OnLive brings console-class gaming to tablets and smartphones. Is this the future of mobile gaming?
OnLive is a cloud-based video game service which currently allows players to stream PC and Console titles in real-time from cloud servers to their PC, Mac and OnLive micro console, without the need for a dedicated gaming machine, or to own physical copies of the games.
On December 8th OnLive will release a ‘full featured’ mobile version of the service. Whereas before only a viewer was available for tablets, which allowed you to make use of some of the online features such as the spectating arena, now you can actually play all the OnLive titles with a fully touch enabled client.
The app will roll out to both tablet and smartphone devices in UK and US, and will be available for free. To celebrate the launch, OnLive are giving away a full copy of Lego Batman to everyone who downloads the free app and signs up for a free account.
We got some hands-on time with the app on Monday, where we were able to try out high profile titles which were streamed in real-time from OnLive’s cloud servers directly onto an iPad. We tried out a very early version of this App at E3 earlier this year. However, it has come along leaps and bounds since then, particularly in the area of control.
The V-pad, allowing you to play every title that is available on OnLive, has been vastly improved since the demo that we played at E3 which saw a simple stock layout overlay of a physical controller. Now the app intelligently sets up the optimum virtual control layout on a per-game basis and has improved she general mechanics. The only thing missing was that tilt is not currently available. It will however come in an update, allowing for accelerometer/gyroscope control options for racing games, like Dirt 3.
For those of you though who prefer physical controls, then there’s the optional Bluetooth controller accessory. It looks and handles exactly like the micro console controller, but is Bluetooth enabled to work with tablets and smartphones. It’s this controller accessory that really makes the app shine, bringing a full console experience to your iPad. And allows you to play all of the available OnLive titles such as Batman: Arkham City, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and Lord of the Rings: War in the North.
The wireless controller will retail for £34.99 ($49.99) and should be available to order now on the OnLive website (www.onlive.com/store and www.onlive.co.uk/store)
I was able to get hands-on with both of these control types. For the V-Pad I tried out Lego Batman (available for free). Much like native iOS games, the V-Pad places the necessary controls for the game as transparent buttons and joypads over the action. For seasoned touch gamers, like myself, I found the controls worked flawlessly. However, as we all know you can’t beat physical controls. I tried out Arkham City, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and Dirt 3, and with the wireless controller it was just like playing them on the Xbox 360 or PS3, only on a wafer thin 10 inch screen.
However, perhaps the most exciting development with the OnLive app is the addition of full ‘native-style’ touch and gesture built into the games.
The OnLive team are working with developers to make their titles touch enabled. These controls are not just virtual controller buttons, but instead add full native multitouch gestures to the game. So, for example, in Defense Grid (A tower defense game) I was able to tap on my units, drag them to position, and pinch to zoom in and out of the map, much like you would with a native iPad game. This isn’t just an iPad version of the OnLive game either, it’s the same game you would play on your other OnLive enabled system, (like your PC), the service intelligently knows which device you are playing it from and delivers the best control method.
At launch there will be three native touch games. By far the biggest of these will be Rockstars L.A. Noire. OnLive worked with Rockstar to bring a touch enabled version of the full game to tablets where, with multitouch and gestures, you will be able to navigate crimes scenes, analyze items and sift through clues.
For the best OnLive experience you’ll require a good internet connection (as is the case with the service on any system). For the console, the service requires speeds in the region of 5-6 Mbps. However, surprisingly on tablets you’ll only need a speed of around 1.5 to 2 Mbps, as it scales the stream to fit the device. For smartphones it’s even lower at 500kbps for a good experience.
OnLive recommends Wifi in the UK and Europe, but in the US where LTE networks are readily available you should be able to play it on the go with no problems. Vodafone UK are trialling LTE in the UK, so expeAppStorect OnLive-ready mobile play over faster mobile networks within 12 months. Current 3G speeds are not recommended due to latency issues right now. If you do experience connection problems the app will intelligently scale video quality, or even pause the game, should the connection be too low or non existent.
So, what will console quality gaming cost over OnLive? Well, prices for games are typically around £34.99 for a full pass to play it indefinitely, plus there are 3 and 5 day rent style options also available for £3.99 and £5.99 respectively. Obviously, compared to AppStore titles, this is much higher, but these are high profile PC and Console titles, so you can’t really compare.
However, to appeal to the growing mobile gaming market, OnLive are in talks with developers on how games could be offered at a lower price on tablets and smartphones. With possible options allowing for the breaking up of games into smaller chunks or chapters, which can be released at a much lower price to compete with native AppStore games (around the £5 mark). So, we may one day see high-end LA Noire-like experiences on our iDevices for the price of an AppStore indie game.
Unlike the AppStore though, all the games are available to try before you buy, allowing you to play 15-30 minutes of the game before making a decision. Of course, once you pay and play a game, you can then access it from any OnLive enabled device (PC, Mac, Micro Console and Tablets), and continue where you left off. So, now you can smuggle your iPad on vacation with your loved one, and get it on with a sneaky game of Arkham City in your hotel bathroom!
This app is just the tip of the iceberg of what can, and will be, achieved. I discussed with the OnLive team the potential to have dual screen gaming that could put the Wii-U to shame. Imagine the main game screen on your TV and having your tablet or mobile phone with added information such as inventory screens, or even multiple devices for multiplayer. Maybe even bringing back the LAN party!
Look out for the OnLive app hitting an AppStore near you anytime now. We’ll be covering and reviewing OnLive ‘touch-enabled’ titles on our site in the future. In the meantime, check out some video footage of the app in action.
Check out our new hands-on here: www.touchgen.net/onlive-bluetooth-controller-hands-on
