Streaming Games !

Download :

Every gaming console manufacturer has yet started to offer downloadable games from theirs respective “marketplaces”. Downloading is one thing. Can seem convenient to just download the game and play it without having to rush in stores. But at the end of the day, you’re still playing the same game on the same console. It’s just a more direct way of distributing the game to you.

Streaming :

But what if the game was not, I mean ever, present in your hands ? Or not present in your console as you wouldn’t need a console anymore to play even the latest 3D graphics intensive new title ? What if you just sat in front on any screen (TV, PC, Mac, Mobile) and could start to play any brand new game in full conditions, with any download, just by streaming it to you  progressively as you play ?

Sounds like the end model isn’t it ?

How could this be possible ? Just check the pic around here. It would be a matter of generating all the game image + sound from dedicated servers, and stream the result to any client screen. Kinda ‘Hulu’ service for games.

Of course, the new need in there will be a sustainable broadband connection. But don’t we almost have it ? OK in the US your’re happy when you get a fine 2 Mb connection. But in Europe or Asia, you commonly enjoy 20 Mb+ for 30-40 boxs / month. And more than that, compression techniques can make sparks.

To see it in action with your own eyes, did you had the chance to try Quake Live by the way ? If not, then try it. You’ll simply discover what you can already get as a full gaming experience just from your daily web browser. Once you play such a game, you understand that you’ve left the ‘online Tetris’ floor, and start asking yourself : sure, why do I need to invest anymore in expensive console hardware ? Or event pay premium fee per game ?

Money :

As always, this will also be a money issue.

When you can stream what you want where you want, you won’t want to pay for each piece of it. You’ll want to benefit from it as much as you can eat. From a monthly-fee-opens-all offer. And that fee could even be included in your dsl package for example, as an extra bundle.

What happened to retail stores ?

Key question my dear.

Even in a game download age, retail stores still have their word when talking hardware distribution. But what will happen in the streaming age ? What will stores distribute for gaming then ? Goodies ? :-)

Of course, it’s not then end of the retail. More a possible end of the console as a dedicated gaming machine. We’re more likely start playing from any kind of device, anytime, anywhere, and connected with friends.

This is with no doubt a major shift ahead for the gaming industry, today fully devoted to the console cycles.

Last question : will this happen in the foreseeable future as a new mainstream business ?

Answer : what is possible, always happens !