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BrutusMaximus

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 26, 2011
66
1
A friend turned me to the website, just curious if anyone has used and what the video quality is like versus the retail version of the game?
 
Unless you're using a wired connection, the picture will be awful. And that is why I stopped using OnLive shortly after getting it
 
my iMac is right next to my modem, which is hooked to my airport extreme. i could run a wire it into the iMac no problem.

My point is though, say for a game that's available on steam for windows, is it a worthy solution to not have to re-boot every time to play said game
 
It's okay, you won't have as good graphics as in Windows if you have the latest iMac but if it's a few years old I don't think you'll see much of a difference and as long as you have a 8MB+ stable connection dedicated to only this, it should be okay.
 
Garbage I say. It's just not a good alternative. But then again I like to get the best out of my games.

Do they still delete your account if you don't log in for a certain length of time (can't remember how long it was, 12 months maybe)? That bit alone is why I could never use OnLive even with the compressed images and lag.
 
I tried it when it first came out and liked it well enough. The only way I would consider this a good deal is if you have very fast internet and a terrible graphics card. (Which was my case. It was incredible to see games at high quality on my 2007 MacBook.)

I didn't actually buy anything because at the time you didn't really own the games you bought, you just got access to play them on OnLive. That may have changed in the past few months however. I haven't kept up with the situation, and I built a new computer for gaming anyway.
 
A friend turned me to the website, just curious if anyone has used and what the video quality is like versus the retail version of the game?

The service is available using the OnLive Game System, PCs running Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista, 7) and Intel-based Macs with OS X 10.5.8 or later. A low-end computer, as long as it can play video, may be used to play any kind of game since the game is computed on the OnLive server. For that reason, the service is being seen as a competitor for the console market.All games on the service are available in 720p format. OnLive recommends an Internet connection of 5 Mbit/s.
 
It has potential in the future of over the air thing. however, not quiet there yet. I wish Apple was working on a next gaming console so it can innovated in that category and outselling xbox 360 and ps3! iConsole everyone?
 
depends on the person. I would just not play a game before I had to run Windows to do it... but OnLive would be a last resort. Its a decent idea and in the future I'm sure there will be several OnLive type services out there.
 
yea, i'm very skeptical of the whole service. i know my connection can handle it. its a shame that the game i want to play, borderlands, its on sale through steam for 7.50 ( game of the year edition ), 5 bucks on OnLive, and still 30 bucks through the app store. I'd much rather play in OSX than reboot into windows all the damn time....i guess it's time to look into a Fuse or Parallels.
 
onlive is really only useful for slow computers with fast connections... and mainly to play games that require Windows, so you don't need it. If its a game native on the Mac and your Mac can handle it... OnLive is just plain terrible.

If you want to game on OSX... Choose a native game if available... if you really have to play a Windows game... there are options. Below are how I'd rate them from best to worst, but opinions may vary.

1. Port the game yourself using Wineskin. Takes some learning and can be anywhere from easy to difficult... its a case by case basis. Minor to major performance hit... also a case by case basis, but usually if you get a game working decently, its pretty minor... and its totally free to use.

2. Use Crossover Games. Pretty much the same tech as Wineskin, but doesn't actually make the game its own Mac app.. it runs through Crossover, but its made for being a bit more user friendly and supported... Around the same performance as Wineskin.

3. Use Parallels or VMWare Fusion to run Windows in a Virtual Machine. You have to buy the software, and buy Windows and run a whole install of Windows. This has the least compatibility problems and you just use Windows mostly like normal, so its pretty easy. The problem is that the graphics part will take a MAJOR performance hit... and it really bogs down your whole machine.

4. Use Bootcamp to install a full version of Windows dual boot. Then you basically have a normal Windows PC... major draw backs is .. its a Windows PC now, and when your booted into Windows... you have to treat it like any other Windows machines... same +s and -s, and you cannot run OSX at the same time... meaning any multitasking you want to do all has to be done only with Windows software.
 
I Just tried it out and im unsure if i was on american servers or what! It doesnt launch here in the UK until 22nd sept, so i went to the site to sign up. Did so, then was taken to the normal onlive site, signed up again, logged in and started using it, played a little bit of The Ball.

Anyway went back to onlive.co.uk to sign only to find i cant sign in at all only register, so was I playing on US servers? is there a way to find out?
 
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