developed a killer edge over their established and illustrious rivals and they’re revolutionizing the way gamers purchase and play the latest top-selling titles.
OnLive, which launched in the United States in July, is a cloud computer game service that removes the need for a multiple consoles (such as Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3) to play different formatted games by converting console-specific games onto a server and streaming them through a PC or Mac (via a web browser). The gamer’s play is saved in the cloud, ready to be accessed wherever, whenever- no need for CD’s, consoles, wires and hook ups. All you need is a computer and a broadband connection. At least right now you still need a computer.
OnLive is working on a ‘micro console’ that’ll stream and beam directly to the gamer’s TV. Computer games without the computer – call ‘em Cloud games. More than 20 games were available at their launch on June 17, including ‘‘Assassin’s Creed 2’, ‘Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction’, ‘NBA 2K10’ and ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum.’
“We are excited because we know this is the first step in cloud gaming,” said Michael Miller, senior product manager at OnLive. “Nobody else offers a one-click, instant-on gaming experience with these high quality titles. We think we’ve taken a huge step forward but we still have a way to go.”
At present, OnLive has more than 24 publishing partners supporting their platform, including the renowned gaming companies Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, SEGA and Konami Digital Entertainment. OnLive are also devising a plan to expand into the European market, after securing agreements with BT (UK) and the Belgacom Group (Belgium). The two telecommunication giants will become official partners of OnLive when the service is made available in their respective countries (at a currently unspecified date).
Critics of the OnLive model question whether regular gaming enthusiasts will jump towards the cloud, when they have spent hundreds of dollars on one or more consoles, and built a collection of games over a long period of time. And the likes of Richard Leadbetter (of EuroGamer), argue that the delays in the game will be unbearably long when playing fast-paced action games on the OnLive network, due to the distances involved in the server and the user’s location. That said, there was once a school of thought that people wouldn’t buy cars because of the huge investments they’d made in horses…
OnLive founder and CEO, Steve Perlman, says his company have solved most of the technical issues and questions (read his full explanation here). Speaking at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Perlman added: “We’re taking the first step toward a future where video game content is increasingly free from the restrictions of device and location, while showcasing the ability to instantly play the latest, most advanced games at the touch of a button.”
The Cloud’s influence is only increasing. Save your money on the console- soon it’ll all be about the chair.
