OnLive = epic fail unless it comes with free fiber optic cables to attach directly to their servers. The worst part would be when your internet is down (as ours frequently is, and we don't have the cheap stuff) you won't be able to play any of the games you bought.

Maybe in some countries, where their telecommunications networks are striving for perfection (South Korea?). For others, anything like this is a long way off being viable for a great number of people, including myself.

Personally, I'm more skepitical about being required to stream HD video constantly in order to play my games then I am of being reliant upon Stardock to do so.

In theory, freeing players from the need to constantly upgrade their systems, and from having to worry about compatiability issues would be perfect for PC gaming, but I don't see it being a viable mainstream alternative for quite a few years still..

In any case, this would be fine provided it is optional. If I want to download/buy my games at retail, and play them the old fashioned way, I'll be happy as long as that remains possible. And provided gamers aren't actually forced to play their games this way, it could begin being used much sooner.

I for one do not want to have to be connectedto the internet continously to play a game. I want to be able to go where I want and to be able to play when I want. Being obliged to always have an internet connection is very (for lack of a better word) bad.

At home I have wireless but when I start moving I do not always have it. And having it through my cell is very expensive. It's a no no for me.

I can't see that being the future either. I can't believe people will enjoy being connected to the internet constenly.

I feel internet is like cable. When it was brand new everybody wanted it. Now that it's actually easy and not very expensive we still have tons of people who still do not have cable. I think internet will be the same.

The irony of what you say is funny since this is what the onlive actually claims.  No loading or downloading.  Sign in to your account on your 128mb of ram no video card mini lab tap in a hotel room and you can play Crysis or sins on full settings.  Now I get the internet connection thing but they claim that 1.5mb is needed to play in SD and 5mb/s is needed to play in HD this isn't that bad...not to mention at least the USA and most other countries as well are moving into a era where internet isn't something just at home for some people,  it is everywhere.  Mt brother has internet in his car.  Hotels and motels here have Wifi already that support more than 1.5mbs and even restaurants.  Internet now is everywhere.  You can get a phone provider to offer you a package with a internet anywhere feature,  just hook up the card.  While great I think this may fail do to the impact it may have on the computer industry.  People no longer look at statistics as much and just want the flash pretty computer with nice monitors.  Monitor sales will boom,  PC sales will drop.  However this also solves stupid idiot pirates from stealing games.

However,  I am on the fence on this.  Many stormy nights when the weather knocked the internet out I have put hours into sins. This would not be otherwise possible.

If it is not one serivice than it is beyond super epic fail.  The point of this is to unify everything and everyone into one service of gaming.  No more PC vs console and that stuff.  Just one place,  onlive,  and everyone is there.  Period.  Otherwise all we did was actually move back in time if you think about it.   I think it is a bigger technological feat to run this epic games at my home than stream them from somewehre else.  I streamed videos years ago on my 200mhz IBM and wished I could just download them.  I now that I have the power to play these awesome games why stream them? for freaking F what? However I get the point of it if it is ONLY ONE SERVICE.  Having more than one types of subscriptions for different games would be EPIC fail for the service.  It won't happen though because that was the point of the secrecy behind this.  No company can catch up anymore.  This already is up and running and has been in the works in secret for 7 years...now it is to be released this year and either companies like nintendo and sony cooperate or fall on their face like Sega and die off in the gaming industry...assuming this is the future of gaming.

It's not irony when you have to log onto the internet to play. As you say internet is accessible but by no means is it everywhere.  I alsot costs a lot to have access to the internet via cell phones. Free internet is rather rare. Moreover it does not mean that where I am at internet is as accessible as you think. I bought a lap top so I can use it whereever I am. Not whereever internet is. As long as somebody forces me to access internet at all times to play they will not have my business. I do not mind activating my game when I purchase it but once it's been installed I want to be able to play even if I do not have internet access. I think it's a legitimate request.