OnLive... streaming games w/o hardware

[FrostyBoy]

Correct that. Starhub says 100Mbps for SG$86/month

Still not enough?

[Asher]

What the ****, Frosty.

I just told you it was not the ISP BANDWIDTH that was the problem, why do you continue to ****ing talk about it?

[FrostyBoy]

To piss you off. I'm trying to get you banned. I have great plans for Apolyton.

[Asher]

You can't ban me, I'm the president!

I've intensely flamed many people since my election but never have been banned.

In fact, you're lucky I don't ban you.

[Wiglaf]

GOD ****ING DAMMIT

I AM THE PRESIDENT

:MAD: M:AD :MA:d :THUMBSDOWNHERE: :NGRY: :AGNRY: :h****NOW: :

this is UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. You cannot ipso facto change the rules after there has been an election. That is TANTAMOUNT TO A BILL OF ATTAINDER with which I will not put up with . :ma2:L

[Elok]

Actually, it'd be more comparable to an ex post facto law IIRC from high school. A bill of attainder is a law meant to punish a group of individuals without trial or something, no?

[Wiglaf]

Attainder sounds like a good name for a classy high-priced pizza. Get on it.

[onodera]

You shouldn't've mentioned bandwidth in your original explanation, Asher, even though everything else was correct. Look how bothered Frosty got.

It *is* possible to move some more of your CPU/GPU power to the server side, though. MMOs do this with business logic already, sending you only a small trickle of results. You can move most of the business logic of a regular game there too, but that's no big feat. However, you can also do hidden surface determination and other non-visual GPU stuff there, sending only a list of visible polygons and texturing/shading rules to the PC. You'll still need an actual PC to do this, but it will be much easier to render.
Sending rendered video is totally bull****, I agree with you.

[Asher]

You shouldn't've mentioned bandwidth in your original explanation, Asher, even though everything else was correct. Look how bothered Frosty got.

All of the post was correct, in addition to the bandwidth discussion. Frosty has no idea what he's talking about.

He's pretending that consumer-side bandwidth availability for the 5Mbps was an issue. It isn't.

The problem is the 5Mbps itself is way too low for quality HD streaming. Yes, they could theoretically make this higher because consumer lines are higher, BUT...

The server needs to have that bandwidth per user as well. The cost of reliability and infrastructure for maintaining 5+ Mbps connections to a massive amount of users is beyond staggering, let alone higher.

[Zero]

Regardless of whether this will work for not, I bet it wont work well for hardcore gamers anyway. Take street fighter 4 for instance, it hides lag well, but the input delay in that game is horrible. Even though there is a netcode made by players that are far better for playing emulated fighting games (GGPO)...

[FrostyBoy]

*shrug* found this on my travels

[ZEE]

its a good concept, but like all good concepts in history the human race will find a way to destroy it.

[Fake Boris]

Asher, wouldn't you think that it is an experiment to gain precious experience, until technology makes it really feasible?

[Zkribbler]

Here's a link to the OnLive website:

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

And FAQs:

What is the OnLive Game Service?
OnLive is Games on Demand. Play the hottest current titles instantly on your TV, PC or Mac through your broadband Internet connections. Access OnLive from your PC or Mac via a small browser plug-in, or from your TV via the OnLive MicroConsole™.

When will OnLive be available?
OnLive is currently in internal Beta, and we expect to have an external Beta to gamers around the US this summer. If you’d like to help Beta test, sign-up here. We plan to make OnLive available in Winter 2009.

Where will OnLive be available?
We’ll be launching across the continental US.

How much will this cost?
As we get closer to our launch we will be disclosing more details about pricing and availability.

What kind of Internet connection do I need to use the OnLive Service?
OnLive works over nearly any broadband connection (DSL, cable modem, fiber, or through the LAN at your college or office). For Standard-Definition TV resolution, OnLive needs a 1.5 Mbps connection. For HDTV resolution (720p60), OnLive needs 5 Mbps.

What do I need to play OnLive on my TV?
All you need is your TV, an OnLive MicroConsole and a couple of cables. Power up and play!
What if I want to play OnLive on my PC or Mac-what are the minimum specs?
Since the game is running in the OnLive data center, our system requirements are pretty low. All you need is a PC running a current version of Windows XP® or Vista®, or an Intel®-based Mac running a current version of OS X.

How long does it take to download a game?
Trust us, it’s really fast – it’s instant, unlike anything you’ve tried.

How do I patch or update my games?
OnLive games are patched and updated automatically for you in the OnLive data center. So, games start up the instant you click on them.

What is the difference between Onlive and other services delivering games via the network?
There isn’t anything like the OnLive system in terms of instant access to the latest games, a media-rich experience, ease of use, and ability to play on your TV, or entry-level PC, or Mac.
How long until the newest games are available OnLive?
OnLive works with its partners to deliver the newest titles as soon as they’re released. No waiting in lines, pre-ordering, or waiting on shipments. Just connect and play!

Can I try new games before buying?
Yes. You can play the latest and greatest demos, and even rent games to try them out. OnLive also lets you watch the top players as a way to discover new games and learn a few new tricks.
Are the games currently listed on your website the only games available?
These are just the games we are announcing right now and showing at the 2009 Game Developers Conference. We expect to have more titles available at launch.

Does OnLive support multiplayer?
Absolutely. Even beyond normal online multiplayer action, OnLive has many social features that make it a great place to watch your friends, join in, and record and share your highlights (or lowlights).

[Asher]

Asher, wouldn't you think that it is an experiment to gain precious experience, until technology makes it really feasible?

If it's an experiment, it wouldn't be marketed as a product.