OnLive

[jaferris]

anyone looking forward to this , basically be able to stream games striaght to your computer , no need for super gaming hardware just good internet connection , will have pay subscription but says be same as xbox live gold etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5oIr4o_MIk

if live in the US can sign up to the beta

http://www.onlive.com/index.html

[MartyG]

Can't say I've any interest in this

I like to own my games in a physical form that I can trade in or sell on if I choose, and I like having a collection for the shelves.

Being able to play games requires being always online. ISP have bandwidth limits and are not 100% reliable.

I don't mind dropping £5 odd on some disposable XBLA or PSN game (games which you can't even get a refund on if they turn out to be a bag-0-shoite), or the odd DRM free MP3 (though I prefer bargain CDs I can rip to my own desired format) but there's no chance I'll pay full price for a streamed retail game who's access to it is controlled by someone other than me.

The only plus side would be one of convenience, but how difficult is it to put a disc in a machine?

Electronic distribution in my eyes is mostly about publishers being able to control route to market, eliminate 2nd hand trade ( which is a blinkered thing to do anyway given it's a sales driver ) and control pricing due to lack of alternative purchase options (as is the reason you see very little discounting on XBL Market Place).

The day gaming goes digital only is the day I hang up my joypads.

[jaferris]

it is only for pc gaming , not every one can afford £120+ decent graphics card or have the hardware to run settings on medium , i would love be into more gaming games , but just dont have the spec to run them :( this is great solution :)

[MartyG]

As a concept it's interesting - but the demo of this service was done locally was it not? Probably on a gigabit LAN too.

I use virtualised machines, cloud storage and remote desktoping for my work a fair bit - and I know that I get no where near 60 fps refresh rates - given the burn rate with the need for 5 Mbps on monthly bandwidth limits, I can't see it readily taking off. ISPs are going to hate it.

Plus, ownership issues again, just not prepared to drop full price on something I'll never own and on a service which has no guaranteed lifespan - company goes bust, bang go your games.

I might be more interested in this as a rental model, price dependent.