Topic: OnLive

Anyone have/use this?

I'm considering getting it to play those other games that are on PS3/360 without having to get the system (I'm starting to save up for WiiU anyhow). I really like the whole Netflix-like model and the options of renting games or even buying full passes to play it. I just downloaded the app for my computer and I'm really happy that I don't need to worry about my computer's specs or even the fact that it can't run on my Mac because it's all streams.

I'm thinking of getting this to play games that will potentially come to the service such as Batman Arkham City and the like. And eventually, getting the small console (wish I knew about the whole free giveaway in December where they give consoles to people who sign up for free).

Anyhow, I want to know who is using this service and their thoughts about it, especially someone like me who only owns Wii and has limited access to a PS3 and 360 (and not too much munnies).

I really do think OnLive is the future of gaming - cloud based and streaming.

The obvious downside is you don't 'own' the games that you're playing - but then you don't 'own' your Netflix content either. There'll be a point where games become commoditised enough that people just won't care that they don't have physical control over them.

I just wish it would come to Australia - I'd invest immediately as I'm one of the lucky ones with fast enough broadband speed.

Yeah, that's one downside. The thing is, you do own the game (to an extent) when you buy the full pass. It's just that they may not be there anymore in 3 years-minumum. But the Netflix-like option where it's $10 a month and you get unlimited access to 60 games, that's just great- if not, overwhelming. I don't think I'll be playing all of those games, really. And then there may be a game I really really like, but knowing that it'll be gone one day is sure going to be a bummer (unless I purchase a copy for WiiU or my Mac- if it even arrives on those platforms).

And I do agree- Cloud gaming is the future of gaming but I don't think it's going to replace the way we play now just as Netflix hasn't entirely replaced Bluray movies from being sold. Both can coexist just fine and I'd love for it to be that way

I was considering buying Onlive instead of a PS3. However I had several problems with it.
First no exclusives which is a big selling point for me. Second I really don't want to pay full price for a game. I buy a lot of used games or new ones for cheap on Amazon. This new subscription looks neat, my only problem is that I'm not interested in many of the games that it supports and I'm not sure they will constantly switch games every once in a while.

It is a good service, I played some of the demos. But the lag on a wireless connection is terrible...

I think 20 years from now, physical copies of music, movies and games will be pretty rare. But certainly I agree that in the shorter term, the two can coexist very happily.

@Waltz

Si!

@soccer
Well, at least the games on OnLive are $10 less than 360 and PS3 titles. It's like they're using the PC price point for their games. I think right now, it's too early for me to devote to the service but I see this growing into something bigger and it will most likely iron out the issues people bring up. I think it's only been a year since it came out. Netflix is a huge success and it took it a couple of years to be what it is today. OnLive will surely do the same.

We had this thread before which is here and you can peruse to see what everyone thought about it. Its about six months old so alot of the opinions are when it first came out but this should give you an idea.

https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/other_gaming/onlive1

IMO its interesting my biggest things like everyone else is that you dont own the game. So if Onlive goes bankrupt for example you lose your entire library. My thing is I use it as a rental service. For example I payed the six day pass for Mafia 2 when it first came out I tried it I liked so than I went out and got the game on Xbox 360. I mean for the price of a six day pass or whatever its called you can tell if you like the game more so than a demo off of XBL for example, and than if you dont like the game you arent out $60 like you would be if you bought the Xbox version.

Anyway thats my whole thoughts on it.

Hm, I read through the other topic and there isn't really any much thoughts in terms of experience. Good to know there is another thread of it, so...

Was kinda hoping to get some input from someone who's been using OnLive frequently for awhile. As for the company going bankrupt- it's kinda a stretch but it sure is feasible. I'm doubting it would happen as the concept is very solid. Anything can happen, though. And it would suck if it does shut down. I joke around with the whole Cloud thing (some people keep pointing up everytime they say it which looks funny to me)- saying "What if there's a thunderstorm in that 'cloud'? There goes your save file." which is basically a server shut down or something really bad happening to the service in which your game data becomes deleted.

Knowing the recent hacks that's been happening, it's really concerning. Especially when OnLive really takes off.

It's not likely to go bankrupt. Last I saw, OnLive was rolling out in more nations and getting plenty of funding.

You could apply that same logic to any company that you use cloud services: "If Google goes bankrupt there goes my email. If NintendoLife disappears there goes my WaltzElf. If Sony goes bankrupt there goes my PSN," but that also applies to non-cloud services - where would you get your 3DS serviced officially if Nintendo sent bust?

It's best not to worry about legitimate companies going bust - and OnLive is a legitimate business. It's much more likely that Microsoft or Sony would buy it.

I've had similar worries...It would've been like investing in steam back in the mid-2000s (before it damn-near replaced physical of everything PC-side). Now that Steam's pretty much indestructible it's an amazing service....but who knows what the future holds for OnLive (which in turns makes its future more in-jeapordy)

I guess we'll see how it goes, but I'm certainly not investing in it.

Maybe Bankrupt was the wrong choice of words basically what I was trying to say was that if something were to happen to Onlive you would lose your gaming library you have with Onlive as oppose to having the physical disc. I mean if Onlive decides to shut down you wont be able to play any of your games that you paid for. Now if for example Nintendo shut down you could still play your games that you have on disc.

I sort of agree that cloud based gaming may well become the future, but I sincerely hope and pray that it's a different setup to what OnLive are offering. I don't believe we are ever going to have an internet that can support real-time video streaming of games at sufficient speed to eliminate lag. As for today, I have a 50Mb connection and YouTube can't even stream a shoddy quality video to me without stopping every 5 seconds to buffer, so I personally wouldn't even give this setup a try.

On top of that, I just don't see how OnLive's business model can be sustainable. For the service to offer any quality, they are going to have to put their server centres into a lot of locations to minimise lag due to distance, they are going to have to run a constant program of upgrades to the hardware in those centres to keep up with the gaming hardware and improved internet connections, they have to pay for the rights to sell (access to) the games on the service and take a profit somewhere in between. Expect huge price hikes at some point.

The future of video games, I believe, is a console with no internal storage or slots for external storage, just an internet connection. But instead of the games being run remotely and the video streamed to you, the game data will be streamed directly to the console over the net in real time rather than being read from a disc or cartridge. We are at a point where the faster internet connections can pretty much get data from the internet faster than they can read from an optical disc anyway.

I use it often to test out games. Considering about every game comes with a 30 minute demo of the full experience, just setting an account up is more than worth it. Because of OnLive, I played Metro 2033, loved what I played, bought the game on 360, and fell even more inlove with not only the game, but the OnLive service for creating that entry point through it's free demos.
Also, they have amazing deals. The subscription service of 50+ games for $10/month is great, every Friday they knock a random game down to $5 for the day, and they're generally pushing deals where you buy a game, get a free OnLive microconsole, or spend $X, and get a free $20 game.

The only game I own for the service is Amnesia: The Dark Descent, since when it was released on the service, it was for free.
Also, anyone that took part in that free "program", got an email with a code for getting any $20 for $5. So for accepting their free game, which saved you $20, they allow you to save $15 on a lot of their games? That's just beyond awesome.

However, I would never, EVER buy a full game on the service, because I don't like the idea of not owning the game at all. Even though I buy digital distributed games, I can hold up my hard drive and say "The game is here, and I can play it whenever I want". So if you can get past that fact, go for it. it's a great service, from a company who is constantly finding more and more ways to expand their audience and create new ways of playing. (Have you seen their iPad stuff from E3? Good stuff!)

Lastly, if you're looking for a buddy, add me. Name is the same as it is here, or anywhere I go, really.

Yep pretty much what BedCommandon stated is how I feel about it. Its great to try games on without having spend the $60 and getting stuck with a bad game but I dont like the idea that you dont actually own the game.

@Link-Hero: Ok mister technical . What I mean by owning the game is actually having a copy of said game either in my hands or on my hard drive. Something that I can go back and play even if said company goes out of business. I mean I can still play the Genesis version of Sonic 2 even though Sega doesnt make the Genesis or systems anymore as long as I have the system and the game. With Onlive I might have the system but I dont have the game. OnLive says on their site that you have the game a minimum of 3 years after the date of purchase. Well why should I pay them $50 for a game that in 3 years I might not have anymore?

_{I hope you realize I am joking with you Link-Hero and yes I knew that but thanks for the reminder}

But still if they take a game off for whatever reason and I paid $50 I wont be able to play it anymore unlike if I bought the disc or downloaded it straight to my hard drive.

Discs die. Consoles die. Harddrives die. Often in under three years (I've got examples of all three happening within three years, just personally.

Assuming OnLive sticks around (and indications are that it will), then you're actually getting a better deal from the permancy perspective. When your laptop dies, you'll still be able to pick up the game from where you left off with the next one. When your OnLive console explodes from a power surge, you just buy a new one, but all your games and saves are still there.

No offense but I dont know what you do to your stuff. I have NES Cartridges that I bought in 1986 that are still running fine today. Also my NES that I gotta way back in 1986 is still running as good as the day I got it, and my harddrives in my PCs have never gone out. So if Onlive isnt around in 20 years will I still be able to play the games I bought through Onlive?

The answer is no.

Ninja'd. But I just woke up.