OnLive beta goes online

OnLive has generated a healthy amount of skepticism, as well as unbridled enthusiasm, since the on-demand game-streaming service made its impressive debut at the 2009 Game Developers Conference. The cause for that interest is OnLive's promise, which is to stream new, top-tier titles from publishers, such as Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Take-Two, directly to gamers by way of a PC or Mac software application or small TV plug-in device.

Soon, a number of the outstanding questions concerning the service may be answered, as OnLive said today that it has opened up the service's beta-testing phase. Those interested in beta testing the game-streaming service can sign up through OnLive's official Web site. Eligible testers must be located in the US and at least 18 years old, as well as have a broadband-equipped Windows Vista/XP PC or Intel-based Mac.

Along with the beta-test announcement, OnLive founder and CEO Steve Perlman provided a detailed description of the selection process and what gamers can expect from the program. As the beta test is designed to test the service using a host of different system configurations and Internet Service Providers, Perlman said that interested testers will be divided into groups. These groups will then be called upon as needed to test the service.

OnLive has yet to nail down a release date for when the service will be available or how much it will cost. However, the company has previously stated that it is targeting this winter for the service's full commercial launch.