Cloud gaming

Not to be confused with Cloud (video game).

Cloud gaming, sometimes called gaming on demand, is a type of online gaming. Currently there are two main types of cloud gaming: cloud gaming based on video streaming and cloud gaming based on file streaming. Cloud gaming aims to provide end users friction-less and direct play-ability of games across various devices.

Types of cloud gaming

Cloud gaming is an umbrella term used to describe a form of online game distribution. The most common methods of cloud gaming currently are video (or pixel) streaming and file streaming.

Video streaming

"Cloud gaming", also called "gaming on demand", is a type of online gaming that allows direct and on-demand streaming of games onto computers, consoles and mobile devices, similar to video on demand, through the use of a thin client. The actual game is stored, executed, and rendered on the remote operator's or game company's server and the video results are streamed directly to a consumer's computers over the internet.[1] This allows access to games without the need of a console and largely makes the capability of the user's computer unimportant, as the server is the system that is running the processing needs.[2][3] The controls and button presses from the user are transmitted directly to the server, where they are recorded, and the server then sends back the game's response to the input controls.

Companies that use this type of cloud gaming include PlayGiga, CiiNOW, Ubitus, Playcast Media Systems, Gaikai and OnLive.

Gaming on demand is a game service which takes advantage of a broadband connection, large server clusters, encryption and compression to stream game content to a subscriber's device. Users can play games without downloading or installing the actual game. Game content isn't stored on the user's hard drive and game code execution occurs primarily at the server cluster, so the subscriber can use a less powerful computer to play the game than the game would normally require, since the server does all performance-intensive operations usually done by the end user's computer.[4][5] Most cloud gaming platforms are closed and proprietary; the first open source cloud gaming platform was not released until April, 2013.[6]

File streaming

Cloud gaming based on file streaming, also known as progressive downloading, deploys a thin client in which the actual game is run on the user's gaming device such as a mobile device, a PC or a console. A small part of a game, usually less than 5% of the total game size, is downloaded initially so that the gamer can start playing quickly. The remaining game content is downloaded to the end user's device while playing. This allows instant access to games with low bandwidth Internet connections without lag. The cloud is used for providing a scalable way of streaming the game content and big data analysis.

Cloud gaming based on file streaming requires a device that has the hardware capabilities to operate the game. Often, downloaded game content is stored on the end user's device where it is cached.

Companies that use this type of cloud gaming include Kalydo, Approxy and SpawnApps.

Cloud gaming providers

Active cloud gaming systems

Active cloud gaming services

Discontinued cloud gaming services

Recent developments

In 2000, G-cluster demonstrated cloud gaming technology at E3. The original offering was cloud gaming service over WiFi to handheld devices.

Video game developer Crytek began research on a cloud gaming system in 2005 for their game Crysis, but halted development in 2007 to wait until the infrastructure and cable Internet providers were up for the task.[9][10]

On November 18, 2010, SFR launched a commercial cloud gaming service on IPTV in France, powered by G-cluster technology.[11][12]

On March 10, 2010, OnLive officially launched. The OnLive Game Service then turned on in the US on June 17, 2010, at an initial monthly service fee of $4.95, plus the cost of games and the OnLive microconsole.[13][14] However, this fee was not to be applied for a year while OnLive worked out their business model and anyone who signed up during 2010 would not be charged until 2011 as well as have their account marked as a "founding member". Later, the fee was removed altogether as part of a review of this business model and as of October 2010, there are no plans to reintroduce this fee to simply use the service.

On February 27, 2011, Gaikai, which allows game publishers and others to embed free streaming gameplay trials on their web sites, launched its open beta with games from Electronic Arts including Dead Space 2, Mass Effect 2, and Sims 3.[15] Gaikai-enabled games can be embedded directly inside websites, on Facebook,[16] or on mobile devices[17] and IPTVs.[18] In spring 2011, Gaikai went live with multiple partnerships including Walmart and The Escapist, as well as announcing deals with Eurogamer and Capcom.[19] Gaikai-enabled games stream from within web browsers without requiring downloads, special plug-ins, or registration, and can be activated by clicking on an enabled advertisement or visiting a Gaikai-powered game destination.[20]

On March 10, 2011, Cloud Union, a Chinese cloud gaming company, launched cloud gaming services in China.

On April 28, 2011, Free, a French Internet service provider, launched "GameTree TV", a gaming on demand platform for the Freebox Revolution, its advanced IPTV set-top-box. The service is based on the GameTree TV platform by TransGaming Inc.

On September 8, 2011, Ubitus, a Taiwanese cloud computing company, launched G CLOUD service based on its product GameCloud, on NTT docomo LTE commercial network with NHN Japan collaboration. It was the world’s first commercial cloud gaming service on LTE network. It was also the world's first commercial cloud gaming service offering MMO and support in-app billing that integrates directly with telecommunication’s payment option. The service covered NTT docomo's Android tablets and smartphone devices.

In July 2012, Sony purchased the largest cloud gaming service provider, Gaikai, for US$ 380 million.[21]

In July 2012, Cloud Union's cloud gaming service subscribers exceeded 300,000.

In August 2012, Square Enix launched their Core Online games service, which offers free and advertising-supported access to some games from their catalog via a web browser. As of February 2013, there are four games available through the service: Hitman: Blood Money, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Mini Ninjas and Tomb Raider: Underworld.[22]

September 11, 2012 saw the launch of CiiNOW, a new cloud gaming platform. CiiNOW claims to have pioneered a new approach called hybrid streaming. Hybrid streaming consists of streaming graphics primitives as well as video simultaneously. It utilizes some processing on a client to achieve better quality at lower bandwidth.[23]

October 11, 2012, Orange launches commercial cloud gaming service to all of its IPTV subscribers in France powered by G-cluster technology.[24]

February 20, 2013, during the PlayStation 4 announcement, Sony revealed that it will use its new acquisition of Gaikai to power cloud gaming services for the PlayStation 4, with the eventual goal of making the entire PlayStation catalog available to stream.[25]

On April 17, 2013 the first open source cloud gaming system, GamingAnywhere,[6] was released. GamingAnywhere allows researchers to test their new ideas on a real testbed, service providers to build their services on top of it, and end users to set up game servers using their home workstations (and play anywhere, anytime).

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2013, Sony announced that PlayStation’s cloud gaming services will be available in the United States in 2014. The service will be powered by Gaikai and stream PlayStation 3 titles to owners of PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita.[26]

In September 2013, a research paper[27] presents a suite of measurement techniques to quantify the Quality of Service of cloud gaming systems. Conducting such measurements is not an easy task, because most commercial cloud gaming systems are closed and proprietary. Therefore, it is not possible to instrument the cloud gaming systems or install profiling tools on the servers/clients. The proposed measurement techniques are general and can be applied to any cloud gaming systems, so that researchers, users, and service providers may systematically quantify the Quality of Service of these systems.

History

See also

References

  1. ↑ Shea, Ryan; Jiangchuan Liu, Edith C.-H. Ngai, Yong Cui (July–August 2013). "Cloud Gaming: Architecture and Performance". IEEE Network: 16–21.
  2. ↑ "Exclusive: Does cloud gaming spell the end for consoles?". TechRadar. March 24, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Taking gaming into the 'cloud'". BBC News. June 9, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  4. ↑ Beaumont, Claudine (June 18, 2010). "OnLive launches cloud-based gaming service". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  5. ↑ Crowther, Joe (June 17, 2010). "OnLive launch cloud gaming platform". Metro. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "GamingAnywhere -- An Open Source Cloud Gaming System". April 17, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  7. ↑ GamingAnywhere License
  8. ↑ (Turkish) Sony tarafından satın alınan OnLive hizmetlerine 30 Nisan’da son veriyor
  9. ↑ "Crytek was way ahead of OnLive". That VideoGame Blog. April 2, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  10. ↑ Dobra, Andrei (April 27, 2009). "Crytek Attempted Cloud Gaming Way Before OnLive". Softpedia. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Accueil Jeux vidéo". Jeux-tv.sfr.fr. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  12. ↑ "Reportage : SFR dévoile son service de jeux vidéo "cloud gaming" sur Neufbox". Clubic.com. 2010-10-20. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  13. ↑ Perlman, Steve (2010-03-10). "OnLive: Coming to a Screen Near You". OnLive.com. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  14. ↑ Shiels, Maggie (2010-03-11). "'Console killer' OnLive to launch in June". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  15. ↑ "Gaikai cloud gaming service goes live". February 27, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Gaikai to add 10 million monthly active users by fall 2011". June 24, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  17. ↑ Zimmerman, Conrad (May 3, 2010). "World of Warcraft running on an iPad?". Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Perry promises Gaikai on TVs by 2012". June 10, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  19. ↑ Snider,Mike (July 5, 2011). "Capcom teams up with cloud video game company Gaikai". USA Today. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  20. ↑ "What is Gaikai?". Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Sony acquires cloud gaming service Gaikai for $380m". The Times Of India. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  22. ↑ Core Online help.
  23. ↑ Shereshevsky, Ilya. "Consultant". Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  24. ↑ Business Wire (2012-10-08). "G-cluster Global and Orange Group Strike Cloud Gaming Partnership". Business Wire. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  25. ↑ SlashGear (2013-02-20). "G-cluster Global and Orange Group Strike Cloud Gaming Partnership". Business Wire. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  26. ↑ "Sony Computer Entertainment America Unveils Playstation 4 System". 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  27. ↑ "On the Quality of Service of Cloud Gaming Systems". September 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  28. ↑ "KID provide Trial play of "Remember11" with G-Cluster Technology".
  29. ↑ "Club iT and Alcatel Bring G-Cluster Gaming-on-Demand to Cyprus Telecommunications Authority Interactive TV Service As Part of Alcatel’s Open Media Platform".
  30. ↑ "Amino Unveils G-cluster Streaming Games Service in HD". March 20, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  31. ↑ "GDC: OnLive Announces Cloud-Based Gaming Service". March 24, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  32. ↑ "GDC: OnLive rival Gaikai cloud gaming device announced by David Perry". April 6, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Meo Jogos". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Jeux à la Demande TV". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  35. ↑ "Welcome to OnLive!". June 15, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  36. ↑ "World’s First Commercial LTE Cloud Gaming Service: Ubitus and NHN Japan bundles "G CLOUD" into NTT DOCOMO Android Tablet". September 8, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  37. ↑ "NHN JAPAN Announced to Include G-CLOUD Service in Dragon Nest". September 19, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  38. ↑ "Gaikai cloud gaming service goes live". February 27, 2011. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  39. ↑ "itsmy launches 'play anywhere' cloud gaming". March 14, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  40. ↑ "Big Fish Games Launched Big Fish Unlimited Cloud Gaming Service". July 26, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  41. ↑ "LG U+ Launched C-games Cloud Gaming Service in South Korea Powered by Ubitus and NVIDIA Geforce GRID". July 30, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Ubitus Launched the GameNow Cloud Gaming Service in the US with Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Customers Having First Access". Nov 3, 2012. Retrieved Nov 4, 2012.
  43. ↑ "The Rise of Cloud Gaming". Dec 20, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  44. ↑ "Google TV getting Ubitus support, promising 'console and MMO' quality gaming". Jan 7, 2013.
  45. ↑ "Ubitus Powers LG U+ C-Games Cloud Gaming Service on Google TV Set-Top Box". Jun 19, 2013.
  46. ↑ "Ubitus and one2free Join Forces to Bring the First Commercial LTE Cloud Gaming Service to Hong Kong". Jan 8, 2012.
  47. ↑ "Dragon Quest X Comes to NTT Docomo's dGame Using Ubitus Mobile Cloud Gaming Technology". Sep 30, 2013.
  48. ↑ "LG Uplus Teams Up with Ubitus to Launch Winning Eleven 2014 over the Cloud". Oct 7, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Gaikai streaming coming to PS4 and PS3 in 2014". Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  50. ↑ Pereira, Chris (July 8, 2014). "Dragon Quest X Uses Streaming Tech to Come to 3DS in Japan: The 3DS MMO will require you to be online in order to play". Retrieved 2015-02-24.

External links