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Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service

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Re: Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service

#153
post #19

Can I buy just the controller? Sure does seem the PS4 controller is about the best out there for most gaming, and I've been hesitant to buy anything else. This controller seems just as well made.

Have you tried the Xbox One controller? Hands-down the most comfortable and most well-engineered controller I've ever used.

They're both great.

Re: Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service

#154

Google is also launching a new Stadia Controller that [...] will work with the Stadia service by connecting directly through Wi-Fi to link it to a game session in the cloud. This will presumably help with latency and moving a game from one device to another. Sounds like a horrible design choice. My controller now needs to be wifi connected, so I can instantly change my game session from my phone to my TV? Focusing on…

"so I can instantly change my game session from my phone to my TV?"

Clearly the latency advantage is the main benefit. Just as stated in the quote you used. Can you explain why that is a horrible design choice?

Re: Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service

#155
post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just FYI, but no one outside the tech scene knows about Google's reputation for dropping support of their products or their eroded reputation in regards to do no evil. I have tried talking to people about it and they really just don't give a shit. Also Microsoft or Sony weren't companies known for gaming when they entered this space and now they are the leaders.

Gamers do. Sony entered at the right moment with the right tech, MS was at their peak when they started xbox.

More specifically, Microsoft was losing billions of dollars per year on the xbox early on.

Re: Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service

#156
post #123

And the games will run on Linux using Vulkan. I find that pretty awesome.

But its a custom AMD GPU. I wonder how much will make it back to trunk.

Vulkan is an open API. Sure it's not Ubuntu on commodity hardware, but it's closer than Windows.

Re: Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service

#157

So, who wants to make a bet on how long this "experiment" will last? I'm thinking 2 years before Google gets tired of it and abandons it, and another year before it's taken behind the shed.

It was only a matter of time before this tired and predictable comment appeared. I'm surprised he didn't mention his withdrawal symptoms from the shutdown of Google Reader which he probably never used.

As for your bet, I'll take it. Let's say $100 USD?

Re: Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service

#158
post #11

The computer scientist in me is giddy with excitement. If it is as good as it sounds, we are in a new age of gaming. Kudos Google.

So, I work in the games industry and I don't think this will be successful. This has been tried before (multiple times), gamers haven't wanted streaming services. PC gamers already have Steam and this doesn't offer anything compelling over using Steam, and more casual gamers are playing on Ps4 or Switch or mobile. Also, the hardcore PC gamers are never going to accept the latency associated with playing on remote ser…

> this doesn't offer anything compelling over using Steam

- drastically lower power requirements

- no worries about hardware refreshes

- no waiting to download a 50gb game

- can play anywhere (steam link is getting there, but it's not as easy as opening a new chrome tab)

> hardcore PC gamers are never going to accept the latency

cool, they don't have to.

Re: Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service

#159
post #72
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Internet speeds in North America have greatly increased since the OnLive launched. I suspect that Google will have better infrastructure than OnLive, and that their customers will have better Internet.

Speed is not the (main) problem. It's latency and jitter. With the last one especially bad on mobile networks. To get at most 1ms of additional delay you also need a datacenter every 300 km.

Google operates tiny little datacenters in every ISP POP in America. That is why the video I just watched on Youtube in Oakland came from some place 2ms away even though Google's nearest real datacenter is in Oregon.

Re: Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service

#160

Rewrote this a few times. Overall I think this would be really bad for the gaming world. Not buying consoles would be nice, but the natural business model will be ads or pay per hour or pay per MB. This is going to further drive the industry to towards mass multiplayer and grindy games I think. More accessible but worse content. Indie shops would probably struggle even more under this model. The cost per user will va…

There's the major difference that you can't "pirate" a single-player game that is only available remotely, and that you can access such games remotely from any hardware.

So it could result in a renaissance of the classic AAA 3D single-player games, perhaps.

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