OnLive Launches their iOS Client for Gaming-on-Demand

onlive
Cloud gaming company OnLive has just announced the release of their playable OnLive client for iPad and iPhone (via TouchArcade and OnLiveInformer).

OnLive, Inc., the pioneer of cloud gaming, announced that it is bringing console-class gaming to tablets and phones with the revolutionary OnLive app for tablet and mobile platforms. The latest, top-tier, high-performance games—previously limited to only consoles and computers—will be available for instant play via the free OnLive app on over 500 million mobile devices over Wi-Fi or mobile networks in the US and UK.

OnLive delivers console-quality games to Macs, PCs, TVs (and now mobile devices) by remotely streaming the game from their central servers. The client device need not be fast enough to render high resolution graphics -- instead it simply has to play back what amounts to a video stream of the game, while user controls are sent back to the central server.

some games like defense grid might actually be better using touch input
Screenshot via BusinessInsider

OnLive reports that 25 console-class games have been adapted for touch controls including L.A. Noire and LEGO Batman™: The Videogame. Games can be played using the touch interface or using their mobile-compatible Universal OnLive Wireless Controller ($49.99). Games purchased on one OnLive device can also be instantly be played on another device with full save game data intact.


Video via PocketGamer

The OnLive app for iPad should be available as a free download at any moment. TechCrunch reports the iPhone support is "coming soon".

The app itself is free, but users will still need to pay for Onlive games which are available per title or through Onlive’s PlayPack Bundle. It seems most top-tier Android devices are officially supported — but as with most Android apps, other (unsupported) devices will probably get in on the fun as well (see official list below). The app currently works for the iPad with support for the iPhone coming later.

LEGO Batman™: The Videogame will be given free to anyone who downloads the OnLive app.

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Top Rated Comments

chirpie Avatar
177 months ago
Death of xbox?

"Imagine no consoles... I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger.
A brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people sharing all the world..."
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tylerk36 Avatar
177 months ago
Yeah, I'm a bit too old for this. My coordination and response time is too slow now. 30 years ago I would have been da bomb and would have been good at this. Oh well I will stick with my Angry Birds. :D
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arn Avatar
177 months ago
I don't see a success in OnLive at all. What happens when millions of people are playing at once? Latency issues. Also not everyone has a very good internet connection, and over half of the US is still on dialup. I kid you not. Internet in general also cannot support games that require a 0-lag/latency tolerance.
and yet it exists, and has existed. This is not the launch client. It already exists for various other platforms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnLive#Reception

arn
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
seamer Avatar
177 months ago
How does Battletoads look on it?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dmusicman385 Avatar
177 months ago
man i hope apple buys nintendo.

lol
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yongren Avatar
177 months ago
I'll stick with my 360 too. This is a huge gamble. Only time will tell if it will work.

How is a free app a huge gamble?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)