Gaikai

Gaikai
Type Private
Founded November 2008
Headquarters Orange County, California, USA
Key people David Perry, Andrew Gault, Rui Pereira, Nanea Reeves, Robert Stevenson
Services Cloud gaming, Game streaming technology, Gaming on demand, Games as a service, Video game and software advertising and distribution service
Website www.gaikai.com

Gaikai (Japanese for "open ocean") is a cloud-based gaming service that allows users to play demos and purchase full versions of major PC games and applications instantly from a webpage or internet-connected device.[1]. Gaikai recommends an Internet connection of 5 Mbit/s or faster, and a 3 Mbit/s connection meets the minimum system requirements[2].

Contents

Service

Gaikai's streaming service can be embedded on either game-related websites and microsites, social media sites like Facebook[3], or the specific products (such as mobile devices and digital TVs[4]), as determined by the publisher.[5] Users are not forced to navigate to an online portal in which they have to register to be able to access the games and do not need to download any software.[6] At the end of the demo, the customer is given the option to purchase the game or product from a local retailer, online store, direct-to-drive download, or continue streaming the product. If users wish to continue streaming after the free trial, the company will allow them to continue on a pay-as-you-go basis.[7]

Gaikai's proprietary technology runs, in part, by using previously installed plug-ins such as Java or Adobe Flash. A demo video of the service at GDC San Francisco 2010 showed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, World of Warcraft, EVE Online, Spore, Mario Kart 64 and Adobe Photoshop all running in Adobe Flash player.[8] In May 2010, Gaikai demonstrated World of Warcraft running on the iPad using its game streaming technology.[9]

On February 27, 2011, Gaikai's technology officially launched in the United States and internationally with Dead Space 2, The Sims 3, Spore, and Mass Effect 2.[10]

The Gaikai Affiliate Network[11] was launched on June 2, 2011[12] and is expected to have 10 million monthly active users by fall 2011.[13] Websites who join the network are able to stream high-end PC games via embedded advertising, and in exchange receive a share of the marketing revenue generated from games streamed to consumers, who play the demos free of charge.[14]

Gaikai is currently available in 12 countries in North America and Europe and planned to be released in Asia.[15]

Partnerships

Investors

Gaikai is funded by Intel Capital, Limelight Networks, Rustic Canyon Partners, Benchmark Capital, TriplePoint Capital, NEA and Qualcomm.[24][25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "What is Gaikai?". http://www.gaikai.com/about#general. Retrieved 2011-05-10. 
  2. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.prod.gaikai.com/faq. Retrieved 2011-11-20. 
  3. ^ "Gaikai to add 10 million monthly active users by fall 2011". 2011-06-24. http://www.vg247.com/2011/06/24/gaikai-to-add-10-million-monthly-active-users-by-fall-2011/. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  4. ^ "Perry promises Gaikai on TVs by 2012". 2011-06-10. http://www.vg247.com/2011/06/10/perry-promises-gaikai-on-tvs-by-2012/. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  5. ^ Nelson, Randy (2010-03-11). "Gaikai will be fee-free, utilize 300 data centers in the US". Joystiq.com. http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/gaikai-will-be-fee-free-utilize-300-data-centers-in-the-us/. Retrieved 201-07-21. 
  6. ^ "Gaikai FAQ". http://www.gaikai.com/faq#general. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  7. ^ Nunnely, Stephany. "OnLive Subscription Service will Draw Customers to Gaikai, Says Perry". http://www.vg247.com/2010/03/16/onlive-subscription-service-will-draw-customers-to-gaikai-says-perry/. Retrieved 2010-03-29. 
  8. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2009-07-01). "David Perry Demos Gaikai Game Streaming". http://www.gamespot.com/mac/strategy/spore/news.html?sid=6212832. Retrieved 2010-03-29. 
  9. ^ Zimmerman, Conrad (2010-05-03). "World of Warcraft running on an iPad?". http://www.destructoid.com/world-of-warcraft-running-on-an-ipad--172689.phtml. Retrieved 2011-05-11. 
  10. ^ Perry, David (2011-02-27). "DPerry.com: Gaikai is Live!". http://www.dperry.com/archives/news/dp_blog/gaikai_is_live/. Retrieved 2011-03-07. 
  11. ^ "Gaikai Affiliate Network". http://www.gaikai.com/affiliates. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  12. ^ "Gaikai Affiliate Network Launches with ‘The Escapist’". 2011-06-02. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Gaikai-Affiliate-Network-bw-3070147868.html?x=0&.v=1. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  13. ^ "Gaikai to add 10 million monthly active users by fall 2011". 2011-06-24. http://www.vg247.com/2011/06/24/gaikai-to-add-10-million-monthly-active-users-by-fall-2011/. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  14. ^ "Gaikai Affiliate Network Launches with `The Escapist`". Reuters. 2011-06-02. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/02/idUS199218+02-Jun-2011+BW20110602/. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  15. ^ Hillier, Brenna (2011-07-01). "A flood from the stream: Gaikai’s boss on the turning tide". http://www.vg247.com/2011/07/01/a-flood-from-the-stream-gaikais-boss-on-the-turning-tide/. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  16. ^ Caoili,Eric (2010-06-17). "E3: Gaikai, EA Partner For Streaming PC Games". http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/29007/E3_Gaikai_EA_Partner_For_Streaming_PC_Games.php. Retrieved 2011-05-11. 
  17. ^ "Intel Capital and Limelight Networks Make Strategic Investments Into Gaikai". 2010-07-20. http://www.intel.com/pressroom/capital/pdfs/Intel_Gaikai_release.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-11. 
  18. ^ "Intel Capital and Limelight Networks Make Strategic Investments Into Gaikai". 2010-07-20. http://www.intel.com/pressroom/capital/pdfs/Intel_Gaikai_release.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-11. 
  19. ^ Takahashi,Dean (2011-04-05). "Bigfoot Networks allies with Gaikai to deliver super-fast game streaming". http://venturebeat.com/2011/04/05/bigfoot-networks-allies-with-gaikai-to-deliver-super-fast-game-streaming/. Retrieved 2011-05-10. 
  20. ^ "Gaikai Affiliate Network Launches with ‘The Escapist’". 2011-06-02. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/73074/Gaikai_Affiliate_Network_Launches_with_lsquoTheEscapistrsquo.php. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  21. ^ Purchese,Robert (2011-06-08). "Play games on Eurogamer using Gaikai". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-06-08-eurogamer-partners-with-gaikai. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  22. ^ Takahashi,Dean (2011-06-21). "Gaikai scores a whopper of a game distribution deal with Walmart.com". http://venturebeat.com/2011/06/21/gaikai-scores-a-whopper-of-a-game-distribution-deal-with-walmart-com-exclusive/. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  23. ^ Snider,Mike (2011-07-05). "Capcom teams up with cloud video game company Gaikai". USA Today. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2011/07/capcom-teams-up-with-cloud-video-game-company-gaikai/1?loc=interstitialskip. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  24. ^ "Gaikai Raises $10 Million For PC Games In The Browser". 2010-05-04. http://paidcontent.org/article/419-gaikai-raises-10-million-for-pc-games-in-the-browser/. Retrieved 2011-04-07. 
  25. ^ "Cloud-Based Game Streaming Service Gaikai Raises $30M From Qualcomm, NEA And Others". 2011-07-20. http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/20/cloud-based-game-streaming-service-gaikai-raises-30m-from-qualcomm-nea-and-others/. Retrieved 2011-07-29. 

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