GameStop's Cloud Gaming Won't Support Consoles, Phones?
GameStop isn't supporting consoles with its game streaming service slated to launch next year.
Gamasutra reports that GameStop's cloud gaming service, which is now slated to arrive in 2013, won't support consoles as originally planned. Instead it will support the PC, tablet and Smart TV platforms -- so far there's no mention of its status on high-end phones.
The games retailer purchased Spawn Labs in early 2011, and soon after announced its plans to provide a service rivaling OnLive and perhaps even Gaikai (although the latter isn't a subscription-based service). Talk of supporting both the PC and console platforms has been central to its cloud service push since the beginning, and there was even talk that the game streaming platform would arrive this year.
But now it's August 2012, and a national private beta has pushed the company to support only the PC, tablet and Smart TV form factors. Even more, the service is now slated to launch next year, giving the company more time to negotiate with developers and publishers.
"Based on consumer feedback, our success in selling mobile devices, and the imminent launch of new consoles, we have decided to move our technology to a PC-based model," said GameStop president Tony Bartel during a conference call with investors on Thursday morning.
New consoles. There's a good chance GameStop doesn't want to tinker with the current generation because Microsoft and Sony are expected to dish out new hardware next year. That said, GameStop may return to the console sector with its cloud platform, but only after the new consoles hit store shelves.
Another prohibitive factor may be the publishers and console makers themselves, not wanting gamers to move away from physical media just yet. GameStop may have also hit a roadblock in dealing with Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, or the console makers may have wanted too much in licensing fees.
Just recently Sony announced the acquisition of Gaikai, and will likely offer new and older titles for the current and next-gen consoles. Microsoft will likely provide its own cloud solution with the launch of Xbox Infinity next year.
I will never use "the cloud" for anything.
I will never use "the cloud" for anything.
Did you even read the article?
First paragraph: Gamasutra reports that GameStop's cloud gaming service, which is now slated to arrive in 2013, won't support consoles as originally planned. Instead it will support the PC, tablet and Smart TV platforms -- so far there's no mention of its status on high-end phones.
As for smartphones, most simple don't have the hardware to support an actual game LOCALLY, let alone streaming something from the cloud.
Edit: I agree with everyone else, cloud "gaming" = FAIL
"the cloud" is just a marketing term for 'web based services'
To avoid the 'cloud' would mean not using online services such as email, chat rooms, forums, weather applications, online video streaming, torrents, mmo's ....
Don't mistake jargon for the actual thing itself. you use the cloud, and there is no avoiding it. you may not use certain cloud services (like online backup/syncing, or cloud gaming), but you do use the cloud.
99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of PC gamers will pick Steam.
Whats wrong with i7-3770k systems they sell they will play any game out there at 60fps+
as well as 6 core amd systems.
You do know walmart sell Alienware Aurora systems with AMD Radeon HD 6870 Graphics they play any game at great fps on i7-3930k systems.
I agree though cloud gaming is a fad it will never catch on just ask OnLive until everyone has 100mbit internet connections it will never work.
Also Nintendo is releasing a new console this year. Whether or not you think it's good, they are definitely releasing new hardware in the near future. I'm sure it just slipped your mind and wasn't an intentional omission.
The price tag.
You can get a better experience than cloud gaming on a cheap system, I'm just answering your question as to what's wrong with an i7 system.
I was implying the little $350 entry level PC's =-p