Written by Brian Shea | Monday, October 31, 2011
This review focuses on the OnLive Microconsole hardware. Click here for impressions on the service.
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I’m a collector. I enjoy owning the games that I love. Even the games that I hate, but are a part of the franchises that I love (I’m looking at you first Assassin’s Creed!), I still enjoy having on the shelf to show the progression of the series. while physical copies certainly take up space, there’s just something about being able to look at your shelf and have an organized display of what games you own. This is particularly true, for me at least, when it comes to collector’s editions of titles I particularly care for.
OnLive is an interesting concept in that you don’t actually own anything (unless you buy their console). instead, you stream games live from their enormous servers. to play a game, you buy a “Playpass” for a pre-determined amount of time, ranging from a few days (the equivalent of a rental) to a full Playpass, meaning you own the rights to play that game as long as OnLive supports it.
The full Playpasses for retail releases are generally $50, which puts it on par with PC versions, and cheaper than the console versions (which makes sense, since the service streams the PC version). OnLive also holds numerous sales that are so deeply discounted that they have the potential to rival Steam’s insanity.
I’m definitely a console gamer with very few exceptions in my gaming past, so in turn, I’ve missed out on many classic PC exclusives. Sure, I experienced Duke Nukem 3D and the Sims, but I’ve had no chance to experience such praised games as Deus ex and the Witcher. with OnLive’s Microconsole, I not only get to experience these games at long last, but I get to do so from the comfort of my couch, rather than stuck on a keyboard at my desk. If I’d rather bounce between the two, OnLive supports cloud saving.
Unfortunately, for many games, including the two PC staples I mentioned earlier in the previous paragraph, you must use a keyboard and mouse in order to play; a configuration that is very challenging to pull off from the couch. the OnLive Microconsole successfully bridges that gap that has separated PC and console gamers ever since the first consoles were released, but if every game was made compatible with the included gamepad, the experience would be so much more enriched.
The hardware itself is impressively small; there’s really nothing to it. the Microconsole is just large enough to contain an HDMI port, a component out, an ethernet port, two USB ports for controllers or keyboard/mouse, and only enough memory to host the OnLive client. There is no wireless option available, which can certainly prove problematic for those wanting to use this device away from their router or modem. Luckily, because of this “limitation,” as long as the network stays stable, multiple users can be on the network with little or no slowdown in the Microconsole’s performance.
In the end it’s for the best, since the service is 100% cloud-based and currently has difficulty streaming games over WiFi with any level of quality. Unfortunately, even though it is connected directly into the modem, I noticed the OnLive service experiencing a few hiccups here and there, but not enough to really take away from the experience.
The OnLive Microconsole controller, which is currently in its second iteration, is almost like a perfect combination of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers. Originally, the controller featured almost every single aspect of the Xbox 360 controller. for its final release, OnLive switched the dual-sticks to be even with one another, as is seen on the PlayStation 3 controller. This means that the ergonomically pleasing shape of the Xbox 360 pad is preserved, but the sticks are as easily accessible to the thumbs as they are on the PlayStation 3 platform.
With the current selection of games, the OnLive Microconsole isn’t going to replace the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 for the typical gamer quite yet, but support is growing as we’ve seen in recent publisher announcements, including the news that EA would be supporting the platform. for now, however, it feels like OnLive is trying to fill the backlog of games that it’s already missing with its weekly updates, all the while adding an occasional new release here and there.
The OnLive Microconsole is a very cool device to have. not only does it boast a small form-factor, but it also shows off some incredible technology that really is in its infancy. with inevitable advancements in the way the servers are managed, the service can only improve. the Microconsole is sold on OnLive.com for $99 and comes with one wireless controller and the necessary hookups to play. If you’re interested in picking one up, however, keep your eyes open for special deals that provide the console for free if you pre-order an upcoming title (a particularly popular option with THQ games). If you wait until a game you’re wanting offers such a deal, there’s really no reason not to pick up the OnLive Microconsole, as all you pay is shipping.
Review Statement: the OnLive Microconsole was purchased for personal use, and for the sake of the review. This product was tested on Comcast internet with speeds of 24mbps download and 4mbps upload. several games of various speeds, ranging from Tropico 4 to Batman: Arkham Asylum to Dirt 3, were tested on the Microconsole.
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