OnLive Review
OnLive has provided mobile apps before, but they only allowed you to watch other people playing games. The difference with its new apps is that they offer a full playing experience, and around 25 games have been adapted for touch controls: you can now play L.A. Noire and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations without a controller, using OnLive‘s Cloud Touch on-screen controls.
OnLive Game Server
Because OnLive server renders the graphics and streams them to your smartphone or our tablet, you don’t need a powerful processor or graphics card to run high-spec games such as Batman: Arkham City or Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Thanks to the grunt supplied by the server, loading times should be shorter than on a console. And because games are saved to the cloud, you can switch devices and carry on where you left off.
The new Universal Wireless Controller looks the same as the one supplied with OnLive’s mini console, but it’s capable of a lot more. Using some crafty adaptive wireless tech, it’ll pair up with almost any device. At the moment that means tablets, PCs and smartphones, but OnLive is working on apps that will let you use this controller to cloud-game on smart TVs and Blu-ray players, too.
OnLive is keen to temp gamers into the cloud: deals include a three-month free trial for BT broadband customers, and the (free) app comes with a copy of LEGO Batman: The Videogame.
Games are best played over Wi-Fi (and you’ll need a speedy connection for console-quality graphics), but OnLive has set its sights on the mobile gaming market with 4G support. That means some Americans can already have the full OnLive experience on the bus. Over 3G, a fast HSDPA modem makes it possible, but OnLive has added another reason for the United Kingdom to be impatient for 4G.
ONLIVE REQUIREMENTS
Max display resolution 720p (dependent on device)
Games available 200+
Compatibility Android 2.3 or later, iOS, Mas OSX 10.2 or later, Windows XP/Vista/7
Minimum internet connection speed 2Mbps (5Mbps recommended)
