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OnLive Player app for iPad and Android tablets meets the public at E3 (update: hands-on)
We already got a chance to try out OnLive on the HTC Flyer early but now the company has made its plans official at E3, announcing a Player app will bring internet-streamed gaming to the iPad and Android tablets this autumn. Just as we saw, the apps allow for tablets to be used as the screen and touch / motion controller, touch / motion controller for games on an HDTV, or screen for games being played with the new universal wireless gamepad. The fun isn't limited to just tablets though, the app will work the same way on smaller Android and iOS mobile devices. We'll head over to South Hall and get some hands-on experience with the apps for ourselves shortly, until then you can check out an E3 trailer and all the details in the press release and after the break. Update: We just got our hands on an early build of the tablet app on a Motorola Xoom, and we have to say it looks fairly promising -- OnLive added a basic touchscreen overlay that could make sense for games that don't require dual-analog support. Of course, you'll want that fancy new universal wireless controller if you plan to take a hardcore FPS (like Homefront) on the go. Sadly, the tablet-as-TV-controller functionality wasn't ready for prime time, but we did get a peek at a game designed specifically for the touchscreen interface: Ubisoft's From Dust will have an OnLive-specific SKU. Get a glimpse at Homefront and From Dust via OnLive in the video below. Update 2: We're hearing that the OnLive Player will probably come to the HTC Flyer in August, and begin hitting other tablets in September and October. %Gallery-125700%
OnLive gets Disney Interactive support, universal controller, heading to UK this fall
Black Rock Studios' excellent racers, Pure and Split/Second, are sliding to OnLive, the streaming game service announced today. The duo of arcade racing titles will lead the charge for Disney Interactive titles on the service, with LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean up next on the list. And that's not all -- OnLive had a bunch of news to drop just before E3 begins next week. For starters, the service will be officially launching in the UK at some point this fall. As with the company's North American debut, UK residents are encouraged to sign up for early "Founding Members" access -- the official UK site goes live in the coming days. Additionally, OnLive revealed intentions to make its way to a variety of "Intel-based consumer TVs, Blu-ray players, and set-top boxes" later this year. The first such devices will begin arriving this fall, and will reportedly stretch beyond the company's currently deal with consumer electronics manufacturer Vizio. Alongside the Intel deal, OnLive plans on launching a "universal wireless controller" that will work with said Intel-based devices. It looks and operates very much like the OnLive MicroConsole controller, and will come with a USB dongle for non-wireless devices. It's said to contain several different radio signals for working with a multitude of devices. You'll be able to brag to your friends all about how you're playing high-end PC games on your Intel-based TV on a wireless controller right from within games, pushing brag clips to Facebook. Which is to say, yes, OnLive is getting Facebook integration as well, starting June 7. Now, you'll excuse us if we take a moment to catch our breath.%Gallery-125195%
OnLive outs universal wireless controller, seamless Facebook integration and more -- we test the tablet experience on an HTC Flyer (video)
We told you that OnLive was coming to tablets, TVs, and other devices a while back, but perhaps you were vexed by the thought of controlling Duke Nukem via touchscreen or IR remote. Well, worry no more, as OnLive's made a Universal Wireless Controller to give you console controls on any OnLive-compatible device. The company's secret sauce lets it connect directly to your slate or smartphone, and there's also a USB dongle for use with PCs and non-Vizio TVs. We asked company CEO Steve Perlman what was in his wireless witches' brew, but all he would tell us is that the black magic isn't Bluetooth. We got to see the new controller in person, and there's no discernible difference between it and the one that comes with the MicroConsole -- they look the same and they play the same, plus the new gamepad has an 802.15.4 radio for backwards-compatiblity with the MicroConsole, too. Unfortunately, that dongle's not yet ready for prime time, but we're told that it'll be a "little bit bigger" than Logitech's tiny Unifying Receiver. When we went hands-on with the new controller, it was paired with the HTC Flyer. We'd been waiting to see OnLive's service on HTC's new tablet, and the experience didn't disappoint -- in our brief time with the device, gaming was as good on the Flyer as it is on a PC, with little lag and the same quality graphics. In addition to the Flyer and Vizio's VIA hardware, many more devices are set to join the OnLive family this year, though Steve wouldn't tell us who's manufacturing them. He did say that no matter what brand-name is on the front of the box, the company hopes to have 50 million Blu-ray players and 25 million internet TVs shipped with the service on board by the end of the year. To hit that goal, the company has partnered with Intel to bring streaming gameplay to devices with Atom CE4100 silicon starting this fall. Hot hardware not getting your gaming juices flowing? Well, how about some seamless integration with The Social Network? That's right, OnLive's been playing footsie with Facebook and will let users launch games directly from their profile pages. There's also automatic "Brag Clip" video uploads (to share your greatest gaming hits) and wall posts to let folks know when you start playing -- with accompanying links so they can watch or join in. All these new goodies will be on display at E3 next week, but if you're starving for more details right now, video and PR are after the break. Update: By the by, OnLive also revealed that it's launching in the UK this fall, and in about four days, you can get a signup code. %Gallery-125072%
OnLive knocks 75% off most titles for Memorial Day weekend
Cloud gaming service OnLive hopes you'll spend some of your free time this holiday weekend playing (and purchasing) games from its library. In a tweet from earlier today, it was announced that "most" of its catalog is selling for 75 percent off over this Memorial Day weekend. To check out exactly what's available at the discounted price, you'll need to sign into the service. Thankfully that's free, as is the ability to demo the first 30 minutes of a majority of the games it has available.
Red Faction: Armageddon PC demo hits OnLive exclusively (for now)
You may have already noticed, but cloud gaming service OnLive and publisher THQ have developed quite the relationship. First the two began offering free games and hardware as pre-order bonuses, and now they're offering an exclusive demo for Red Faction: Armageddon. While it's already available to Xbox 360 owners via Xbox Live, the only way that PC (and Mac) users are going to play the demo in the immediate future is through OnLive. The service calls this an "industry milestone," saying that the demo will remain its exclusive until Armageddon's retail release on June 6. An OnLive account (free) is required to play the trial, which concludes with an offer to pre-purchase the full game from a retailer or the streaming service. Doing the latter will also net buyers instant access to Red Faction: Guerilla and a free MicroConsole system, in a promotion originally launched earlier this month.
OnLive's Space Marine pre-order includes free MicroConsole and Darksiders
Yet again, OnLive and THQ have hooked up to give you a free MicroConsole. And, as avowed free stuff enthusiasts, we greet the mental image of a mighty mountain of MicroConsoles approvingly. The latest offer is for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. If you pre-order the "Full PlayPass" of the streaming game between now and August 22, you'll get a free MicroConsole -- or, if (as is becoming ever more likely) you already have one, you can choose a free game instead (by pre-ordering by May 31). You'll also get $5 off the regular $50 price, and a free copy of Darksiders. We're sure any OnLive execs you meet would also personally hug you, though that bonus isn't explicitly documented.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution coming to OnLive, free MicroConsole and original Deus Ex with pre-order
OnLive has announced that the service will be offering the upcoming Deus Ex: Human Revolution as a streaming title day-and-date with the retail release, and users who pre-order the game will get all kinds of goodies. First, ponying up cash in advance for any flavor of the game will net a free copy of the original Deus Ex: Game of the Year for play via the service. Secondly, pre-ordering the Augmented Edition of the game (for $53.99 rather than the standard $44.99, and packing its own goodies) will get you an OnLive game system to play it on, free of charge. If you already have a MicroConsole, you can choose a free game. That's not a bad deal at all, especially if you were considering getting Human Revolution in the first place. The free game deal has to be redeemed by next Wednesday, May 25, but according to the fine print, the console deal is valid right up until Deus Ex: Human Revolution's release on August 23.
OnLive giving away Amnesia for free today
To celebrate the launch of Amnesia: The Dark Descent on OnLive today, the cloud-gaming service is offering a scary good deal until midnight ET tonight: Simply enter "THANKYOU" (all one word) in the "Redeem Promo Code" field in the checkout window and you'll be granted a full PlayPass for the game at no charge. In other words: Free game! The catch? Actually playing Amensia could end up costing you your sanity. [Thanks, Barney]
Borderlands joins OnLive's flat-rate PlayPack service
OnLive is aiming to make its flat-rate, "all-you-can-play" PlayPack plan more attractive -- this time down the barrel of a cel-shaded rifle. The cloud gaming company announced today that Gearbox's Borderlands is joining the $10 per month selection of titles on tap for unlimited play. The hybrid FPS slash RPG joins a library of about 50 games available to plan subscribers, including the likes of Just Cause 2 and Tomb Raider: Underworld. Along with news of Borderlands joining their ranks, OnLive revealed that PlayPack games -- some of which are not offered for sale -- can all be demoed for free as of today. Just recently, the company extended its program offering free MicroConsole hardware to anyone who pre-orders Duke Nukem Forever -- another 2K Games title -- via its game streaming service.
Pre-order Duke Nukem Forever, get free OnLive MicroConsole
We know that the Duke's been away for a good long while, but you can't say the guy doesn't feel guilty about it. He feels so bad, in fact, that for the simple task of pre-ordering his new game Duke Nukem Forever through the OnLive service, he'll reward you with a free MicroConsole (an almost $100 value). ...What's that? You say that they did something similar with Red Faction: Armageddon and this is more promotional stunt than heartfelt apology? Man, people were a lot more trusting in the 90s.
Armageddon a free OnLive MicroConsole with Red Faction pre-order
A few months ago, THQ and OnLive partnered to give away free MicroConsole devices with pre-orders of Homefront. OnLive is launching another THQ promotion, and this one is arguably a better deal, because it doesn't include a copy of Homefront. From now through June 6, if you buy a "Full PlayPass" for Red Faction: Armageddon through OnLive, you'll get a free MicroConsole, allowing you to play streaming OnLive games on your TV -- and a free copy of Red Faction: Guerrilla. Eventually, you're going to end up with a pile of these MicroConsoles!
OnLive marks Mafia 2 down to five bucks today
2K Games' 1940s crime drama Mafia 2 is no stranger to being discounted on the PC -- but never quite as cheap as this. OnLive's weekly "$5 Friday" promotion has set its sights on Mafia 2, bringing the streamable title's price down to a single Lincoln until the end of the day.
New Humble Bundle features Frozenbyte games and prototype
Humble Bundle's third, pay-want-you-want indie games collection, "The Humble Frozenbyte Bundle," is now available from the official site for the next fifteen days. As the name implies, the new set features the works of Finnish developer Frozenbyte, including the platformer Trine and the top-down shooter series Shadowgrounds. The bundle also includes a pre-order license -- no, not for Trine 2, but for Splot, a mysterious (yet adorable-looking) title that's still under development. Most intriguing, Frozenbyte has tossed in the source code for a canceled project called Jack Claw. According to Edge, the developer hopes to crowd-source the game to completion and offer it for free to everyone that helps. Like past Humble Bundles, this one is DRM-free and -- with the exception of the Windows-only Jack Claw code -- all the games are available to download for PC, Mac and Linux. Additionally, purchasers are entitled to Steam, Desura and OnLive product keys for compatible titles, as well as the soundtracks for Trine and the Shadowgrounds games. Oh! And how could we forget? Any two portions of your purchase can be donated to the Child's Play Charity and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a public interest nonprofit that protects consumers' digital rights. Check out the Frozenbyte Bundle promotional video after the break to find out more about this most awesome offering -- or just go buy it already! [Thanks, Luis!]
How would you change OnLive's MicroConsole game system?
The concept of a streaming console has been around for ages, and while Phantom Entertainment never could quite pull it off, the folks at OnLive seem to be onto something. 'Course, only time will tell if that "something" is a legitimate enough business to make sustainable, but at least it has moved well beyond the point of vaporware. Now that the MicroConsole has been raiding living rooms for a few months, we're curious to know your thoughts on things. Have you been able to try one out? Are you still reverting back to your conventional consoles? Are you pleased with OnLive's performance given your ho hum cable connection? Would you have inked deals with a few more game publishers before pushing it out? Go on and get really real down in comments below -- given the small size of the company, there's a better-than-average chance it'll be listening to what you have to say.
OnLive in-game voice chat now on and live
Voice chat was one of several upcoming features touted by OnLive during its panel for potential publishing partners at GDC. Its rollout wasn't dated at the time -- merely "by the end of the year" -- but it turns out there wasn't much of a wait at all; it's available now. By enabling the voice chat beta option in the OnLive client, users of the service can access two chat channels: one for in-game yacking (open mic), the other for talking with other players while spectating in the Arena (push to talk). Corded and USB microphones are supported on PC and Mac; the OnLive MicroConsole adds support for Bluetooth headsets and VR goggles. Okay, we were kidding about the goggles -- but you have to admit it'd be pretty cool.
OnLive roadmap: Achievements, voice chat and more inbound
The future features of cloud-based gaming service OnLive got a little less nebulous during the company's GDC 2011 panel. Speaking to developers, its VP of engineering, Joe Bentley, laid out a list of advancements gamers can expect by the end of the year. Among the new features being rolled out for game makers to implement are achievements (not detailed, but we're guessing these are derived from the console versions), voice chat, game invites and the ability to directly upload Brag Clips to YouTube. The latest version of the OnLive SDK will also enable developers to let their games support wireless controllers when played on mobile devices such as iPad, iPhone and Android-powered contraptions. (But not actual androids -- those guys hate it when you press their buttons.)
OnLive adding Deus Ex, other Square Enix titles to flat-rate service
Holding to its vow of regularly arriving content, OnLive has announced that several Square Enix titles are being added to its flate-rate PlayPack plan. The cloud gaming service says that games in the Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Hitman, Thief and Mini Ninja franchises will launch "in the next few weeks." The PlayPack lineup already features a handful of Square Enix titles, including Tomb Raider: Underworld, while the main pay-per-game service has the likes of Kane & Lynch 2, Just Cause 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is slated to hit OnLive once it arrives in stores later this year.
OnLive offering free MicroConsole with Homefront game purchase
Considering nabbing a $99 OnLive Game System to connect your TV to the company's game streaming cloud? Here's another thought -- pre-order THQ's Homefront on OnLive instead for $50, and get a voucher for a free MicroConsole (and a free game) in the bargain. That's the deal OnLive announced the other day, which runs through March 14th, though the fine print says supplies are limited, shipping costs extra, and you won't actually receive the hardware until after the deal expires no matter when you pre-order the game. We're not sure what it says for OnLive's ongoing viability that the company finds itself having to give hardware away for less than half its worth, but we won't look a gift horse in the mouth!
OnLive giving away free MicroConsole, Metro 2033 with Homefront pre-orders
"This is a watershed event: It's the first time a game system has ever been given away with the purchase of a game." That's how OnLive CEO Steve Perlman describes his company's announcement that ("while supplies last") anyone who pre-orders THQ's Homefront via the cloud gaming service for $50 will receive its MicroConsole hardware and immediate access to another THQ title, Metro 2033, free of charge. In a blog post, John Spinale, OnLive's VP of games and media provided further details, confirming that Homefront will be available to users of the service on March 15 at midnight. He also noted that the console hardware, while "free," isn't free from sales tax or shipping charges. The promotion is running from today, February 25 through March 15. Spinale cheekily quipped that people should "get in on this before our Finance department finds out what we're doing!," but we sort of have to wonder if he's only joking a little. This is definitely the most gung-ho play for new users we've ever seen.
OnLive calls T5 Labs claim to key game streaming patent 'irrelevant'
OnLive had supposedly nailed down the patent it needed to run its cloud-based gaming service (quite successfully so far, from all reports), but a new challenger is claiming otherwise. A company named T5 Labs now says it has been awarded a patent that predates OnLive's registration and gives it control over the fundamental tech behind cloud gaming. OnLive's patent was originally filed in December of 2002, but T5's was filed in March of that year, so, if the two patents do in fact cover the same tech, T5 would appear to have precedence. An OnLive spokesperson tells Joystiq that the company has examined both patent applications after being contacted by T5 head Graham Clemie and "saw no relevance whatsoever to OnLive and told him so. We are approached by people with irrelevant patents all the time. We are highly confident in our own patent portfolio, and have no further comment." Things seem fairly cut and dry from OnLive's point of view. T5 only says so far that it is "deciding whether to commence a procedure in the U.S. Patent Office known as an 'interference,'" which would establish the correct patent ownership. We'll see what -- if anything -- comes of that.
