GDC 2009: OnLive Press Conference

  • By DanM, GameSpot
  • Posted Mar 24, 2009 10:54 pm PT

Replay of the OnLive Press Conference - 3/24/09.

164 Comments

  • nima64

    Posted May 25, 2009 9:48 am PT

    This is a revolution. Much like cable was to TV this is to videogame content. Do I care what TV I hookup to cable to watch? No, so it shouldn't matter what I hookup to the internet to play. Just give me the videogame content. Challenges: 1. Controllers: I love the PS3 controller, I have an arcade stick for fighting games, some games on the wii controller and I even use the Wii mote to play World of Warcraft on my PC. 2. Bandwidth: Verizon Fios is not available everywhere. My friend still lives with only dialup because Cable/DSL is not available to him. My good DSL connection is 3mbps which means I am back to 480 resolution.

    If these challenges are overcome then this will shift gaming away from consoles. Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo will become developers of games for this service (like Sega to Nintendo) or will clone it.

  • MVibe

    Posted May 11, 2009 12:21 pm PT

    Why don´t you use this tech to play games like crisis on mobile-phones... Is this doable? Now we just need pratical mobile controlers and displays like a bionic contact lens and handglove mouse-keyboard (Like 7 fingers to the Keyboard and 3 to mouse)...

  • James_Sunder

    Posted May 4, 2009 10:32 pm PT

    Bad presentation, but, well, interesting idea. Pretty crazy, huh?

  • SNOOP_CAT

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 11:14 am PT

    With this, game consoles are useless

  • razzack9

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 7:53 am PT

    This is cool. But won't it kill off the need for consoles like the 360 or PS3?

  • WelBluVid

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 11:19 pm PT

    Until they find out how to go faster than light speed it just might not take off. THAT'S THE ONLY LIMITATION KILLING THE PLAY W/ANYONE ANYWHERE MOTTO! Over all very great new innovative concept to gaming Onlive... 9yrs in process you did it & it's exactly what I was waiting for.

  • bsman00

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 6:39 am PT

    Really cool.... only downside i can see is exclusives..... will you be able to play games like killzone 2, LBP, MGS4, Gears of war, Resistance, L4D? i still prefer my ps3 and a hard copy of the game.....

  • MoonMarvel

    Posted Apr 17, 2009 4:16 am PT

    @ c02z Streammygame just allows you stream games YOU ALREADY OWN online and play them remote. It doesn't allow you to buy any of them you don't own. Nothing like onlive!

  • imprezawrx500

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 7:12 pm PT

    cool idea interesting to see if it works without lag.

  • Semaphore313

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 1:14 pm PT

    Its a good idea, but I still like actually owning a copy of my games. This basically kills modding.

  • MadAirPsycho

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 10:19 am PT

    This is pretty cool. I do think the future of games holds a model like this as internet speed improves. I'm impressed by the compression technology as well.

  • Lisaanne30

    Posted Apr 12, 2009 6:15 pm PT

    Way to much for my budget , and i like having a console and my games on disk.

  • jeremy45

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 4:45 pm PT

    Goodbye block bluster, Hollywood video and other rental giants.

  • MADANI_G

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 9:24 am PT

    awesome!!

  • astewardson

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 5:04 am PT

    Am i the only one pissed that this is only being released in the US!?

  • Tomatoes95

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 3:44 am PT

    This looks awesome! Don't need a great PC or great internet speed, "Great games" downloaded fast, lag free video! But there's probably a catch...
    Oh well, where can I get this?

  • __MasterVAL__

    Posted Apr 6, 2009 10:56 am PT

    This is it!!! If this works as advertised then this is the future of gaming as we now know it!!! I agree with many of the comments here - both the good and the bad - but not all the bad ones.
    They do need to try to make ALL games (360,PS3,PC) available on this new console minus the exclusive titles (which there aren't many left if you think about it). If you check out some of the companies they've partnered with then you should see EPIC as one of them, which means Gears 2 and Gears 3 should be on this console at some time. Bungie is no longer with Microsoft so if they felt it beneficial then I wouldn't be surprised if they jumped in also.

    I see this as being an awesome way to play multiplayer games that currently have issues with lag and connections. Imagine if you could play Gears of War or Halo games with practically no lag, no stanbying or bridge-hosting, but with everyone having what sounds like is going to be an excellent connection. It would completely change how we play some of these games.

    Now, with that said I hope that lag and connections problems are truly non-existent, because if they're not then this could be a quick demise for OnLive. I hope this all works out just as advertised and showed in the VideoDemo, I personally will be keeping up with the hype and news and will wait shortly before release to decide whether or not this is something for me, but let me be honest, I'm fairly positive I will be picking one of these up on release date.

    I own a PS3 and an Xbox360 with almost 60,000 Gamerscore, do you think I care about the achievements (which I'm POSITIVE will NOT transfer over because then M$ will own OnLive after the lawsuit), again do I care about the achievements? HELL NO!!! I'm a gamer, and if this is the next best thing then you better bet I will be ALL OVER IT!!!

    Lets give it some time guys and gals and make our final decision in the next coming months. Maybe another video will come out explaining a bit more on how they plan on running these super-servers so we all can play together with practically ZERO lag (1ms lag is what they say), I'm hopeful and so should you fellow gamers, we want something like this to work, it may be this OnLive service to do it now, or it may be another company to do it later, at least we're getting closer to TRUE NEXT GENERATION GAMING!!!

    Happy Gaming Everyone!!!!

    P.S. maybe this news will scare SONY and MICROSOFT into shape, who knows what they'll be coming up with next... and sorry about the long post =)

  • _Nor_

    Posted Apr 5, 2009 8:56 pm PT

    i just hope this thing really works

  • Toysoldier34

    Posted Apr 5, 2009 12:01 pm PT

    so you have to have hdmi for your tv? and he says you dont need a great computer but there has to be some minimum. i cant just drag out some piece of crap i found at goodwill that barely has the power to turn on... sounds like theres something hes not telling us. and it probly costs too much to be interested

  • Ronin893

    Posted Apr 5, 2009 1:24 am PT

    How much is the question. You don't get much for your game that you just got anywhere so I usually wait for a good game at a good price. If they offer the top games at a deal then these other systems may have trouble.

  • dashawnthl

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 8:21 pm PT

    I dont know, but this dude reminds me of a sales man that comes to your house talks you into buying his vacuum cleaner then 3 weeks later you feel like you just blew $400.00 on a Vacuum Cleaner..... This looks like a SCAM.. You'll buy the onlive games and then they'll tell you some BS like you dont own the game or something, I dont trust this, this is gonna killing gaming All in the name of greed. Just watch and see

  • playette22

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 5:12 pm PT

    am I the only person that thinks this is goin to fk up the game industry???? i'd rather have something in my hands (game covers discs) then this...I understand where they are coming from but its to much I'd rather have my console thank you onlive but no thanks rather sit with the hard covers then that

  • altenter

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 2:15 pm PT

    this won't work because we are in a recession

  • maestro4202

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 1:16 pm PT

    I think the Wii will be safe as long as they don't get some kind of wiimote for onlive.

  • 99X

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 9:34 am PT

    I'm not paying more then 9.99 if I have to buy the game also. I'd pay 30 bucks a month for unlimited games. That would be sweet.

  • beevee

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 4:33 am PT

    Over at Extremetech.com the claime OnLive will be priced similary the Xbox Live gold membership, and that they plan to make their money by taking a cut from the publishers of all game time sold on OnLive.

    "Gamers will also need to pay for the OnLive service. Currently, Perlman estimates that the pricing will be in the same ballpark as services like Xbox Live Gold, which is currently priced at $50 per year. OnLive will also get a cut of any game-generated revenue."

  • Gaminggus

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 10:51 pm PT

    wow, 2009 is a year to be remembered onlive will revolutionize not just gaming but interaction with others

  • mke3567

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 1:09 pm PT

    PS3 $400 + $64 A GAME. 6 games a year $384. XBOX $300 + LIVE $50 + 6 games a year $384. PC, minimum $2000 for a DECENT system + cost of games. Do the math. It ain't that bad for ONLIVE, plus we still don't know the cost of it yet. Also, how about those games we buy on HYPE and they SUCK. Wasted cash. GAMESTOP rapes you on return value then turns around and sells your used NEW game for full price. With ONLIVE this is could be negated.

  • lilmurfer

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 11:27 am PT

    lol

  • deloozed

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 6:43 am PT

    April Fools possibly

  • slaymanio1

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 5:50 am PT

    Yes a ps3 cost 399.99$ and a xbox 360 299.99 but onlive will cost you 240$ per year that is crazy and 480$ for 2 years this is insane and 1200$ of onlive each 5 years onlive is a good idea but ist cost a little bit to mutch I will not pay 20$ a ,month for playing games that are only on Pc witch onlive work they will never have gears 2, killzone 2, little big planet, halo 3, resistance 2, halo wars, god of war 3, halo 3 odst, Infamous and more...

  • slaymanio1

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 5:46 am PT

    20$ a month = 240$ per year = 1200$ for 5 years this is crazy they need to fix the price 240$ a year when I can play xbox live for only 50 $...

  • slaymanio1

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 5:40 am PT

    Ok Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony should keep there exclusive or onlive will eventually dominate the gaming industry.

  • mke3567

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 12:53 am PT

    The only losers will be the CONSOLE HARDWARE divisions of the big 3. MS, SONY and NINTENDO should band together with ONLIVE making their titles available on ONLIVE, and their respective systems. I also think MS, SONY, ONLIVE and the game publishers should band together and force ISP's to upgrade the INTERNET WITHOUT raping the consumer. Also a pipe dream, but maybe this consortium could even, pooling their resources, set up their own GAMING internet fiber infrastructure. My main problems with this service is the possible cost structure and buying/owning of games. We already pay for our net connection, then another monthly fee, top it of with renting. I don't know. Maybe a set up like GAMEFLY, with a monthly fee, AND rental of 3-4 titles unlimited for said fee. Possibly a yearly fee, and a monthly price for 5 titles unlimited. As far as buying, I don't see this working.

  • TheDere

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 3:51 pm PT

    This looks brilliant, I wouldnt be willing to pay more than £15-20 per month though, they'd best get the pricing right.

  • Tigs69uk

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 1:57 pm PT

    It seems almost too good to be true... I wonder if they're going to add provisions for 'social networking'.. Could this be a gamers version of facebook/myspace? They'd make a killing on the marketing alone!
    Will be interested to see how they address the worldwide market and allow for global gaming and tournaments.
    Guess time will tell huh..?

  • xxcallmegodxx89

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 1:10 pm PT

    haha it would be so funny if he took all this time to produce it then scammed every for the money... get the console to only find out that it is empty

  • xxcallmegodxx89

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 1:05 pm PT

    if this is a failure i will make sure the incredible Hulk massacres this man

  • Hoobinator

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 12:27 pm PT

    SCAM

  • Ellifort

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 9:13 am PT

    Awesome. I can't wait to get my hands... or my pointer... on it.

  • Smashking02

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 8:59 pm PT

    amazing... I'm getting this... now...

  • XBD247

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 5:57 pm PT

    The release is still a ways off, and they still have to finish up the work, and partnerships, but I wish them luck in a solid launch and a great end product. If this works, and if it is lucky enough to catch on, it could be a fantastic service, similar to steam in simplifying things, and bringing multiple games to one simple service. Hopefully it can deliver and people except it, and it doesn't end up like gametap.

  • zenith3555

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 1:25 pm PT

    improve the internet?

  • mastaEarth

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 12:52 pm PT

    sounds like it might start out slow but will soon pick up if or when all the kinks are worked out

  • Dragonblade01

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 11:22 am PT

    Seems to be a pretty radical concept; however, I have faith that this could work. I mean, if they are willing to reveal something like this, then I have to assume that they think it will work. After all, we're not talking about new graduates who want to change the industry. This is a professional who has a pretty good idea about what he's talking about.

  • Brandon_Starr

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 10:42 am PT

    Incetardis: I think the thing you don't realize is that this is not a system for people who want to replace their current system. This is for those who do not have the money for such a system. This goes for everyone: THIS IS NOT A REPLACEMENT OR A STEP UP! THIS IS A CONSOLE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD A NEX-GEN! It gets really annoying when some people just can't take a hint. They said so themselves that this is for people that can't keep up with GPUs and so on a so forth. I, myself, own an old, slow computer and this is exactly what I need. I always have to visits my friends' houses in order to play their games and it bothers me to no end because I have no money to buy a 360. They never said it was better than those systems; they never said it was a replacement. All they said was that it was for people who cannot afford higher-end systems.

  • rabbitking75

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 7:42 am PT

    Seems like a good Idea, but I wonder what the service and activation fees are gonna be like. It may be a few years too soon for something like this, or it might end up being attacked and shut down by the big game companies. Who knows

  • king-lee

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 3:51 am PT

    This seems like a grate Idea but the only thing is (as sad bellow) they need all games from wii, ps3 and Xbox 360. I have a ps3 and a 360 so if I had a choice of getting this or a wii I might as well get the wii as I have all ready spent £3000+ on all my games any way. But ok if this did work and have all the games, that will make the 3 big consoles obsolete and will put this at the top of the market but what happens if they go bankrupted and we will not have any thin to fall back on.

    And imo I don’t think 1st party developers (Nintendo) will go for this as it will stump sails of there own console and games not to motion the fact that the wii uses the motion sensitive controls. And what about the exclusive titles like GOW2 and Kill Zone 2. Also if you have spent the last 2 years building up your achievements and game scour into the 100000 mark will you really want to start from scratch?

  • bredeyabo

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 1:43 am PT

    like they said they still are improving the internet thing. so in time they will have higher resolution

  • Corlist

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 7:55 pm PT

    You're talking about a service that provides about let's say 50 or so popular games. Now have 200,000 players each playing these 50 games at the same time. This sums up to an extremely crazy amount of data to be worked.

    If you've played online FPSs, you'll know that even if you had a great dedicated server running a 10-20 player session you'll have at least 20-30 ms latency, and that is alone from simple data transmission such as sending keyboard and mouse inputs, as well as several other simple client info. How on earth they're going to manage LIVE video encoding along with those aforementioned data in sub 1 ms is crazy and barely possible to a large amount of users.

    I work in the IT industry and I know that the basis of cloud computing (which is what OnLive's architecture is) is about making efficient use of processing power across a variable amount of systems in a wide area. It is unlikely that it will provide sufficient live video encoding for 720p, let alone support one million players all at once.

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