The Future of Gaming?

[Capthemfoos]

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/43822/execs-behind-onlive-gaming-service-reveal-more-details/

More details about the games that OnLive will offer.

[Kamui]

Guys just so you know another console came before this one that never came to light.

The Phantom was a controversial video game console that was allegedly under development by Phantom Entertainment, formerly Infinium Labs. The cancelled device was supposedly planned to be capable of playing current and future PC games, giving the system a massive initial game library and making it easier for developers to produce games for the system. The system was supposedly designed to use a direct-download content delivery service instead of the discs and cartridges used by most game consoles.

Rise and fall of the console

The Phantom was first seen in action at the May 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) as a working prototype. Infinium Labs claimed it would go on sale that November for the holiday season, however the company still had not developed the online delivery software, licensed games or found any retailers. The company missed all those deadlines, while at the same time sending thousands of faxes claiming the system would be ready and launched in January 2005.

When that deadline passed, Infinium predicted the system's release to be around March 2005. That date passed and Infinium Labs did not appear at the 2005 E3.[2] There were hints from Kevin Bachus, former Infinium CEO, that the Phantom would be released around the same time as the Xbox 360 in Autumn 2005, but that date was also missed.

On February 21, 2006 it was reported that The Phantom video game console has been delayed indefinitely "pending further funding".[citation needed]

As of August 15, 2006, the Phantom Console is not listed on the Products page of the website and has been cancelled. However, the Phantom website does indicate that a software component of the Phantom, the Phantom Game Service, is now under development for the Windows XP operating system comparable to Valve's Steam.[3].

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_(game_system)

I'm certainly not interested though. I'm the type of person that prefers the game disc or cartridge then it being in digital form just to be on the safe side. I've never liked the idea about having digital items on my 360, but if its for certain games than its fine, Same goes for the Wii where I download certain games.

[RaTix]

There were actually 2 or 3 other similar type ideas that never seen the light of day. Which is why I don't put too much faith in the hype it's getting now.

[RageProphetXIII]

Hey before I picked up my PS3 I was playing PC games on a site called. InstantAction.com
I like Legions it's and awesome game and looks great too. Here's an article I found about the consoles.

Michael Pachter's at it once more. What's he got to say this time around? This is the last console generation. Oh, I thought there was gonna be another one, especially after the debut of CryEngine 3 and it being next-gen ready. But am no analyst, so I could be wrong.

Speaking at the GamesBeat 2009 Games conference also happening in San Francisco, Pachter opined that Nintendo will likely upgrade the Wii sooner or later. Not too far-fetched considering the circulating rumors of a new Wii with HD plus plus as of late.

Here's the thing, though.According to him, there's no money for the console makers to invest in new consoles anymore, and the third party publishers won't be supportive of it any longer. If anything, it's probably gonna be just standard delivery platform.

"[Third party publishers] are not going to support a PS4 or Xbox
720," he said. "The content is not going to change in any meaningful ways because the publishers can't afford it.

However, Colin Sebastian, who also attended the event, was not entirely convinced of this painted scenario, saying that there will be another round of race to happen maybe in 2012. And he's got an ally in the form of David Cole, who said that by 2012, the PS3 will become the top console, thus forcing Microsoft and Nintendo
to launch new consoles.

Despite these differing opinions, though, they did agree on one thing: that Sony won't be in a rush to launch a new console. Pachter predicts they'll probably get PS4 out not till "around 2015."

[keyser28146]

yeah this is an epic fail for me.

Wouldn't touch this at all. Digital distro is great for small games a la XBL and PSN and WiiWare, but I'm NOT going to DL full games, unless they are SERIOUSLY price broken... like a new triple-A release that goes for $60, I wouldn't spend over $20 on it. I'd rather have the disc.

When you get into STREAMING however, that is a whole order of magnitude lower quality. No thanks. I don't even like youtube because it's streams and hiccups and jerks at times... let alone the quality hit. I dunno... In about 10 years the internet may have levels of service that make 1080 possible, but it's difficult to imagine this service not having severe drawbacks. I'd rather have a hard copy than download, unless the cost is FRACTIONAL, and would rather download than stream by HUGE margins. What about when your internet goes down? What about when it's christmas and a lot of new users get the service and it simply goes down for 3 weeks? Buncha bullshit for eggheads who think about games but don't play them, or play them less than a mile from the server under test conditions.

[RageProphetXIII]

When you get into STREAMING however, that is a whole order of magnitude lower quality. No thanks. I don't even like youtube because it's streams and hiccups and jerks at times... let alone the quality hit. I dunno... In about 10 years the internet may have levels of service that make 1080 possible, but it's difficult to imagine this service not having severe drawbacks.

For the most part I agree with ya man. They are saying it will be 720p native and that at least is pretty good quality for something that is just streaming. There is a new internet coming soon I believe they are calling it The Grid. apperantley you'll be able to download full dvd's with everything like extras and all about 4 gigs in about 3 seconds.

Only thing is they still have to get it past the money grubbers at the FCC, who have kept us in the dark ages when it comes to internet and cellphone reception. Plus it would mean that most security softwares and firewalls would be useless.

[Andy]

New Video Game System

Earlier tonight before COD4 practice. I remember somebody saying how nice it would be if we didnt have to go out and buy the game discs and could just download them straight from the console. This reminded me of an article I saw about some new system a company is releasing that is releasing something similar to this. This new system is called OnLive and is suppose to challenge Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/new-tech-could-make-consoles-obsolete/1299562

[keyser28146]

It'd be nice if you could install every disc you buy and then they use the disc for "copyright protection" as a disc read, but I don't want digidistro... unless its a small PSN/XBL style game.

I'd like to get more oldschool, as in not having a game require updates because it was properly tested before launch anyway. Don't get me wrong, I like DLC a lot, especially when done as well as Rock Band, Warhawk, and Buzz Quiz TV have done them. Even the COD series has arguably decent DLC... but when a game is released in an almost unplayable state (I'm looking at you, SOCOM) I get pretty angry with the "patch" process. I'd rather wait for quality and have a good solid product IN MY HAND.

Bringing this into the streaming process. OK, 720p is lower current gen... the model that would be needed to spool this kind of data will be there eventually, but by the time it is, 3-5K will probably be closer to the standard, unless there are MASSIVE breakthroughs in compression... and even that will require large hardware upgrades. Even if it worked as advertised over the internet at it currently exists, what are the odds these games will be released in good shape? And when patched how good will that be? Since you don't own the game, there is nothing to stop them from turning SOCOM into respawn only if 51% of noob consumers want it that way. No thanks.

This would be great for casual gamers, and I could see a lot of Wii games taking off if it utilized those controls, but I don't think the third time will be the charm here.

[RageProphetXIII]

Well this is pretty cool. From what I got in my email I have been Pre-selected to Beta Test OnLIVE....This is pretty exciting. Unfortunately that is all I'm allowed to say about the whole thing. I don't want to miss a chance at this.

Let's hope I make the final cut.