lɐuǝɯo⊥ǝɥԀ
03-25-2009, 05:25 PM
Imagine a world in which you can stream games directly onto your television or computer at 60 frames per second, with graphical settings at maximum. Well, OnLive is setting out to create that world, introducing a new service that could theoretically eliminate the need for high-end PCs and consoles altogether.
OnLive's founders recently gave us a basic demonstration of the on-demand gaming service, which utilizes cloud computing to stream games directly into virtually any PC or Mac. Steve Perlman (founder, CEO, and CTO) explains that his experience on both the Apple Quicktime and the Microsoft WebTV teams has helped develop a new type of "interactive video compression." Essentially, OnLive's servers will be running the game, and sending a videostream through your Net connection. In turn, your controller/button inputs, are sent via your Net connection to OnLive's servers. Perlman states that OnLive will always be updating its hardware, and as long as you have a Net connection, a display, and an input device (existing gamepads as well as keyboard/mouse are supported), you can play any of its games. If you're playing it on a PC or a Mac, you'll use a small (Perlman estimates it will be smaller than a megabyte) browser plugin; if you want to play it on your TV, you'll be using the OnLive MicroConsole, which has HDMI, USB, Ethernet, and power inputs/outputs. Without directly naming the Phantom, Perlman remarked that OnLive is different than previous attempts at online/downloadable game services, by virtue of the video compression technology (since you never actually download a game to your computer/system; in theory, games can be loaded and played in seconds due to only video and input information traveling through your broadband connection).
From the demonstration we've seen (watching and playing Crysis and GRID), the gameplay was, honestly, smooth and relatively lag-free. Though, we did notice the occasional framerate hiccup (it is in a very private beta, after all). OnLive will require a 1.5 megabytes-per-second connection for standard-definition video (480p), and a 5.0 mbps connection needed for HD (720p). As for the user's hardware requirements, for this demo, Perlman ran Crysis on the OnLive MicroConsole, while COO Mike McGarvey joined Perlman's Crysis match via his MacBook Air.
Naturally, having beaten the "one console future" drum for quite some time now, Silicon Knights founder Denis Dyack had something to say about this. Writing on Venturebeat, he praised the cloud model, saying that the end result is a "remarkably positive shift for those who create original games."
"This model is attractive because it eliminates piracy 100 percent, since the consumer does not have anything to copy and needs only to log into the Cloud to interact. Technology is commoditizing the value of hardware to zero and a unified platform will be the likely result," Dyack wrote. "Following this logic to its end, the implication is that hardware could be removed altogether. What hardware one runs behind the wall of the Cloud is unimportant; only what you are transmitting counts. Thus, the ultimate game console in the Cloud model is no console at all."
Several publishers are already jumping on board the new service, with OnLive confirming that Atari, Eidos, Codemasters, Electronic Arts, Epic, Take-Two, THQ, Ubisoft and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are coming along for the ride (we also noticed BioWare, Pandemic, and even Rockstar Games logos during the demonstration, but those studios' "mother companies" are already part of the official list). With that kind of publishing muscle behind the service, Perlman is promising that they will "make available the top, high-end titles at the same window they're released at retail." He also commented that OnLive will also pursue deals with several indie and casual game developers.
Perlman outlined OnLive's basic roadmap, with the service undergoing internal beta currently, followed by an external beta sometime during the summer and a full launch around winter. At the moment, Perlman and McGarvey won't discuss any specifics on the business model; only that it will be a subscription service "similar to Xbox Live." We're extremely curious about this venture, and will update you as it develops.--
Source - 1UP
OnLive's founders recently gave us a basic demonstration of the on-demand gaming service, which utilizes cloud computing to stream games directly into virtually any PC or Mac. Steve Perlman (founder, CEO, and CTO) explains that his experience on both the Apple Quicktime and the Microsoft WebTV teams has helped develop a new type of "interactive video compression." Essentially, OnLive's servers will be running the game, and sending a videostream through your Net connection. In turn, your controller/button inputs, are sent via your Net connection to OnLive's servers. Perlman states that OnLive will always be updating its hardware, and as long as you have a Net connection, a display, and an input device (existing gamepads as well as keyboard/mouse are supported), you can play any of its games. If you're playing it on a PC or a Mac, you'll use a small (Perlman estimates it will be smaller than a megabyte) browser plugin; if you want to play it on your TV, you'll be using the OnLive MicroConsole, which has HDMI, USB, Ethernet, and power inputs/outputs. Without directly naming the Phantom, Perlman remarked that OnLive is different than previous attempts at online/downloadable game services, by virtue of the video compression technology (since you never actually download a game to your computer/system; in theory, games can be loaded and played in seconds due to only video and input information traveling through your broadband connection).
From the demonstration we've seen (watching and playing Crysis and GRID), the gameplay was, honestly, smooth and relatively lag-free. Though, we did notice the occasional framerate hiccup (it is in a very private beta, after all). OnLive will require a 1.5 megabytes-per-second connection for standard-definition video (480p), and a 5.0 mbps connection needed for HD (720p). As for the user's hardware requirements, for this demo, Perlman ran Crysis on the OnLive MicroConsole, while COO Mike McGarvey joined Perlman's Crysis match via his MacBook Air.
Naturally, having beaten the "one console future" drum for quite some time now, Silicon Knights founder Denis Dyack had something to say about this. Writing on Venturebeat, he praised the cloud model, saying that the end result is a "remarkably positive shift for those who create original games."
"This model is attractive because it eliminates piracy 100 percent, since the consumer does not have anything to copy and needs only to log into the Cloud to interact. Technology is commoditizing the value of hardware to zero and a unified platform will be the likely result," Dyack wrote. "Following this logic to its end, the implication is that hardware could be removed altogether. What hardware one runs behind the wall of the Cloud is unimportant; only what you are transmitting counts. Thus, the ultimate game console in the Cloud model is no console at all."
Several publishers are already jumping on board the new service, with OnLive confirming that Atari, Eidos, Codemasters, Electronic Arts, Epic, Take-Two, THQ, Ubisoft and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are coming along for the ride (we also noticed BioWare, Pandemic, and even Rockstar Games logos during the demonstration, but those studios' "mother companies" are already part of the official list). With that kind of publishing muscle behind the service, Perlman is promising that they will "make available the top, high-end titles at the same window they're released at retail." He also commented that OnLive will also pursue deals with several indie and casual game developers.
Perlman outlined OnLive's basic roadmap, with the service undergoing internal beta currently, followed by an external beta sometime during the summer and a full launch around winter. At the moment, Perlman and McGarvey won't discuss any specifics on the business model; only that it will be a subscription service "similar to Xbox Live." We're extremely curious about this venture, and will update you as it develops.--
Source - 1UP