Ed
04-12-2009, 12:18 AM
Article From: http://www.damianspoke.com/blog/2009/04/seeing-through-the-onlive-hype/
Seeing Through the OnLive Hype
http://www.damianspoke.com/blog/wp-content/themes/atahualpa/images/icons/date.gifOn April 11th, 2009
If you follow the video game industry you have probably heard about OnLive. OnLive was announced at this year’s Game Developers Conference in March as a video game service to compete with video game consoles. The basic premise is that the hardware running the game is on-site at an OnLive datacenter and an audio/video stream of the game is sent to you via a low-cost console or straight to your computer; then, using a controller or mouse and keyboard you send your inputs back to OnLive and play the game in this way. What this means is that any old computer on a fast internet connections (they claim you will need a 1.5mb connection for standard definition and 5mb for high definition) can play the latest games. The advantage presented by this service is that the cost of high performance hardware (be it a console or a PC) is shifted away from the consumer. Also, the service will be based on a monthly subscription. I’m unsure if you will to pay for individual games, but I assume so. Another advantage that I’ve seen some sites raving about is that if this takes off, we will enter some kind of gaming utopia where there is only the OnLive platform and no longer will we have console wars and platform-exclusive games. Sounds nice doesn’t it?
http://www.damianspoke.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/photo_onlive_microconsole_and_controller_front-300x231.jpg
Well here’s why I think OnLive won’t live up to all the hype. First of all, the internet connection is a barrier. I’m sorry but standard definition doesn’t really cut it any more. I’ve gotten used to HD gaming and can’t go back my games being a blurry mess. If you have anything less than a 5 mb connection you would be downgrading from current consoles. The second issue with this is that most people share their internet with family members, roommates, etc. So it needs a dedicated 5 mb connection, which might be bogged down by others on your connection who are surfing the web, streaming YouTube videos, or using BitTorrent now you have lag while you’re playing. This could be alleviated by broadband speeds as a whole improving but in the current market, it is a problem. Yet another problem is that most ISPs are now implementing bandwidth caps on monthly billing cycles. So if you’re a hardcore gamer playing OnLive at high definition, you could be creeping up on that bandwidth cap pretty quick and end up paying quite a hefty fee to your ISP.
As for the gaming utopia of a unified platform, that is just wishful thinking. Say this does take off and takes traditional video game consoles off the market, then rival gaming services similar to OnLive will pop up and make deals with publishers for games exclusive to their services. It’s going to be the exact same thing.
I’m not really a fan of the whole cloud-based gaming idea period. Having my gaming service completely and depend on the Internet (not just for online multiplayer as it is now) makes me uneasy somehow. As if at any moment my games could be snatched away from me given a certain datacenter failure or my ISP crapping out… Regardless of all this pessimism I’m throwing around, this service as a whole is out of my reach given that a 5 mb connection in Puerto Rico is roughly $80 a month. OnLive looks good on paper, but is still ahead of its time. I see this service being more properly implemented in pay-by-play situations such as hotels instead of completely replacing your primary home console.
Seeing Through the OnLive Hype
http://www.damianspoke.com/blog/wp-content/themes/atahualpa/images/icons/date.gifOn April 11th, 2009
If you follow the video game industry you have probably heard about OnLive. OnLive was announced at this year’s Game Developers Conference in March as a video game service to compete with video game consoles. The basic premise is that the hardware running the game is on-site at an OnLive datacenter and an audio/video stream of the game is sent to you via a low-cost console or straight to your computer; then, using a controller or mouse and keyboard you send your inputs back to OnLive and play the game in this way. What this means is that any old computer on a fast internet connections (they claim you will need a 1.5mb connection for standard definition and 5mb for high definition) can play the latest games. The advantage presented by this service is that the cost of high performance hardware (be it a console or a PC) is shifted away from the consumer. Also, the service will be based on a monthly subscription. I’m unsure if you will to pay for individual games, but I assume so. Another advantage that I’ve seen some sites raving about is that if this takes off, we will enter some kind of gaming utopia where there is only the OnLive platform and no longer will we have console wars and platform-exclusive games. Sounds nice doesn’t it?
http://www.damianspoke.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/photo_onlive_microconsole_and_controller_front-300x231.jpg
Well here’s why I think OnLive won’t live up to all the hype. First of all, the internet connection is a barrier. I’m sorry but standard definition doesn’t really cut it any more. I’ve gotten used to HD gaming and can’t go back my games being a blurry mess. If you have anything less than a 5 mb connection you would be downgrading from current consoles. The second issue with this is that most people share their internet with family members, roommates, etc. So it needs a dedicated 5 mb connection, which might be bogged down by others on your connection who are surfing the web, streaming YouTube videos, or using BitTorrent now you have lag while you’re playing. This could be alleviated by broadband speeds as a whole improving but in the current market, it is a problem. Yet another problem is that most ISPs are now implementing bandwidth caps on monthly billing cycles. So if you’re a hardcore gamer playing OnLive at high definition, you could be creeping up on that bandwidth cap pretty quick and end up paying quite a hefty fee to your ISP.
As for the gaming utopia of a unified platform, that is just wishful thinking. Say this does take off and takes traditional video game consoles off the market, then rival gaming services similar to OnLive will pop up and make deals with publishers for games exclusive to their services. It’s going to be the exact same thing.
I’m not really a fan of the whole cloud-based gaming idea period. Having my gaming service completely and depend on the Internet (not just for online multiplayer as it is now) makes me uneasy somehow. As if at any moment my games could be snatched away from me given a certain datacenter failure or my ISP crapping out… Regardless of all this pessimism I’m throwing around, this service as a whole is out of my reach given that a 5 mb connection in Puerto Rico is roughly $80 a month. OnLive looks good on paper, but is still ahead of its time. I see this service being more properly implemented in pay-by-play situations such as hotels instead of completely replacing your primary home console.