the future of gaming?

CptStern

CptStern

suckmonkey
Joined
May 5, 2004
Messages
10,303
Reaction score
62
Just announced at this year's GDC, OnLive is an on-demand gaming service. It's essentially the gaming version of cloud computing - everything is computed, rendered and housed online. In its simplest description, your controller inputs are uploaded, a high-end server takes your inputs and plays the game, and then a video stream of the output is sent back to your computer. Think of it as something like Youtube or Hulu for games.

If it works and gets proper support from both publishers and gamers, you may never need a high-end PC to play the latest games, or perhaps even ever buy a console again. That is not an exaggeration.
Click to expand...


check out the video

http://pc.ign.com/articles/965/965535p1.html




http://pc.ign.com/articles/965/965535p1.html
 
more details:

OnLive today announced plans to launch a new service that will stream PC games with negligible lag to televisions and PCs, eliminating the need for hardware upgrades.

Developed in secret for the past seven years, OnLive makes use of cloud computing, streaming video to your monitor at 720p resolution and 60 frames per second.

Because the video is rendered in a "cloud" of servers, games such as Crysis are delivered at full graphics settings, the only bottleneck being the user's internet connection. 1.5 megabits per second will get you to standard definition, while a 5 megabit connection bumps the resolution to 720p.

OnLive's proprietary compression technology boasts a lag time of less than one millisecond in testing, and early reports indicate that the service delivers on this front. Gamasutra notes that OnLive has worked directly with cable and internet providers to eliminate packet loss.

Users will require only a small device (pictured above, left) to connect to the subscription-based service to televisions. Two USB ports and Bluetooth capability service game controllers, while an ethernet connection grabs the signal, and HDMI and audio output jacks output to displays.

The service will also work on any PC, allowing users to play Crysis on a $200 netbook. Users need only subscribe to OnLive and purchase individual games from the library, with the option of buying the "MicroConsole" device for television functionality.
Click to expand...

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57804

lol crysis on a netbook? this would dramatically change the4 very nature of how we get video games

Ubisoft, Take-Two, Electronic Arts, THQ, Atari, Warner Bros., and Epic Games have all signed on to the product, with Activision Blizzard being the major missing name. Publishers will have the option of both selling and renting their games.
Click to expand...
 
Just saw this. The idea's certainly cool.

Can't wait till it hits our shores in 5-10 years. :(
 
I dont see why it would take 5-10 years. they already have a working model
 
Kotaku on possible lag issues:

We too were a little suspicious of OnLive's capability to deliver perceptually lag-free on-demand games. But then we played a hasty online game of Crysis Wars on the service today and became a little less suspicious. It seemed to work. Obviously, it was in a controlled environment with only a few hundred internal beta testers populating the system. But it worked.
Click to expand...
 
Sounds like another hyped up vaporware product ala "The Phantom" to me. How the hell are they going to keep the servers up?

Even if it works. According to an interview on gametrailers.com, you gotta at least have a 6mbit connection to fully enjoy a game.
In addition to that, you will have to purchase/rent the physical product, plus there will be a subscription fee and additional access charges. You might as well shell out a few hundred bucks and build a gaming system yourself. It ain't that hard nor expensive, people.
 
Shakermaker said:
Kotaku on possible lag issues:
Click to expand...

I have no doubt they are capable of creating an enterprise grade network of servers to run the games. I do doubt they can do anything about latency issues when you're operating over anything other than a local LAN.
 
my Verizon says its 1.3 Mbps but most downloads i get is at about 183kbps which is like dial up now. i want to get Time Warner here, at least theirs is like 5Mbps
 
They should forget about games and work it more towards film and TV. They are more easy to steam then games. There is just no point in this, the market isnt big enough for pc gaming anymore.
 
it's not just pc gaming, it's console games as well
 
Console games which you can play on your PC, no less.
 
I'd rather have more advanced personal computer advancement with the games still housed locally in my house and on my computer, rather than something like that. Wouldn't be bad for vacation gaming though, gaming away from home.

That's just me.
 
yes but mostly console games that you can play on your tv without a console
 
Raziaar said:
I'd rather have more advanced personal computer advancement with the games still housed locally in my house and on my computer, rather than something like that. Wouldn't be bad for vacation gaming though, gaming away from home.

That's just me.
Click to expand...

I agree. If this technology existed as an alternative then fine why not. However I don't like the thought that this would completely replace having your games on your own computer.
 
Seems like a good idea, but I think i prefer conventional methods of playing my games.
 
CptStern said:
yes but mostly console games that you can play on your tv without a console
Click to expand...

You'll just need the exclusive thingomajiggy TV box and a high speed internet connection with your subscription plus expenses per game you'd like to play.
 
Sorry, I won't pay a subscription fee to play games.

This is just a hyped-up way for publishers to enforce DRM, by ensuring the games are always on their machines. It is completely the wrong direction for gaming to go.

It does, however, have many exciting possibilities. Imagine, indeed the "youtube" of gaming, where you play low-resolution versions of high-end games to see if you would be willing to pay for them. Imagine also a free, massive distribution center for indie games where anyone, anywhere, can play them.

It would also allow developers to just focus on the server platforms themselves, and optimize their games for these platforms, and neglect cross-system compatibility.
 
So if I'm not online I'm unable to play. Also what about people on bandwidth restrictions. I'm on a 40gig a month cap. So playing games in hi-def is going to send me over my limit.
I can see publisher's liking this as it's an excellent way to enforce DRM.
 
I don't see how this would work. Rendering crysis to video at 60fps would completely occupy at least 2 high end machines. There's not a magic endless source of computing. For 1000 people to play a good looking game, you'll need at least 1000 servers... or am I missing something. I've heard it being called the future for MMO game, I don't know where they're supposed to get their computing power from.
 
Seen some stuff about this. The main thing I'd say is that graphics card manufacturers are hardly going to be cheering about a service that might make their equipment redundant. I expect they'll get frozen out when push comes to shove.
 
The future of gaming! When more than 2 other people are playing at the same time, you're all screwed! HAHAHAHA
 
I'm going to go out on a limb and rant a little here without looking at the actual topic:

I'd like a game that throws away the narrow concepts of good and evil allowing you to interpret your actions how you please. Not a choice between good and evil like many games present, but a game where you have to decide what is good and what is evil. A game that will constantly question and throw doubt on your actions and goals along with your motives.
 
Good idea, i dont see myself using it but i do see it being successful.
 
Asuka said:
Good idea, i dont see myself using it but i do see it being successful.
Click to expand...

If you understood the shear amount of technical obstacles to what Onlive is proposing, you wouldn't be so optimistic about it's success.
 
This sounds silly and unrealistic to me with current technology. Call me when it can stream Crysis at 1920x1200, max settings, at 60fps like my PC can.
 
Ennui said:
This sounds silly and unrealistic to me with current technology. Call me when it can stream Crysis at 1920x1200, max settings, at 60fps like my PC can.
Click to expand...

From what I was told by a co-worker, it actually runs off networked hardware, and not so much your own device. So theoretically a PSP could run Crysis. So it probably could easily play crysis at that resolution and settings, you'd just be hogging everyone's resources. I may have been misinformed however, I haven't had a chance to research this myself.
 
Networked yes but not in the way you're likely thinking. Yes you can link computers together and make fancy super computers but that introduces a lot of latency which isn't good for real time applications such as games.
 
Kyorisu said:
If you understood the shear amount of technical obstacles to what Onlive is proposing, you wouldn't be so optimistic about it's success.
Click to expand...

No, that's why i want it to be successful i completely understand how insane this technology is and how much it can help the industry. I just see myself using it, i have everything needed to play any game on the highest quality.
 
Kadayi said:
Seen some stuff about this. The main thing I'd say is that graphics card manufacturers are hardly going to be cheering about a service that might make their equipment redundant. I expect they'll get frozen out when push comes to shove.
Click to expand...

On the contrary. These supercomputers will be stacked full of high-end graphics cards. In fact, AMD is building a supercomputer for cloud computing gaming:

http://www.betanews.com/article/AMD...percomputer-for-graphics-rendering/1231475506
 
Corp. Sheepo said:
I'm going to go out on a limb and rant a little here without looking at the actual topic:

I'd like a game that throws away the narrow concepts of good and evil allowing you to interpret your actions how you please. Not a choice between good and evil like many games present, but a game where you have to decide what is good and what is evil. A game that will constantly question and throw doubt on your actions and goals along with your motives.
Click to expand...
Maybe you should spend some more time "interpreting" what the thread you're posting in is about.
picture.php
 
The future of gaming had better not be entirely MMO, or otherwise I'll be one of the few who'll be in the, "Mininum Minority Offline" category of old-school gaming. :dozey:

There, I said it.
 
Bad^Hat said:
Maybe you should spend some more time "interpreting" what the thread you're posting in is about.
picture.php
Click to expand...

Oh you. I don't give a shit about machineries, give me some emotionality!
 
Corp. Sheepo said:
I'm going to go out on a limb and rant a little here without looking at the actual topic:

I have things to say about lots of stuff! Who are all you? What's going on? Where am I? Video Gaaaaames!
Click to expand...

I think he got lost on the internet again.
 
Sounds too good to be true. I mean how the heck are they going to run console games in a cloud? Emulate them? Put the video output to some server that will send the signal forward? There's got to be atleast like 100ms lag, rendering image, sending it to the client, client sending input data back. But still sounds neat. I wonder if the next xbox will be done somewhat the same way. Didn't ms hint that the next xbox would not use physical media anymore.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

MFL
Fascinating look at the ongoing psychological evolution of flat hieirarchies.
Replies
2
Views
2K
Tollbooth Willie
Tollbooth Willie
-smash-
Valve at GDC 2016
Replies
7
Views
5K
Clan Wolf 2
Clan Wolf 2
B
The cut missions of Half-Life: Decay
Replies
2
Views
21K
Evo
Evo
B
Community Interviews: Tony Newton, co-creator of Redemption
Replies
0
Views
5K
Barnz
B
Omnomnick
Examining The Files Of "SteamVR Performance Test" & "Aperture Robot Repair"
Replies
27
Views
91K
MFL
MFL
Back
Top