StreamMyGame streams PC games to your PS3

The battle lines between PC and console gamers just got a little blurrier -- a new app called StreamMyGame allows any Windows or Linux box (including the PS3) to stream Windows games over your LAN. It's not the most complicated tech in the world -- it sure sounds like optimized VNC to us -- but the PS3 compatibility is certainly interesting, in a complicated, installing Linux sort of way. Downloads appear to be free right now, and pretty much any game is compatible -- but we can't help but wonder why you wouldn't just play at your gaming PC in the first place.

[Via DigitalSpy]

[Drizzt @ Feb 29th 2008 12:28AM]

I know why people would want to play computer games on there PS3 instead of their computer! Because an average joe such as myself just spent about $500 bucks on a PS3 instead of a Gaming Computer that can handle games such as Crisis and such that cost more to build than the PS3! Oh and I'm not to good at English so I don't get it can I get a yes or no Question. If I put Linux on my PS3 can I play IDK World of Warcraft on my PS3? cuz I can't play it anymore on my computer cuz it is craping itself cuz its getting up there in age and I seriously need to upgrade, but if my PS3 can play the games I want to play then why bother buying or building a computer that can play em?

[John @ Jan 15th 2008 7:40PM]

Well, I guess this way you don't need to buy a cable to hook your PC up to your TV to play Doom...

[Jagster @ Jan 15th 2008 10:36PM]

And now people actually have some games to "play" on their PS3.

[Fruition @ Jan 15th 2008 11:27PM]

Jagster, man, wake up and smell '08; the PS3 has games now.

[nizzy1115 @ Jan 16th 2008 12:44AM]

I guess this is one way to get some games to the ps3...

[Jevanzz @ Jan 20th 2008 5:25PM]

@ Nizzy

The sole reason you got ranked down is because you said that, with YOUR AVATAR.

[Jevanzz @ Jan 20th 2008 5:25PM]

@ Nizzy

The sole reason you got ranked down is because you said that, with YOUR AVATAR.

This was on PS3Fanboy a while ago though.

[Jon Graft @ Jan 15th 2008 7:44PM]

What about the 360...oh wait...it couldn't handle it! Sorry for asking! :-P

[LC @ Jan 15th 2008 8:35PM]

You should know what your talking about before you say anything, the PS3 isn't playing these games, just playing the video and audio. Your PC does all the work. This would probably work on any last-gen and current-gen system if you could install Linux on them.

[Chad @ Jan 15th 2008 8:40PM]

Yeah, you could do this with an original xbox and x-DSL and get some VNC action going on. Sorry to burst your bubble dude.

[Jon Graft @ Jan 15th 2008 8:56PM]

XBOX 360 still can't do it shit heads!

[ElimGarak @ Jan 16th 2008 1:01PM]

LOL - dude, you obviously have no idea what you are talking about. PS3 couldn't do it either until 10 minutes ago. Besides, I very much doubt that the game perf is anything to write home about. The system would need to render the game in software, encode it to something like MPEG2 to get any sort of perf over the network, and then have the console decode it.

First of all, rendering stuff in software is bullshit - there is a reason that fastest proc on your machine is on the video card. That's why it costs 2-3 times more than a CPU these days.

I doubt very much that this software will allow you to properly play latest games at the required resolutions. You could do it in hardware - by basically capturing the video with a capture card, digitizing it, and then sending it over - but even then sync issues would be a problem. IE even local games would be susceptible to lag.

Second, most consoles have the horsepower to play video and audio - yes, including the original xbox and the 360. Just because nobody bothered implementing this thing on top of them doesn't mean you can't - or that they won't. Or even that this will be more difficult to port. These guys chose PS3 most likely because they tested on top of Linux, and just dropped the whole thing onto the PS3.

[LC @ Jan 15th 2008 9:26PM]

Maybe not, but the reason it cant has nothing to do with the 360 not being able to handle streaming video. Which it can obviously do. No need to start name calling just because you cant think of anything intelligent to say.

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 15th 2008 10:25PM]

Jon, its tards like you that slow the world down to a technological crawl. Keep buying under-powered tech, bud.

[riggs @ Jan 15th 2008 10:42PM]

youre as much of an idiot as he is if you think the ps3 is underpowered.

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 15th 2008 11:34PM]

Ah, Zeus switched his name up to confuse everyone? Your still a rabid 360 fanboy Zeus, and we all know it.

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 16th 2008 10:13AM]

Only as much of a fanboy for the 360, as you are for the PS3.

The PS3 excels in AI and physics, but fails everywhere else. Sorry, but thats the sad truth.

Also, my name isn't that different. "Zeus the God" to "Zeus.:God". I don't see how thats confusing, but maybe for simple minded fools such as you, I could be wrong. Anyway, I congratulate you on "figuring out" who I am.

[ZeroCorpse @ Jan 16th 2008 2:03PM]

Oh, look.

The 12-year-olds are home from school!

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 16th 2008 3:51PM]

Actually, I did it *at* school, in my web design class. :)

[Chewy @ Jan 15th 2008 7:49PM]

If you had bothered to read the site, it's clearly streaming a VIDEO of your game to your console. You can't play your game from your console.

[MikeG @ Jan 15th 2008 8:40PM]

That's one of the features yes, but you should probably read harder next time.

3. Key features

Members to www.StreamMyGame.com can;


*

Record gameplay to video and upload these videos to the web
*

Broadcast games live over networks and at LAN parties
*

Stream games over their local network so they can be played on any computer in their home
*

Stream games over their local network so PC games can be played on Linux PCs and the PS3
*

Share their games over the internet so they can be played at remote locations by other gamers*
*

Improve their game skills with dual play of single player games

[Static @ Jan 15th 2008 8:54PM]

"The Game Stream can be recorded to a file, broadcast, transmitted over the home network and will soon be able to be sent over the internet and played on the remote computer. The encrypted keyboard commands from the remote computer are captured and transmitted back over the network and used to play the game.

This bi-directional stream of video, audio and encrypted control data is called a Game Stream."

If you had bothered reading the site you would see that you actually PLAY the game.

[Eric @ Jan 15th 2008 7:49PM]

I want this because my windows machine is not hooked up to my 60" LCD, but the PS3 is!

[kojo87 @ Jan 15th 2008 9:08PM]

if you have a decent video card you can hook it up pretty easy. my ATi HD3870 even has HDMI

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 15th 2008 10:27PM]

I don't know why you would bother? Just get a TV with DVI. Its so much better than HDMI, considering that nobody actually uses the TV's sound; if they have a TV that big and expensive, they probably have a quality audio setup as well.

Offtopic: I hate how many people don't give credit to the 3870 for what it does. I have an 8800GT at the moment, but honestly, the 3870 provides real competition in the power/price department.

[Abuzar @ Jan 16th 2008 7:55AM]

Don't forget the better image quality of the 3870 and the fact that Nvidia drivers make games look worse to get better framerates.

[Einhanderkiller @ Jan 20th 2008 5:06PM]

NVIDIA's 8 series actually delivers better image quality than ATI's offerings through the use of a better anisotropic filtering algorithm. And if you'd like better image quality, just set the image quality preset in the control panel to 'High Quality'.

[Ian @ Jan 15th 2008 7:49PM]

ive said it before and ill say it again. i want online play between all consoles, that way when a game comes out for all platforms you could be playing anyone who has the game. that is my dream and one day it will happen(prays). how kool would that be to have 360 and ps3 and wii and a computer all play the same game. that way people who have less money can still play the people with the huge ass gaming rig. that my friends is my dream.

[John @ Jan 15th 2008 8:31PM]

The problem is that the different systems use different servers, and as different companies run them, convergence is most likely just going to remain a dream.

[Static @ Jan 15th 2008 8:54PM]

What's the point? If all the consoles and high gaming rigs could play the games what would be the point of having all the consoles. It would be reduce to one. The cheapest one. Without competition the increase in shovelware will be tenfold. The majority of Devs will produce games towards what sells the most genre, and designwise which then will stifle if not kill diversity and the result of that is an exodus from gaming by those who feel that games no longer hold a special part in their hearts.

[Ian @ Jan 15th 2008 8:53PM]

but i can still dream right?

[JL @ Jan 15th 2008 9:53PM]

I hear you Ian! and its not impossible, just a matter of licensing, fees etc. these consoles use similar communications underpinnings, based on what is built into the game engine with regards to network multiplayer. I would also venture to guess that you'd have to settle on one communication standard for cross-platform network gaming.

I thought Microsoft was implementing this with being able to play some of the newer games available on Windows/xbox 360.

But yeah, technically speaking it is very possible.

[Ian @ Jan 15th 2008 9:53PM]

no no no.. im only saying for games that are made for all platforms. unlike halo or gears or ratchet and clank. you know. alias i know this will never happen

[Bootes @ Jan 15th 2008 11:28PM]

It's possible, but MS doesn't allow it. They force developers to use their multiplayer platform and refuse to support things like this.

[skulldriveshaft @ Jan 15th 2008 7:53PM]

"but we can't help but wonder why you wouldn't just play at your gaming PC in the first place."

Monitor too small

Audio system not 5.1/7.2/9.xxx

LAN parties just took on a whole new meaning

Distributed gaming demos took on a whole new meaning

Online PC video game rental/arcades anyone?

Your buddies can sit next to you comfortably

[Kenneth Arcieri @ Jan 21st 2008 12:22AM]

for less than a PS3 + Large screen television you could set up your PC to:

-Use a bigger monitor
-Buy a soundcard to support your 5.1+ sound system
-Buy some controllers for yoru unit so you can sit on your couch and use your computer. Last time I checked, controllers for the PC were defintiely under $600 dollars a piece.

[tyler @ Jan 15th 2008 7:59PM]

For a minute there I thought there was some new breakthrough in VNC technology that let you play a game with decent FPS through a remote connection, and for that minute, I was happy.

Then I read more on the site, and have now realized that my wishes of being able to play a game of CS:S through VNC haven't in fact come true... now I'm sad again.

Seriously though, that looks actually nice for my next LAN party, where you don't have to worry about having a bunch of splitters on the monitor of the player--just stream it.

[finnith @ Jan 15th 2008 8:15PM]

sigh

looks like buying a gaming pc is all I can do

[Nerdman @ Jan 15th 2008 9:11PM]

Looks pretty sweet.

But I have that weird feeling of thinking its too good to be true...
Not the fact that you can do it, it just seems fishy by the fact that you can only see the homepage if you don't register. I hope I'll prove myself wrong...

[Joanna Softly @ Jan 15th 2008 9:20PM]

There are a number of videos here

http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=Streammygame

on StreamMyGame in action

[Nerdman @ Jan 15th 2008 9:21PM]

lol, yeah.
I'm just fishy about a lot of internet things...lol.

[eroc @ Jan 17th 2008 7:31PM]

I'd rock this with a bluetooth keyboard/mouse or Xbox 360 controller and play in the living room instead of being tucked away in my room all day...if I was a PC gamer.

[monitor @ Jan 15th 2008 9:41PM]

The rationale for this is clear to anybody who has tried using their big screen HDTV as a secondary games monitor through the HDMI port. The overscan can't be defeated, at least with current nVidia drivers. This solution would be great if it could be simplified (i.e., lose the yucky linux nonsense).
In its present form it looks way too complicated and not worth the hassle.

[WolfDV @ Jan 16th 2008 12:32AM]

does this mean i can stream games from home to my work pc? sweet

i already use remote desktop to access my pc on a daily basis, the abilty to play games over the internet using a similar method would be awesome

[Zorque @ Jan 16th 2008 4:06AM]

WolfDV: Nope, all it means is that your PS3 can play the audio and video from your computer on whatever TV it's hooked up to.

[steve @ Jan 16th 2008 1:07AM]

So this currently only works over lan? If so, here's a tip for all you internet streaming hopefuls (that my or may not work, but its worth a shot if you really want it) Just look for a program called hamachi. It's a program that makes a virtual lan over the internet, completely transparent to your computer, meaning that, barring any issues of speed, you could in fact play games over the internet.

[Jordan Earl @ Jan 17th 2008 2:41AM]

This costs money if you want to stream high definition. Otherwise this is really cool looking. I'll be using this for some starcraft I'm sure!

[alexhrose71 @ Jan 17th 2008 10:49AM]

But it borks your PS3 doesn't it ? You need to install linux which makes your PS3 no longer a PS3...

[Jordan Earl @ Jan 18th 2008 3:57AM]

Not so much no. You are completely able to install linux on a PS3 under Sony's terms. Yellowdog is the official distro

[Pro7 @ Jan 16th 2008 4:42AM]

The PS3 is about 50% cheaper than a gaming PC. It is 3x or 4x cheaper than a gaming notebook. The question is, can it run cracked games.