David Perry Unveils OnLive Competitor

[Andy Chalk]

David Perry Unveils OnLive Competitor

Reacting to yesterday's announcement of OnLive, a cloud-computing based system for videogames on demand, outspoken industry figure David Perry [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86232-David-Perry-Dukes-Out-Digital-Games-Debate-with-GameStop-Execs] revealed his own plans for a similar, better service.

After seven years in development, Game Developers Conference [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/90423-OnLive-Cloud-Based-Gaming-of-the-Future] as a system that could potentially end the constant cycling of PC and console hardware. Co-creator Steve Perlman predicted that the current console generation will be the last, as gamers adopt streaming, on-demand services like his that will let people play high-end videogames without having to invest in costly hardware.

But OnLive apparently isn't alone in trying to crack the on-demand gaming nut: David Perry, creator of Acclaim [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthworm_Jim], responded to the announcement by revealing that he has a company of his own working on a similar system, but one that avoids the potential pitfalls facing OnLive.

He was reluctant to let the news slip but felt he had no choice. "I was going to reveal it at [E3], but the OnLive news has forced my hand," he said. While the OnLive system requires a small download, Perry claims his system works without any downloaded software at all. Users just need a broadband connection to get up and running.

Perry said he's filed for patents on his technology and plans on raising venture capital in the future, which will allow him to hire more programmers. He also needs to make a deal with a major internet provider so he can actually develop a games-on-demand service based on the technology. In other words, he's got a long way to go to catch up to OnLive, which is demonstrating 16 games this week at GDC. But his commitment to the idea, functionally similar if technologically different, is another sign that this could very well be the future of videogames.

Source: VentureBeat [http://venturebeat.com/2009/03/25/onlive-video-on-demand-service-shakes-loose-a-competitor/]


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[Rezfon]

I still think these systems are flawed. What happens to perfomance at peak times for internet usage? What happens if you can't connect online, you're screwed? This will also rack up a large bandwidth usage per month.

Personally I prefer having actual hard copies of a game

 

[oliveira8]

The guy on the picture reminds me of the dude from Everybody loves Raymond...


Also this new technology still has alot of flaws...

 

[dekkarax]

Acclaim still exists?

 

[Jake Lockley]

Chief Creative Officer at Acclaim. There goes his credibility.

 

[Phyroxis]

Not interested.

PS. Nice cleavage.

 

[Jumplion]

I have a feeling that this won't work at all.

There's already competition for something that's not even proven to work? Bullhonkey on that!

This will end in tragedy, I just know it.

 

[Internet Kraken]

Wait, the system that everyone has doubts about already has a competitor?

This is just stupid. We know the technology hasn't advanced enough for this system to work effectively. Do they really think they can sucker us in to buying this?

 

[Disembodied_Dave]

So wait.. Games with out hardware?... How do you play them?.. just look at the TV screen? ...no that would be hardware.. Do they download directly into your brain? ....I'm confused.

But seriously.. Aren't there places like this already? Generally speaking, what's the difference between that idea and say Kongregate and etc.?

 

[Jumplion]

So wait.. Games with out hardware?... How do you play them?.. just look at the TV screen? ...no that would be hardware.. Do they download directly into your brain? ....I'm confused.

But seriously.. Aren't there places like this already? Generally speaking, what's the difference between that idea and say Kongregate and etc.?

Well, show me how you could play Crysis on a Flash player, and then we'll talk

 

[Disembodied_Dave]

So wait.. Games with out hardware?... How do you play them?.. just look at the TV screen? ...no that would be hardware.. Do they download directly into your brain? ....I'm confused.

But seriously.. Aren't there places like this already? Generally speaking, what's the difference between that idea and say Kongregate and etc.?

Well, show me how you could play Crysis on a Flash player, and then we'll talk

Graphics aside of course. Hence the "Generally speaking" bit. The point being that "How is his idea innovative?"

 

[Jumplion]

So wait.. Games with out hardware?... How do you play them?.. just look at the TV screen? ...no that would be hardware.. Do they download directly into your brain? ....I'm confused.

But seriously.. Aren't there places like this already? Generally speaking, what's the difference between that idea and say Kongregate and etc.?

Well, show me how you could play Crysis on a Flash player, and then we'll talk

Graphics aside of course. Hence the "Generally speaking" bit. The point being that "How is his idea innovative?"

That's basically what they're saying. It's an innovative idea. The idea is that all yu have to do is sign up and maybe download an application or two and then you play games on your computer regardless of hardware, or you can get a "console" and play from your TV. Basically, you play on their computers with their hardware. You're basically being given a video of what you're playing.

But the thing is, they're claiming that they can let you play Crysis at 720p at 60fps, no hitches or anything, without hardware, on a Mac.

There are so many things wrong with that statment that I really don't want to go in depth with this

There are so many, there are so many, problems tat come with this statement. Bandwidth, how fast the computer will send the video, how the servers will hold up, how it will even do any of the things it claims, yadayadayada. Seeing a competitor already being announced, before it's even proven to work I may add, is not really getting my hopes up for this.