OnLive microconsole available for pre-order, right now!
Your shiny new HD streaming gaming console will start shipping around December 2nd. Additional controllers and rechargeable battery packs (controller included with the console comes with AAs) will be available the day after the micro-consoles start shipping. Though you might prefer using your 360 controller, mouse and/or keyboard, or any other standard PC controller with a USB hook-up. Along with the pre-order announcement, a flat rate plan for back catalog and indie games is in the works, but no details on that yet. With a myriad of different pay-to-play options already, an all-you-can-play buffet for a flat rate
would be a welcome addition.
If you're scratching your head wondering what OnLive is and what the micro-console is for, don't fret. Engadget has impressions and more details (plus a re-cap) already up. OnLive also has more details AND product specs for you to peruse as well. If you're still on the fence about OnLive, that's okay. You can sign up for the service absolutely free and try it out on your PC or Mac without paying a cent.
OnLive Game System Brings Instant-play, Premium Video Games to the TV
Launch Marks the Dawn of the Cloud Gaming Era for the Living Room
Palo Alto, Calif. — November 18, 2010 — OnLive, Inc., the pioneer of on-demand, instant-play video games, today announced that the OnLive® Game System is available for pre-order, with delivery starting December 2, 2010. Available in limited quantities, the OnLive Game System includes the OnLive MicroConsole™ TV adapter and OnLive Wireless Controller.
As a special holiday promotion, the company is offering a bundle of the OnLive Game System along with any OnLive game for free* (worth up to $49.99)—for only $99**.
The OnLive Game System delivers instant-play, high-end, new-release video games to TVs for the first time. Now players of all skill levels can enjoy games in the comfort of their living rooms—instantly and on-demand—without ever having to bother with discs, downloads or updates.
“The OnLive Game System marks the start of a new era for video games and home entertainment,” said Steve Perlman, founder and CEO of OnLive. “Not only is the OnLive Game System the fastest, simplest way to play, watch and test-drive top-tier games instantly on the living room big screen, it also opens the door to a new world of options for gaming and entertainment—from media-rich social networking and massive spectating to game portability across TV, PC, Mac® and mobile devices.”
The sleek, pocket-sized OnLive MicroConsole TV adapter, backed by high-performance Internet-based (cloud) game servers, delivers an unprecedented gaming experience, launching top-tier games in seconds instead of the minutes they take to start on high-end consoles or PCs. Whether players are checking out a demo, joining a premium multiplayer game or watching people from around the world play games live, with the OnLive Game System it’s as effortless—and as fast—as changing channels.
The OnLive MicroConsole hookup is simple: Connect it to a broadband Internet connection and a TV. Within minutes, players will have instant access to OnLive’s growing Marketplace of premium, new release, indie and classic game titles.
Also included in the OnLive Game System is the OnLive Wireless Controller, ergonomically crafted to minimize fatigue and weighted for balance. Designed for the video-rich OnLive environment, exclusive OnLive media controls provide one-touch Brag Clip™ video recording, as well as the ability to pause/play, rewind and fast-forward through videos. Up to four OnLive Wireless Controllers as well as an optional keyboard and mouse can be used simultaneously.
“Because MicroConsole performance and features are defined by OnLive’s continually upgraded cloud-based servers, the OnLive Game System experience steadily improves with time,” said Joe Bentley, OnLive VP of Engineering. “We designed it to deliver state-of-the-art gaming in every way—to not only deliver a great user experience for the games of today, but also for the games of tomorrow.”
35 Top Games Available At Launch; New Titles Coming Soon
At launch, the OnLive Game System will have more than 35 games available to demo, rent or purchase instantly from great publishers, both large and small. A sampling of games includes: Borderlands®: Game of the Year Edition, Just Cause® 2, Mafia® ll, NBA® 2K11, Shaun White Skateboarding and many more. OnLive Game System users can also play their games on a PC or Mac® via a small browser download.
OnLive has a strong lineup of new games coming soon such as Driver®: San Francisco, Homefront™, Assassin’s Creed®: Brotherhood, F.E.A.R. 3™, Red Faction®: Armageddon™, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution™, among others.
OnLive users can test-drive any game for free, and then keep playing by instantly converting to a 3-day or 5-day rental or a Full PlayPass. With rentals from $3.99 to $8.99 and Full PlayPass options from $4.99 to $49.99, OnLive offers a wide range of games, from creative indie titles to top-tier premium titles released the same day as consoles.
In addition to its rental and Full PlayPass plans, later this year OnLive will add a monthly flat-rate plan, providing unlimited access to a broad library of quality games and indie titles.
“Just as OnLive is bringing innovation to the gameplay experience, we are bringing innovative pricing models to the marketplace that offer extraordinary access to great games to fit any budget,” said John Spinale, OnLive VP of Games and Media. “OnLive is about instant play anywhere at a great value. With OnLive, you Just Play.”
For more information about the OnLive Game System—including complete product specifications—visit www.onlive.com/game-system.
To order the OnLive Game System, visit www.onlive.com/store.
*ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO REFUNDS. NO RETROACTIVE DISCOUNTS. Purchase the OnLive Game System and receive a promo code via email for one Full PlayPass after the OnLive Game System ships. Promo code must be used by December 31, 2010 (11:59PM PST) while connected to the OnLive Game Service. OnLive is not responsible for any inability to take advantage of this offer, including but not limited to delivery delays, limited supplies, or inability to connect to the OnLive Game Service. Offer only valid within the contiguous United States. Game purchases are not transferable and are available only for the OnLive Game System, PC and Mac® platforms. No cash value.
**Sales tax (where applicable) and shipping & handling charges apply.
About OnLive
OnLive is the pioneer of on-demand, instant-play video game services, delivering real-time interactive experiences and rich media through the Internet. With groundbreaking video compression technology, OnLive harnesses cloud computing to provide the power and intelligence needed to instantly deliver the latest, premium game titles to any HDTV via the OnLive Game System or nearly any PC and Mac via a small browser download. OnLive technology is backed by hundreds of patents and patents pending. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. OnLive investors include Warner Bros., Autodesk, Maverick Capital, AT&T, British Telecommunications (BT) and The Belgacom Group. More information is available at www.onlive.com.
