Arcade Berg aka. "Learning Game Design with Arcade Berg"

OnLive – Thoughts

Okay, so, OnLive is supposed to a service that lets you play high end games on low end machines by sending input and streaming video/audio.

There's like a gazillion articles about it out there (there meaning the Internet) so I won't go further into details.

Just thought I'd give a quickie about what I think.

I think it's a great step, a great ambition, I hope it'll work amazingly well and that it will then affect the retailing industry. Unfortunately; I don't think that's gonna happen.

I'm in no way a networking expert. Heck, I hate trying to set up a fully functional network in Windows. Is it even possible? I mean, to actually get everything to work? Anyhow, I find it hard to believe what they say when they claim to have solved the latency issues.

From what I've gathered, there are actually people having tried it and they say it works like a charm.

If they were actually to get this thing working, I think it'd be a great compliment for already existing distribution channels. They wouldn't actually compete with Steam and definately not actual stores; but it'd be a nice addition. I'm pretty sure I'd use it.

Okay then, let's assume they can't fix the latency issue, will it all be crap? Most, if not all people say; yes. I say; nu-uh!

It would still be a great channel for games of particular genres, like adventure games and turn based anythings. Maybe I can't play Crysis like they say I can but then perhaps I can play Grim Fandango, Sam & Max or Jagged Alliance?

I hope they'll deliver an amazing service.

onLive's optional hardware. You can plug into a TV and play from there. Awesomeness!

Misc. facts:

Apparently Dave Perry says he's doing something similar but in a smaller scale. Google it.

Gaikai is another service similar to onLive but for 3D MMO's. Google it.

PS. This isn't any April Fool's stuff.