Onlive Cloud Gaming
What is it?
Onlive is a cloud gaming service. You either buy or rent games for a set amount of time and play it on the highest settings on their system.
What is 'cloud gaming' ?
Basically what cloud gaming is that an institution hosts a top-notch computer system and hooks it with a high speed Internet connection. Now, remember the moment when you see L.A. Noire trailers and feel the crave to play the game but then you look at your computer system and what you see is 128 megs of RAM and a 64 MB video card :| , not good. That is where Onlive comes in, you choose the game you want to play and the game starts up on the system at Onlive, now only the VIDEO is sent back to you and you only send back the control procedures. Seeing this, the dream of playing a high end game on almost Internet enabled gadget becomes theoretically possible.
NO DOWNLOADS, NO INSTALLING, NO WAITING
Sounds awesome, but wait, what are the requirements?
The requirements are fairly simple and might vary at certain points.
SO, what you need is:
-An Internet Enabled Device like
Windows PC (XP, Vista or 7)
Macintosh (OS 10.5.8 or new)
Smartphone (Android only)
Tablets (Android and iPad)
TV (only required if you plan to purchase their game system)
-Internet Connection
2 MB minimum
5 MB recommended
Since everything is run through Internet, wont there be lag and latency issues?
Yes and No. I say that because if you have a stable Internet (atleast 2 MB) you would not have any problem.
Lag will only occur because either you are too far from their servers or have something running in the background thats consuming
the Internet speed.
Enough chit chat, have you even tried the service?
Yes I have tried out the service myself and trust me, I was amazed.
I was running it on a HP G62-346nr laptop that was set on the lowest battery settings.
The games I have tried out include Assassin's Creed II, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Saint Rows: The Third, Batman: Arkham City,PES 2012, Tom Clancy's HAWX 2 and NBA 2K12. Also just so you know, some of my friends from Pakistan tried out the service and half of them experienced lag. That is because Onlive isn't officially released there. Onlive is currently in North America and Western Europe but they are planning to expand towards the East by the end of 2012.
Did you experience any kind of lag?
Once, during the main menu of HAWX 2, there was 2 second input lag but after that there was lagless gaming.
FEATURES
-Play on virtually any Internet enabled device.
-There is a place known as the arena where you can spectate every online player playing any game.
-Create a 10 second "Brag Clip" to brag to your friends about your gaming superiority.
-Profile Image? meh, use a video clip as your profile insignia
-Keep your friends updated with what you're playing and give them the option to spectate you.
-Spectators and Players, both can communicate via voice.
-Switch between games and stuff in a matter of seconds!
-A beautiful user interface.
CONS
-You can't play any game if you dont have an Internet connection.
-Games expire after 2 YEARS
-You cannot change the graphic settings of any game.
Hmm, you talked about their game system, what is it?
Left: MicroConsole Right: Game Controller
Specifications
MicroConsole:
Dimensions
Video Capabilites
Extras
Game Controller:
Power
Compatibility
Code:
So thats everything for now and this is my first review ever.So, any constructive criticism is always welcome.
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