A healthy debate: OnLive

[Ever since we moved, I've wanted to do some sort of debate feature akin to all the ones we used to have on the forum back in the day. I hope by posting this conversation between The Blumpking and myself (which I hope is half as interesting as I think it is), it will spark the rest of us to get together and talk/argue about something. I've highlighted parts I think are the most interesting, fully knowing reading a conversation between two people might, possibly be boring. Consider it the Sparknotes.

Fair warning: shit gets very geeky -- it's about video games, after all -- but I think it's informative about something that sounds pretty revolutionary. Let us know in the comments if this conversation was as boring as hell or as awesome as hell.]

The Blumpking(2:12:19 PM): you read about onlive
Grish (2:13:19 PM): ohhh yeah
The Blumpking(2:13:34 PM): if that is real, and it works, i regret the 360 instantly
Grish (2:14:13 PM): well if it does work everyone who owns a console/gaming PC regrets it
Grish (2:13:37 PM): it seems like every few years something like that comes about
Grish (2:13:42 PM): and it never works

Remember Phantom's idea for a similar game console? Hint: It failed.

The Blumpking(2:14:09 PM): yeah, i cant figure out how its cost effective for them
The Blumpking(2:14:21 PM): they basically have to have a console for every player
The Blumpking(2:14:24 PM): and then stream it
Grish (2:14:38 PM): and have enormous servers to handle everything
The Blumpking(2:14:45 PM): exactly
Grish (2:14:52 PM): like a million people playing Halo at the same time
Grish (2:14:56 PM): or running Crysis
The Blumpking(2:15:05 PM): like ok, maybe you dont have to manufacture a console for every single person because people wont be online at the same time
Grish (2:15:15 PM): but a lot of people will be
The Blumpking(2:15:25 PM): plus the streaming quality cant be that awesome
The Blumpking(2:15:29 PM): especially at launch
The Blumpking(2:15:38 PM): you're talking huge data centers
Grish (2:15:43 PM): oh yeah
The Blumpking(2:16:58 PM): its the cloud concept in action though
The Blumpking(2:17:00 PM): which is cool
Grish (2:17:03 PM): yeah
Grish (2:17:56 PM): in a perfect world all the console big wigs would work together to put money into this, but come on, that would mean I wouldn't have to buy three consoles every 5-8 years
The Blumpking(2:18:08 PM): exactly
Grish (2:18:09 PM): and games
The Blumpking(2:18:14 PM): its got big developer support
The Blumpking(2:18:22 PM): so they must see it as viable
Grish (2:18:47 PM): I can see why, people are going to pirate shit so you may as well go through this instead
The Blumpking(2:18:51 PM): i mean if devs circumvent the big console makers then they win
Grish (2:18:56 PM): yeah
Grish (2:19:07 PM): especially PC and smaller ones
The Blumpking(2:19:18 PM): for sure
The Blumpking(2:19:36 PM): like theoretically, you should be able to use your pc as a connector as well
Grish (2:19:55 PM): yeah you don't even need that box as long as you have a PC/MAC

Will this change/destroy gaming as we know it?

The Blumpking(2:19:56 PM): if its just streaming input to them and receiving video from them
The Blumpking(2:20:03 PM): not even
The Blumpking(2:20:10 PM): cause your comp wouldn't be doing the computations
Grish (2:20:16 PM): no it's just the screen
The Blumpking(2:20:21 PM): you could use a ghetto comp
The Blumpking(2:20:25 PM): opening it to a huge market
Grish (2:20:55 PM): it would open it to people who can't afford $400 consoles too
The Blumpking(2:21:05 PM): yeah
The Blumpking(2:21:16 PM): although, its gotta be a monthly service
Grish (2:21:20 PM): oh yeah
Grish (2:21:22 PM): but still
The Blumpking(2:21:27 PM): so you wont be able to play when you aren't subscribed
The Blumpking(2:21:34 PM): unlike the current model
Grish (2:22:00 PM): $X/month instead of at least $50-60 two times a month for new games
The Blumpking(2:22:07 PM): yeah
Grish (2:22:08 PM): for the "hardcore" set
The Blumpking(2:22:33 PM): using a wiiware model you cut out the publisher
The Blumpking(2:22:38 PM): since you aren't putting it on the shelves
The Blumpking(2:22:46 PM): more profit direct to the developer
Grish (2:22:54 PM): less on packaging, marketing
The Blumpking(2:23:04 PM): in theory its like the end all, be all of console gaming
Grish (2:23:08 PM): oh yeah
Grish (2:23:21 PM): the IGN writer who wrote it said it would be the end and wasn't kidding at all
The Blumpking(2:23:10 PM): until we get holodecks
Grish (2:24:10 PM): and as far as PC devs go, they could just develop like the most gorgeous game ever, not having to worry if people can run it
The Blumpking(2:24:21 PM): exactly
The Blumpking(2:24:26 PM): it opens the market in a big way
The Blumpking(2:24:41 PM): they let the onlive devs worry about keeping up
The Blumpking(2:24:50 PM): and they just make the best product possible
Grish (2:25:19 PM): exclusivity also becomes a non-issue. It really could be the best thing ever
The Blumpking(2:26:19 PM): unless they go EA on everyone
The Blumpking(2:26:33 PM): and eliminate competition then nickle and dime everyone
Grish (2:26:45 PM): true
Grish (2:28:43 PM): there is much to be done in terms of making people buy into it. Everyone is pretty much where we are: sounds great, now make me believe it will work
The Blumpking(2:28:58 PM): yup
The Blumpking(2:29:14 PM): lag is the biggest factor
The Blumpking(2:29:27 PM): like could you imagine playing the original mario with lag
Grish (2:29:31 PM): hahaha
The Blumpking(2:29:33 PM): wouldn't work
Grish (2:29:35 PM): best thing ever
The Blumpking(2:29:52 PM): end up in the pit every time you went to jump as you ran towards it
Grish (2:30:07 PM): and people will not tolerate that. They'd rather stick with a lag-free console than an awesome, but laggy, game type machine