Gamestop To Unveil Streaming Game Service in 2012

[Damaramu]

GameStop's console game streaming in early beta

US retailer GameStop is currently beta testing the streaming of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 games, with a plan to roll-out a consumer service by the middle of next year.

Earlier this year the company bought Spawn Labs, extending its peer-to-peer game streaming service into a cloud gaming offering, and promised "a wide selection of high-definition video games on demand on any internet-enabled device."

Yesterday it revealed that as well as PC game streaming, it is working with publishers to stream console games to smart devices as well as dedicated hardware via the Spawn software client.

"Spawn recently began its first beta and is currently live, testing the streaming of Xbox 360, PS3 and PC games from a data centre in Austin, Texas," confirmed GameStop president Tony Bartel.

The beauty of Spawn is it can take a very large assortment of games. There's really no restriction versus an Xbox 360 and PS3 game.

"We continue to get positive feedback from our publishing partners about the pro-console, low-investment model that we have chosen."

The closed beta will go national before the end of the year. At the beginning of 2012 GameStop is expected to reveal more details about the service and what it offers, along with a pricing model - and a nationwide launch is currently scheduled for the first half of 2012.

The Spawn client will be offered to GameStop's PowerUp Rewards members - currently 12 million customers - and feature a demo service which it's claimed will not require publishers to modify their games.

Cloud gaming technology from Gaikai and OnLive is already proving a viable business, offering PC games and demos over the internet with very little in the way of dedicated hardware beyond the right control method.

Behind closed doors these technologies have also shown format crossover such as World of Warcraft running on an iPad or console and full PC games launching from within Facebook.

And with the growth of Smart and connected TVs, both Gaikai and OnLive are dropping their technology directly into the hardware and consulting on dedicated controllers, taking streaming games straight to the consumer's living room - an area that GameStop is also interested in.

"Those conversations are taking place today," offered Bartel. "There's a whole cadre of services that GameStop can offer far beyond just Spawn. The beauty of Spawn is it can take a very large assortment of games. There's really no restriction versus an Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game.

"We're also experimenting with PC game delivery as well, but we can take that to any Internet-connected device including TV. So clearly, it's part of our acquisition forethought. We anticipated being involved in smart TVs as well."

Source (http://%22http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-08-19-gamestops-console-game-streaming-in-early-beta)

[Berserker]

They can see the writing on the wall. Once modern games move into the clouds, this is going to be their only hope for survival.

Kind of interesting to think that we may eventually live in a world where the only brick and mortar gaming stores still standing will be the ones who deal in classics.

[Oobgarm]

I'd be behind this as a rental or demo service.

But until games are fully gone from retail, I will still be buying a physical product.

[MobilityRed]

I definitely think all gaming will eventually be cloud-based. However, many Americans still lack high-speed Internet, the so called Digital Divide. In addition, the prospect of metered-billing seems possible. If this happens, it will be a major blow to streaming services.

[Damaramu]

^Same here.

However, the idea of playing something like Battlefield 3 at it's highest settings without actually owning a monster PC is appealing.

[Icarus Moonsight]

They can see the writing on the wall.

"In A.D. 2011... War was beginning."
"You have no choice to survive make your time."

Their ideal customers are pretty much long term renters anyway. Hollywood and Blockbuster... Yeah, launch every Zig. Do it naow!


However, the idea of playing something like Battlefield 3 at it's highest settings without actually owning a monster PC is appealing.

Very true.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I definitely think all gaming will eventually be cloud-based. However, many Americans still lack high-speed Internet, the so called Digital Divide. In addition, the prospect of metered-billing seems possible. If this happens, it will be a major blow to streaming services.

The companies are too cheap to install the hardware needed to give everyone proper broadband, and they're too eager to charge people for the data they download.

Broadband has no future in the US because of this - unless someone fixes this with laws or something.

[duffmanth]

They're still not getting my money, over priced dipshits.

[Lucifersam1]

Good points; that is the crux of the matter. ISPs are frothing at the mouth for our money, and would love to charge per gigabyte. I've read that they are already limiting bandwidth, and charging extra. So here is the problem: if you download/stream hi-def porn, full 1080P movies, music, and play video games via the Internet (in hi-def), you could easily knock out 200GB/month of data. How much will that cost? In a lot of markets it is only a monthly charge now, but I am sure that will change (good business...)

As you pointed out, the infrastructure is not there. Once we move everything to the "cloud" (Gosh, I hate buzz words!!! Digital natives, 21st Century Learners, et cetera!), we are at the pricing whims of the ISPs. We will depend on them considerably.

I am not averse to utilizing the "cloud", but I personally prefer something tangible. Plus, the thought of the ISPs controlling everything is scary. First the banks, now this!



The companies are too cheap to install the hardware needed to give everyone proper broadband, and they're too eager to charge people for the data they download.

Broadband has no future in the US because of this - unless someone fixes this with laws or something.

[maxlords]

Think even more simplistic. How well is the Gamestop corporation run? Let's be honest....do you really think they can properly manage a large streaming based system nationally without fucking it up to begin with? They're doomed.

[Flashback2012]

The companies are too cheap to install the hardware needed to give everyone proper broadband, and they're too eager to charge people for the data they download.

Broadband has no future in the US because of this - unless someone fixes this with laws or something.

I agree. The cost in cabling and network infrastructure alone would cost billions if not trillions of dollars. The huge telecoms like AT&T and Verizon aren't interested in spending if they don't have to and even if they had to, they'd find a way to pass it off to the consumer rather than dip into their own funds. You're right in that it would take legislation and regulation to force something like that to happen but even then we'd be so bogged down with bureaucratic red tape that it would/has taken forever to get any progress implemented. I imagine that's why companies have been shifting more to wireless and upgrading things with 3G and now 4G over replacing copper lines with fiber optic ones. :|


Think even more simplistic. How well is the Gamestop corporation run? Let's be honest....do you really think they can properly manage a large streaming based system nationally without fucking it up to begin with? They're doomed.

I know from personal experience that GS management is fickle and wishy-washy in their decision making. :ass: Count me as someone who doesn't have much faith in their management to pull this off properly.

[Damaramu]

After cancelling my cable TV services and going Netflix streaming only, I had to switch my internet services over to Business class instead of using residential. Thanks to Comcast's 250 gb bandwidth cap, simply streaming content a few hours every night put us nearly over their limit. And I've heard horror stories of Comcast punishing customers who are "repeat offenders" in regards to exceeding that bandwidth cap, like this guy (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/07/seattle-comcast/).

It's quite sad that we allowed corporations to put a strangle hold on broadband services here in the States. Compared to European countries, China, South Korea, etc.; we've been neutered to the point of absurdity - especially considering what the average North American pays vs. what they're getting.

It's downright criminal. :shameful:

[The 1 2 P]

Broadband has no future in the US because of this - unless someone fixes this with laws or something.

They should just do what they did for digital tv by getting rid of pretty much all analog signals. They should make a cut off point where all ISP's have to offer broadband as the lowest tier and that the people who aren't currently paying for it only get a small modest raise in their monthly fee. Beyond that, I agree that it will never fully catch on in the US. Theres just way too many people who either don't use the internet at all(older generations) or use the bare minimum to check emails and nothing more.

As for this service specifically, I'm wondering how decent these games will stream on the lower broadband tiers. I would love to get in on the beta to try it out for myself.

[Kitsune Sniper]

And then the companies would sue the government for forcing them to upgrade their infrastructure and we'd be stalled for years while the lawsuit is cleared.

That's the American Way (TM).

[Icarus Moonsight]

I want my, I want my, I want my ISP.

[portnoyd]

Way to stay on top of trends, Gamestop.

[c0ldb33r]

I use Onlive regularly and love it.

With Onlive, you can easily get great quality service with a 6 mbps connection.

My concern is that it doesn't work terribly well over wifi, which I expect is how most gamers connect their ps3/xbox 360 to the internet.

Maybe they'll figure something out, who knows.

[stargate]

I would just be worried that, with no physical media, there will be no way to collect long term. I mean, what if I download 50 games and then my console craps out on me? There may be some solution offered by the company to redownload the games, but certainly not 5 or 10 years after purchase. There is something to be said for having the actual game... and box... and manual in hand and being able to store it as I see fit.

Plus this would effectively be the end of reselling and trading as we know it.

[Robocop2]

I would just be worried that, with no physical media, there will be no way to collect long term. I mean, what if I download 50 games and then my console craps out on me? There may be some solution offered by the company to redownload the games, but certainly not 5 or 10 years after purchase. There is something to be said for having the actual game... and box... and manual in hand and being able to store it as I see fit.

Plus this would effectively be the end of reselling and trading as we know it.

I doubt that any of this comes into play in their decision making process unfortunately. Except the last part which the way most companies think; makes it a good thing.

[stargate]

I doubt that any of this comes into play in their decision making process unfortunately. Except the last part which the way most companies think; makes it a good thing.

Agreed.

Yes, it appears that this will, in fact, be the future of gaming whether we like it or not. On one hand, I do like having all my games readily accessible on my system without having to load CD's, but they better come up with some way to easily store these things, like being able to burn to DVD or whatever. I also hope they lower the prices seeing as they do not have to spend money on packaging or distribution. Wishful thinking, I suppose, but the consumers do make the final call in the end based on what we are willing to spend our money on.