OnLive: The Powerful Internet Based Micro Game Console
OnLive is debuting a new on demand service that will totally revolutionize the gaming world. OnLive, created by Steve Perlman (Atari, Apple, Quicktime) and Mike McGarve (Eidos), aims to bring high end video gaming to the home with an on demand service that will perform on par to the newest game consoles while running off any basic computer or TV.
Instead of purchasing a video game console (Wii, PS3, Xbox), OnLive servers handle the processing. All that is needed is a micro console (or basic home computer) and a broadband connection. It doesn’t matter if you prefer Windows or you are a Mac person, you too can play these processor intensive games at home and enjoy the same action your gamer friends enjoy without investing on a pricey gamer computer.
Here is how this cloud computed Inlive gaming service works:
Your controler and unit at home simply registers your imput on the controler which it beams back to the servers. The server then handles the processing of the gaming and feeds back to your home computer only the video signal needed as streamed video for your machine to display. This also happens in the same way with their micro console which allows you to connect to the service with just your TV. The micro-console receives the signal of your controler and sends it back to the OnLive servers and then delivers the video signal needed to display on your TV for the corresponding action.
With their patented video compresion combined with algorithims to compensate for lag OnLive can deliver video up to 720p resolution at a 60frames per second rate. All of this simply over your broadband internet connection. Their video feeds have a ping of less than one millisecond!
I can already wonder what we will hear in response from the Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo corporate offices. The price has not yet been announced but you can see more of it and even do a beta test at the company web site OnLive’s Web site.
