Console users are very defensive of the limitations of their systems, arguing that the conveniences offered by the console system outweigh the restrictions to freedom. Now comes along a service, admittedly in need of improvement, but one with the potential to offer even more convenience than a console; while offering the same game play experience. All that's required is they give up a little more of the freedoms they already gave up to play on consoles.
The response? Great hostility.
So all the mods in the world, the high resolutions and quality settings, freedom from being under a console companies foot. All this wasn't enough to get console gamers interested in PC, because consoles were cheaper and more convenient. Onlive is cheaper and more convenient than consoles, and yet all the sudden user freedom becomes an issue?
What's the problem? You don't like upgrading a PC, but you don't mind upgrading a console every generation; when under Onlive you never have to upgrade. Look at System Wars, how many problems could be completely negated if hardware was taken out of the picture? No Blu-ray read speed or DVD capacity arguments.
Some stores don't let you trade PC games; and you want to be able to trade old console games for new ones. With Onlive's upcoming $9.99 subscription you don't need to be able to trade games; because you have unlimited access to the entire library. You don't like PC because you want to be able to play on the couch; and you don't want to move a PC around. Onlive works on a TV with a game pad and on a PC with a mouse & keyboard, without having to move anything.
High speed connection install base is expanding, Onlive library will increase in time if people support it, latency and image quality can be improved on in time. You may not legally own the game, but a lot of people seem to treat gaming as disposable fun, trading it in for the latest blockbuster when they are bored of it.
I get the impression there is more to this than just disagreements with the current state of the service, issues can be improved on in time. People want it to fail. They feel threatened by it for some reason, when in nearly every comparison; it should be the console gamers dream system. Onlive may very well fail, but this is down the pipeline; regardless of what people think about it. It's something they are going to have to become comfortable with, because right now this is the "only" solution in sight for the unsustainable nature of the console business model.
Ironic. I've reject the concept of OnLive for the same reason that I've stayed away from most modern PC gaming: I reject the idea of digital distribution. I know that digital distribution isn't a 100% in the PC gaming market, but it's enough of a growing trend that it makes me feel uncomfortable about going into PC gaming anymore. I enjoy having my physical media, so I denounce both modern PC gaming (sorry Steam) and OnLive. Also, I don't so much feel hostility towards OnLive as I do indifference. If it doesn't step on my toes (ie threaten the complete annihilation of all physical media game distribution), then I couldn't care less rather it's successful or an utter failure. Burn Steam backups into optical media.
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