• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Gaikai teasing a big E3 announcement

I wonder if that ad thing is connected too, like if you're streaming a trial of a game it'll have ads pop up during it or something.
 

V_Ben

Banned
TheSixthAxis makes a very interesting observation;

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2012/05/25/gaikais-streaming-does-this-mean-no-ps4/

Let’s skip a few months back to January this year and to a CES panel at which Nanea Reeves, chief product officer for Gaikai, made one heck of a prediction. To be fair, we wrote it off, but we might have been very, very wrong to do so.

“Not all of the current console makers will have one more generation,” said Reeves, “that will be the big news at E3.”

Now, it all makes sense. Presumably Gaikai and Sony were working on some kind of streaming service back in January, so were Gaikai privy to Sony’s future plans? Is Reeves going to be proved very right in just a few days time.

That... That would make sense. Still think there's going to be a PS4 though.
 

jiggles

Banned
It's a buisness model choice not a tech limitation. To have access to their cloud techno is cheap I guess, it's on the traffic linked to their techno they make their money. Not the same model for Onlive. Some others "little" cloud service players work more like white labels, licencing their techno and (little, with casuals & large games) catalog to TV/Box content providers. In France (and other countries) we already have some examples, the last one coming from the new Bouygue Telecom box with Playcast to provide a cloud gaming service.

Yeah, my point is it's unlikely you'd ever be able to play PC games on your PS3, like some are suggesting.
 

Kafel

Banned
So technically I could play PC games on my PS3 ? IIRC the PS3 accepts keyboard + mouse, no ?

So Diablo 3, WoW, Age of Empires etc on my PS3 this Summer with the PS+ ?
 

Sloane

Banned
It'd be a suicide on their part if they did do it. Lag, bandwidth limitations etc. will prevent this sort of service from really taking off for a long time.
We'll see, they'll obviously test it on the PS3 first but I think it does make a lot of sense for them. They could sell a "PS4" that is basically just a streaming device and a controller for 50$ or whatever, include it into their TVs and so on. Much cheaper and more flexible than a new console that might bomb.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
This should work very well on PS3 as the one thing the CELL is really impressive at is decoding video streams.
 

M.D

Member
TheSixthAxis makes a very interesting observation;

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2012/05/25/gaikais-streaming-does-this-mean-no-ps4/



That... That would make sense. Still think there's going to be a PS4 though.

That doesn't make sense for Sony and the PS4 as whole, but even if the PS4 was this box that streams video games from the cloud... You think Sony would rely on some other company to handle all of that business instead of doing it in-house? Unless we get some news soon that Sony is acquiring Gaikai

If were talking about "evidence", Kaz Hirai said multiple times that it's not yet possible to have consoles based solely on digital downloads.
 

DieH@rd

Banned
Video streaming for Vita and PSP would require less bandwith, smaller resolution, and therefore less processing power on the cloud in regard to current 720p pc streaming offerings. I could see this becoming really popular for portable users who want to play "latest and prettiest" games on the go.

Skyrim/ArkhamCity/LastOfUs/GT5/DarkSouls on PSP/Vita... Belive.
 

SparkTR

Member
So technically I could play PC games on my PS3 ? IIRC the PS3 accepts keyboard + mouse, no ?

So Diablo 3, WoW, Age of Empires etc on my PS3 this Summer with the PS+ ?

No, as none of those games are on Gaikai's service. Regardless I doubt this would offer non-Playstation content.

TheSixthAxis makes a very interesting observation;

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2012/05/25/gaikais-streaming-does-this-mean-no-ps4/



That... That would make sense. Still think there's going to be a PS4 though.

Well, I would definitely be inclined to buy a Sony TV if they streamed games to it.
 
Is it Japanese or something? Why's it so well revered here?

groupthink. all based on digital foundry concluding the service was slightly better than onlive in an aspect or two iirc (while trading off something else)

edit found it, gakai can have better visuals but runs at 30, onlive runs at 60 with worse visuals

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-face-off-gaikai-vs-onlive

normally gaf likes 60 fps so that doesnt even make sense

but whichever one sony partners with will probably be the one deemed superior after e3.
 

DrWong

Member
Yeah, my point is it's unlikely you'd ever be able to play PC games on your PS3, like some are suggesting.

Well technically there's nothing against this option. One of the basic advantages of a cloud gaming solution is to be able to run big games on low configs without have to worry about it. The PS3 is not a "low cnfing" system when engines are optimized to it, so there's no point to go with the PC>PS3 cloud solution for this reason.

But there could be a big economical advantage to go with full clouded PC games on PS3: save the budget needed for a port. After it's all about Sony strategy and deals with publishers...
 
We'll see, they'll obviously test it on the PS3 first but I think it does make a lot of sense for them. They could sell a "PS4" that is basically just a streaming device and a controller for 50$ or whatever, include it into their TVs and so on. Much cheaper and more flexible than a new console that might bomb.

As others have pointed out, Sony has even said that it's way too early to build an entire platform around that concept. Having it optional is perfectly reasonable, but making their console a streaming system is flatout suicide. The best selling games on the PS3 are CoD and Gran Turismo. Neither of those games can afford to have any significant input lag or else the experience is ruined. That's why there's no way that they'd do it unless they're really out of their minds.
 

GopherD

Member
groupthink. all based on digital foundry concluding the service was slightly better than onlive in an aspect or two iirc (while trading off something else)

edit found it, gakai can have better visuals but runs at 30, onlive runs at 60 with worse visuals

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-face-off-gaikai-vs-onlive

normally gaf likes 60 fps so that doesnt even make sense

but whichever one sony partners with will probably be the one deemed superior after e3.

Jesus, could you be any more cynical??
 
So technically I could play PC games on my PS3 ? IIRC the PS3 accepts keyboard + mouse, no ?

So Diablo 3, WoW, Age of Empires etc on my PS3 this Summer with the PS+ ?

None of those games are available on a game streaming service. And even if they were you could just use your existing PC right?
 

mclem

Member
Upgrading "Gaikai partners with Sony for cloud gaming" to a 1 on my random E3 card generator. I'll downgrade Onlive to a 3.
 
I posted this on Beyond3D in June last year:

Yeah, the most interesting thing is if MS and Sony really wanted to adopt streaming games like OnLive, there would be no reason to release new hardware. Seems too early for either of them to jump in with both feet based on existing broadband infrastructure, ensuring at least one more generation.

OnLive is probably more of an acquisition target than a partner, though. We won't end up with OnLive selling games through both platforms. One or the other would buy OnLive and more tightly integrate the platform with their own system and branding so, even though you might be running a PC build of a game, you'd get PlayStation button prompts, or whatever.

With Sony or MS the possibilities for exclusives designed to run on hardware far more powerful than the average PC and far too expensive to sell as a console is also there. To a certain degree OnLive is constrained by their dependence on third party PC SKUs. Those games have to scale, and are often built around the 360/PS3 as lowest common denominator anyway. With Sony's or Microsoft's development and engineering expertise, they can establish a baseline standard platform using whatever exotic hardware they choose, upgrade it at will and explicitly target that hardware. There is also nothing stopping them from rack-mounting their current consoles and streaming their current library through the service.

I think the most exciting idea is the return of exotic, custom hardware, arcade-style, that would never be financially viable as a home console, but could as a rack mounted streaming game server.
 
Just tried Onlive an played Homefront. For me personally it is unplayable, to much input lag.
Positive note, i was playing within 2/3 min of signing up on the site.
 
Could we see something like future Sony first party titles being developed to run off high end PC's and streamed by Gaikai to the PS3? Streaming exclusive titles that would essentially be "next gen" without the need for any hardware upgrade on the console side? I guess image quality with the stream would be the deciding factor.

We could see all of that. It all depends on Sony's PS4 plans.
 

Fabrik

Banned
I tried it from Ireland back when it was starting out, running off servers in the US.

I remember being pretty impressed overall, my impressions are here. Have not tried Gaikai though.

Cool thanks. Yeah for demos it would be nice. But the pricing would need to be a lot better and subscription fees are a big no-no for a lot of people. Particularly "casual" gamers.
 
I'll say this again for the millionth time, I dont think the killer for Onlive/Gakai for me what I've played is lag, it's visuals. It really does look significantly worse than I expected due to compression. It IS a dealbreaker to me.

I figure they'll be able to get that improved a lot eventually, as network infrastructure and their own compression/streaming tech gets better. At which time they might be pretty dangerous.

I honestly think the lag thing is a bit of a placebo effect, because of the fact Onlive is typically played on a low latency PC monitor, which probably cancels out most of the increased network lag, compared to a console which is usually played on a highly laggy HDTV in the first place. So the console might be less laggy locally, but then you're routing it through a horribly laggy HDTV. Though of course compared to local PC games Onlive would be more laggy.

I guess in the case of Onlive/Gakai on a CONSOLE though, that might have some lag problems because it'll be played on an HDTV too.
 
Would be ok if its for Legacy games / demo's and its cross platform with Vita and maybe Sony phones / TV's and maybe even pc?


But if they are dropping the PS4 is favor of a streaming only service I will buy another xbox from amazon the second the conference is over.

At least I am sure the next xbox is a thing. I have heard random spec rumors but I haven't heard of anyone who actually has next gen dev kits from sony yet.
 

M3d10n

Member
If Sony is smart, they would upgrade their entire smart TV line so they can sync with wireless PS3 controllers and access PSN via Gaikai. Anyone with such TVs would have access to PS3, PS4, maybe also PSP content without ever needing to own the hardware and Sony would both manage to massively increase their game-buying userbase and add significant value to their TV business (which it desperately needs).

But Sony is rarely smart.
 
So does this mean that ps3 owners will be PC gamers now?

No just no. These streaming services only have handful of games, mostly the multiplat titles that are already on 360/PS3. They do not have stuff like DOTA 2, D3, SC2, etc etc. Plus, they suffer from input lag, compression, frame rate issues and so on. I would never switch from _real_ PC gaming to something like onlive. Such a downgrade.
 

M3d10n

Member
Yeah, knowing Sony it'll be for games you already own. They won't be changing the retail landscape here, they don't have the balls.
Remote play is just too damn slow, even if you sit right next to the PS3.

So you buy a game, redeem code, now able to play it remotely on Vita using Gaikai's servers.
With cloud saving only available to PS+ members, of course.

Which is a shame, because there are tons of interesting things they could do with it:

1) Allow users to buy and play *any* PSN content in *any* Sony hardware. PS3 and Vita owners could buy PS4 games, for example. This would drastically increase the userbase by crossing the hardware barrier.

2) Sony could expand their game buying userbase into non-console hardware like their smartphone and TV lines. They could even have a PC/Mac client and get access to the userbase without giving up their own ecosystem.

But Sony being Sony, they'll probably limit the usage to stupid boring features (play a few select demos, PS+ only, etc).
 

Withnail

Member
This is pretty interesting, though I'm not sure I understand exactly what they would be streaming. To me the most likely thing seems to be instant streaming of PS3/Vita games (and demos), providing a cheaper alternative to a full purchase and maybe intended as a future replacement for used games for the peasants budget conscious consumer. Also PC games streamed on PS platforms seems a distinct possibility and not as unrealistic as it initially sounds.

I think those expecting the entire PS1/PS2 back catalogue to be made available overnight are living in cloud cuckoo land, as the licensing issues are not going to go away just because the games are streamed.

I guess we will find out shortly. Shame a potential megaton has leaked, but then to be honest I expect nothing less from either Sony or MS.
 

antispin

Member
Hmmm...Gaikai enables a custom created streaming module. You can license the tech and modify it for your business.What if it's something like:
- a new version of Remote Play for Vita (streaming all PS3 games to the handheld) or
- being able to play PS3 games on your PC (streaming all PS3 games to the PC) or
- being able to stream PC games to the PS3 (unlikely but nom nom nom)
- streaming BC for PS2 games

All of those options would be pretty sweet.

- A subscription service that allows streaming access to a library of games for a monthly/annual fee (Plus what?)
 

tci

Member
Well, cloud gaming is the future. Then they can make cheaper hardware. It will be the end of console generations though.
 

JB1981

Member
I really, really, really hope this will be an optional service. If Sony switches to cloud gaming as their primary platform instead of new hardware they can count me out. But then, we've been hearing about PS4 hardware specs for quite some time, so I don't think they would dump money into R&D if they didn't plan to commercialize it.

Honestly it would be an amazing feature for PSVITA. But I don't imagine games would work too well over 3G.
 
Top Bottom