The “cloud gaming” platform OnLive is finally getting around to releasing its promised home console. Coming on December 2nd for the price of $99, the microconsole looks to bring the already functioning OnLive service away from the computer and into the living room. Included in the package is the console as well as a wireless controller with preorders garnering a free game of your choice.
As far as the hardware is concerned, the console is pretty limited for outputs with only HDMI (with support for 1080p and 3D) and optical audio available in this first iteration. Two front facing USB ports offer support for keyboards and mice, with headsets coming soon. A notable omission is the lack of built in Wi-Fi; it’s a feature that is available on the PC and Mac clients and makes it seem as if a premium model may be coming at a later date which adds increased functionality. Support for a number of different third party controllers including the Xbox 360 (Wireless will require the PC adapter) is also available.
In regards to the impending release of the console OnLive, CEO Steve Perlman had this to say:
“This is a big day for OnLive…it’s the culmination of more than eight years of hard work by many people, both at OnLive and at our partners, to realize a dream that so many people said was impossible.”
While this seems like a step in the right direction for cloud gaming, I can’t help but thinking that partnering with an established set top manufacturer such as Roku would have been a better move. With an increasingly prevalent focus on internet enabled living room devices, creating an additional box may prove to be a step in the wrong direction.
Anyone planning on picking one of these up? I’ve played around with OnLive on my 5 year old Mac Book Pro and it is functional, but to this point there is little incentive for me to add the OnLive console to my living room.
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