OnLive: Tomorrow's Gaming Today (Discussion, Links and News)

[Gare]

Definitely. Many people rage hard about the combat system, but once you get used to it, it's actually quite fun. Played on Hard myself, and it was a pretty satisfying experience. Not to mention it allows for at least 2 playthroughs due to there being two versions of Chapter 2.

It's just that due to all the rage I generally assume that people are less tolerant than me, so I only recommend the game to people who aren't afraid of a bit of a challenge.

[Panda Man]

It's just that due to all the rage I generally assume that people are less tolerant than me, so I only recommend the game to people who aren't afraid of a bit of a challenge.

Indeed. The Kayran battle was epic as hell, but it took me like 30 minutes to beat the asshole.

[Sprung]

"We made the PlayPack IRRESISTIBLE! Subscribers get 30% off EVERYTHING, including new releases, pre-orders, and hardware!"

[Sprung]

$5 Friday

[Nemkoon]

$5 Friday

Want.
But they don't take Paypal.

[Sprung]

Want.
But they don't take Paypal.

Yet.

I got a survey the other day, and they spent a lot of time asking questions about how Paypal would change the way you purchase.

[Nemkoon]

I still need to activate mine.

[Sprung]

Sounds like there's gonna be a bunch of sales this week

[Sprung]

This is the OnLive Viewer app for Android devices. It's version 1.0, and allows you to do everything you can normally do on OnLive, except play the games. (That will come soon). It's great to check your messages, watch the trailers, watch the arena, etc.

[PyGuy]

I think OnLive is an awesome product from what I tried. It will really shine once they release a fully playable OnLive for tablets. My Xoom already has my emulation, productivity, and social-networking needs covered, so once it can play modern retail games, what on earth will I use my computer for?

[Sprung]

Really good cost comparison post from over at the OnLive forum:

When speaking about OnLive to friends and other gamers, one of the first things an OnLive user will bring up is the savings. Sure, it’s easy to talk about the great deals OnLive has – along with the seemingly endless sales that are always going on like the current week-long Ubisoft promotion. Often times it doesn’t fully sink in until someone sees the savings and perks of being with OnLive written out in plain English for them to understand. I have taken the liberty of compiling a comparison which demonstrates the savings available to an OnLive user as compared to the average gamer, playing on one of the leading home gaming consoles.

In this example, I have decided to use three hot game titles, that are coming soon to both OnLive and these consoles, that are currently available for pre-order: Saints Row the Third, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution (I have chosen to go with the Augmented Edition in this example for maximum value).

Before we even get into the games themselves though, let’s first take a look at the price point-of-entry.

*All prices listed are in USD for NEW hardware. Console and game prices & pre-order offers from GameStop.

Xbox 360 4GB Console: $199.99
Playstation 3 120GB Console: $299.99
OnLive App: FREE
OnLive PlayPack (optional): $9.99/month (also gives you 30% off of ANY purchases while subscribed)
OnLive MicroConsole (optional): $99 ($69.30 if PlayPack subscriber)

Straight away, the cost to use OnLive is significantly less than that of getting started with a console. In fact, it’s FREE. The PC/Mac OnLive app costs nothing to download and there are no costs associated with creating an account. Optionally, you may choose to purchase an OnLive MicroConsole for $99, which will allow you to hook your HDTV into OnLive, for the comfort of playing from your favorite couch or lazy chair. However, as you’ll soon see, purchasing your first MicroConsole isn’t necessary. Additionally, the OnLive PlayPack subscription gives you access to nearly 80 games (at the time of writing this) and a 30% discount on all future purchases made with OnLive, as long as you’re subscribed for a monthly fee of $9.99. For the purposes of this article, I’ll be comparing the totals spent both with and without the PlayPack option.

Now let’s move on to actually comparing game pricing and pre-order bonuses.

*All prices listed are in USD. Game prices & pre-order offers from GameStop.
* (PP) indicates price with PlayPack subscription discount

Saints Row The Third

Xbox 360:

$59.99 - includes Professor Genki’s Hyper-Extraordinary Pre-Order Pack

Playstation 3:

$59.99 - includes Professor Genki’s Hyper-Extraordinary Pre-Order Pack

OnLive:

$49.99 / (PP) $34.99 - includes Professor Genki’s Hyper-Extraordinary Pre-Order Pack + FREE OnLive MicroConsole or Game Coupon Code



Warhammer 40,000 - Space Marine

Xbox 360:

$59.99 - includes The Emperor’s Elite Pre-Order Pack

Playstation 3:

$59.99 - includes The Emperor’s Elite Pre-Order Pack

OnLive:

$49.99 / (PP) $34.99 - includes Darksiders FREE + FREE OnLive MicroConsole



Deus Ex Human Revolution

Xbox 360:

$69.99 - includes 40-page Art Book, Exclusive Bonus DVD, Premium Packaging, Motion Graphic Novel

Playstation 3:

$69.99 - includes 40-page Art Book, Exclusive Bonus DVD, Premium Packaging, Motion Graphic Novel

OnLive:

$59.99 / (PP) $37.79 - includes as downloadables: Art Book, 40-minute “Making Of” video, Motion Graphic Novel, Soundtrack, and E3 Trailer & Animated Storyboard + FREE Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition + FREE OnLive MicroConsole

I know, I know, that’s a whole lot of numbers and text. If you were paying attention, you could see that OnLive likes to give away freebies in addition to whatever the publisher is offering with their pre-order offer. The MicroConsole is a great value, and by pre-ordering often you’re sure to amass a decent collection of them for your home or as gifts to your friends. Now we get to the fun part; the totals! This is where the proof of OnLive’s value lies.

Xbox 360:

Hardware costs – $199.99
Pre-Order costs – $179.97
Games acquired (3) : Saints Row the Third, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution
TOTAL COST: $379.96

Playstation 3:

Hardware costs – $299.99
Pre-Order costs – $179.97
Games acquired (3) : Saints Row the Third, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution
TOTAL COST: $479.96

OnLive (no PlayPack):

Hardware costs – 3 FREE MicroConsoles w/ pre-orders
Pre-Order costs – $159.97
Games acquired (5) : Saints Row the Third, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Darksiders, and Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition
TOTAL COST: $159.97

OnLive (w/ 1 month PlayPack):

Hardware costs – 3 FREE MicroConsoles w/ pre-orders
Pre-Order costs – $107.77
PlayPack Subscription – $9.99
Games acquired (83) : Saints Row the Third, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Darksiders, Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition + 78 PlayPack bundle titles including Homefront Multiplayer and F.3.A.R. Multiplayer
TOTAL COST: $117.76

I don’t know what more could be said, other than saying to simply look at these figures. Being a PlayPack subscribed OnLive gamer, in this example, gives you a 222% savings over an Xbox 360 gamer or 307% savings over a PS3 gamer. I don’t think with these numbers staring you right in the face, you can make any kind of financially sound argument against simply giving OnLive a try. Let us know what you think of this article on the OnLiveFans.com forums and feel free to share this with your friends. Nothing makes more sense to most people than saving money, especially in today’s economy with money tighter than ever.

[Sprung]

OnLive’s Cloud Video Game Service Launches in the UK on 22nd September
By: Ed Krassenstein

OnLive UKFor quite some time, we have been hearing about cloud video game service, OnLive coming to the United Kingdom this summer. Until today, we have not had an official launch date. However, OnLive announced today, that their service will be launching in Europe on the 22nd of September, 2011. It will be launched at the opening of the 2011 Eurogamer Expo in London, England, and will include over 100 top-tier games.

OnLive currently has over 100 games on its service, including F.E.A.R. 3, Homefront, Duke Nukem Forever, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Red Faction: Armageddon, and many more. They also have a PlayPack subscription plan that gives gamers unlimited access to 70+ games at a $9.99/month price. All of this will be available to OnLive UK members as well. The Playpack includes games such as F.E.A.R. 3 Multiplayer, Homefront Large-Scale Warfare Multiplayer, Advent Rising, Borderlands, BioShock, Just Cause 2, LEGO Batman, SAW, Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X., Wheelman, Unreal Tournament Titan Pack, and much more. While it is not certain if all the current PlayPack titles will be available in the UK, there will certainly be over 70 PlayPack games to choose from, with new games added weekly.

OnLive will be available to play on almost any broadband internet connection in the United Kingdom, whether it is a PC, MAC, iPad, Android Table, Set-Top Box, OnLive Game System, or HDTV. Once it is officially launched in the UK on the 22nd of September, it is expected to expand into other European nations, as well as other continents, including Asia.

OnLive has been working very closely with BT plc, which is their exclusive broadband partner in the UK. British Telecommunications is one of OnLive’s largest investors, along with HTC, Juniper Networks, Maverick Capital, AT&T, Warner Brothers, and Autodesk. The OnLive service will be made available to customers of British Telecommunications who have BT Total Broadband or BT Infinity.

OnLive BT

OnLive Founder and CEO, Steve Perlman, had the following to say about the OnLive UK launch:

“OnLive will utterly transform gaming in the UK. No discs, big downloads or specialised hardware needed. OnLive gives you the latest games instantly, anytime, anywhere on HDTV, PC, Mac, as well as iPad, Android tablets. High-performance gaming as accessible as streaming
video, with unique social features such as massive spectating with voice chat and
Facebook integration.”

OnLive has been out of beta testing in the United States for well over a year, and once it launches in the UK, the service will be fully integrated. This means that gamers in North America, and in the United Kingdom will be able to partake in multiplayer gaming, voice chat, spectating, and more with each other. Gamers will also have the ability to create short Brag Clips™ (highlight reels) of their action, and post it to their Facebook profiles, or send it to their friends on the service.

If you are in the United Kingdom, and wish to get priority access to OnLive, you may sign up at OnLive.co.uk. Gamers in the UK must sign up for an OnLive Player Tag, which is a username that you use on the service. These Player Tags will be used to access your account from anywhere in the world that OnLive is available.

If you can make it to the 2011 Eurogamer Expo London on the 22nd – 26th of September, you will have the chance to preview many upcoming OnLive games and OnLive technology, as well as get your hands on one of many promotional giveaways. The giveaways will include thousands of OnLive Game Systems, which allow you to play games on any HDTV. The OnLive Game System includes a MicroConsole, 1 OnLive Gamepad, and all the required cables for connecting the MicroConsole to your HDTV. Other gamepads that work with the OnLive Microconsle, or your PC include the following:

Logitech® ChillStream™
Saitek® P3200 Rumble Pad
MadCatz® GamePad
Microsoft® Xbox 360® Wired Controller
Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (requires the Microsoft Wireless Gaming Receiver)

[darkside2205]

It's just a bad idea, pure and simple just like the cloud in general.
What if you have no internet?
What about mods?
What happens when the service isn't around anymore and you lose tons of games you leased from them?
A small advantage of being able to play games without graphics hardware doesn't make up for all the disadvantages that come along with it.
I thought it was a good idea too when I first learned about it but it didn't take me long to realize that it simply won't work.
the games are all low-res anyway why would you want to play them like that?

[Sprung]

It's just a bad idea, pure and simple just like the cloud in general.
What if you have no internet?
What about mods?
What happens when the service isn't around anymore and you lose tons of games you leased from them?
A small advantage of being able to play games without graphics hardware doesn't make up for all the disadvantages that come along with it.
I thought it was a good idea too when I first learned about it but it didn't take me long to realize that it simply won't work.
the games are all low-res anyway why would you want to play them like that?

Instead of making pretty lists of words, why don't you try the service out?
Then you can write, AND know what you're talking about

[Gare]

The internet connection complaint is like saying that WoW sucks because "what if you don't have internet". The whole point of OnLive is that you have an internet connection to stream games with.

And while it's not crystal clear 1080p quality, it's not low-res at all. Example: FEAR3 screenshots I posted in here a while ago.