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View Full Version : OnLive play anywhere (linux?) cloud gaming, the console and games-for-windows killer



madjr
June 16th, 2010, 03:51 PM
http://slunt32.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/onlive_tech_diagram_610x471.jpg

http://www.bruceongames.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/onlive-game-service.jpg

http://www.laptops-drivers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/crysis-game-iphone1.jpg


it's the future of gaming or so this is what they advertise :)

it should work anywhere, so linux (cooler on cheap HTPCs :)) / android / ChromeOS too??

you can ask for ubuntu support here:
support@onlive.com

this is our chance, :guitar:

Also OnLive Inc. plans to launch Thursday (june 17) with a limited number of one-year free memberships sponsored by AT&T Inc.
http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2010/06/14/daily44.html


video e3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj5suVv5awk&feature=related

more info on onlive
http://www.bruceongames.com/2009/03/25/at-last-someone-has-seen-the-light-onlive-is-here/

Onlive could turn the video game world upside down
http://deals.venturebeat.com/2009/03/23/steve-perlmans-onlive-could-turn-the-video-game-world-upside-down/

either way this type of service is going to catch on (even if some prefer traditional methods, steam, xbox live/ps network, etc. are going to evolve into this) and we have to let them know that we want it in our "platforms", the earlier we request it the better!

update: full review/thoughts by wolfire beta tester
http://blog.wolfire.com/2010/06/Thoughts-on-OnLive

3rdalbum
June 16th, 2010, 04:41 PM
Firstly, I don't think this will work. The keypress latency is bound to be too high for games, and the definition of the returned video too low unless you live in South Korea and have a 40mbps internet connection.

Secondly, I don't see how this service will scale. All their servers would need pretty hefty graphics cards, and proper workstation graphics cards are expensive. You'd basically be talking about one server per user, unless there's some sort of magic going on that multiplexes multiple games onto one server... but even so the cost of adding additional users to the service would be pretty high. You wouldn't be able to get away with having lots of lower-performance servers like Google does; you'd have to have lots of very high-performance servers.

sydbat
June 16th, 2010, 04:51 PM
Firstly, I don't think this will work. The keypress latency is bound to be too high for games, and the definition of the returned video too low unless you live in South Korea and have a 40mbps internet connection.

Secondly, I don't see how this service will scale. All their servers would need pretty hefty graphics cards, and proper workstation graphics cards are expensive. You'd basically be talking about one server per user, unless there's some sort of magic going on that multiplexes multiple games onto one server... but even so the cost of adding additional users to the service would be pretty high. You wouldn't be able to get away with having lots of lower-performance servers like Google does; you'd have to have lots of very high-performance servers.I agree completely. This actually sounds like a lot of the ponzi schemes you hear/read about.

madjr
June 16th, 2010, 04:58 PM
Firstly, I don't think this will work. The keypress latency is bound to be too high for games, and the definition of the returned video too low unless you live in South Korea and have a 40mbps internet connection.

Secondly, I don't see how this service will scale. All their servers would need pretty hefty graphics cards, and proper workstation graphics cards are expensive. You'd basically be talking about one server per user, unless there's some sort of magic going on that multiplexes multiple games onto one server... but even so the cost of adding additional users to the service would be pretty high. You wouldn't be able to get away with having lots of lower-performance servers like Google does; you'd have to have lots of very high-performance servers.


You need to be 1000 miles near their servers

anyway on june 18th , we'll see the first reviews, so we should not dismiss them even before they can prove their technology

more on their servers:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/15/dell_dcs_server_onlive/

either way we should send in requests so linux doesnt miss the boat, this has the potential to help linux, more than any other platform


I agree completely. This actually sounds like a lot of the ponzi schemes you hear/read about.

a scheme?... it's endorsed by the big video game companies themselves

madjr
June 16th, 2010, 11:33 PM
hmm, this thing is still a mystery but i found this article

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1051544/onlive-remote-gaming-isn-

this going to be like cable tv for video games and most likely your cable company will provide/rebrand it too.

and this one

pc upgrades for games could go extinct
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/03/onlive_makes_pc_upgrades_extinct_lets_you_play_cry sis_on_your_tv-2/

murderslastcrow
June 17th, 2010, 12:12 AM
If they can send cable over the connection with instant remote access, why not games? If you've ever tried technology like, say NX, you'd probably be more willing to believe it.

It wouldn't be surprised if they provided a dedicated line to their service through some sort of outside technology.

undecim
June 17th, 2010, 12:20 AM
How low is the latency?

Will I be able to play stepmania on it? I doubt it.

You need instant feedback for your controls in most games, and a SaaS cannot provide that. (at least not yet)

benmoran
June 17th, 2010, 03:10 AM
I think it'll work great for some slower paced games, but the internet speeds just aren't there for some stuff. It sounds like a cool service though, there are thousands of games out there that don't need instantaneous feedback. (And thousands that do)

About the scalability issue: Yeah, they pretty much will need a server per user. But think about it, how many hours a day is each user going to use each server? There will be peak times, but essentially it'll be a shared system. If it went worldwide (is that in their plans?) it would be even better for them due to to differing time zones.

madjr
June 17th, 2010, 08:16 AM
How low is the latency?

Will I be able to play stepmania on it? I doubt it.

You need instant feedback for your controls in most games, and a SaaS cannot provide that. (at least not yet)

it might work for those types of games too:
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1051544/onlive-remote-gaming-isn-

in fact most of their catalog are the latest blockbuster FPSs, all need instant feedback

even if at first the service only mildly succeeds (if people see it works) it will still have a BIG impact on the industry to improve on that direction, which is a plus

internet will get faster and cheaper sooner, ISPs/cable companies will have an extra incentive to provide this type of service.

and best of all, windows and the hardware you have wont matter so much in the games department.

madjr
June 17th, 2010, 07:16 PM
http://olwriter.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/ol_coverage1.jpg

current beta coverage

http://blog.onlive.com/2010/01/21/beta-testing-at-the-speed-of-light/

seems some states dont have the service available yet

madjr
June 19th, 2010, 07:01 AM
for some of the skeptics here is a real review/thoughts by a beta tester from indie company wolfire (from the humble bundle) themselves

http://blog.wolfire.com/2010/06/Thoughts-on-OnLive

i think is very objective and worth a read

it has cleared many grey areas

McRat
June 19th, 2010, 07:25 AM
Well, they have a website up, and some cool CGI Flash10 promo video.

But that's about it. No message why they didn't come online, nor when they are expected to.

No software download, no TV box, and their Blog stopped on the 15th.

McRat
June 19th, 2010, 07:29 AM
It's absolutely possible that somebody could pull this off. Cable companies have been sending HDTV OnDemand to thousands of customers concurrently with a latency of under 15 msec.

madjr
June 19th, 2010, 08:41 AM
Well, they have a website up, and some cool CGI Flash10 promo video.

But that's about it. No message why they didn't come online, nor when they are expected to.

No software download, no TV box, and their Blog stopped on the 15th.

they will notify everyone by email

demand is pretty high on some of their data centers

they're going to make sure people get the best experience possible

if i were on their shoes i would probably do the same, is not easy to break the paradigms of the industry, they are pretty brave

but like the old saying: "no risk , no glory"