OnLive launches games-on-demand beta
Consumers invited to test ambitious service due for release later this year
OnLive has opened a beta test, inviting US users to sign up on its website to test the games-on-demand service, due to launch later this year.
One of the key challenges the OnLive technology will address is offering a consistently high quality experience to a range of different speed broadband services and PC and Mac configurations, the company stated in a website post.
As such, the beta will allow it to test out as many of these different situations as possible.
Potential testers are asked to sign up for the OnLive beta entering specific details about ISPs, computer, configuration and location. Potential fits for the test will then be sent an invitation email to conduct a performance test then slotted into a test group.
"Beta is an awesome milestone for OnLive, capping many years of work. We're really looking forward to hearing what you think," reads the post by OnLine founder and CEO Steve Perlman.
Perlman has said the cloud games technology, announced at GDC in March this year, has been in the making for seven years. Once released, it will allow consumers signed up to a monthly subscription to stream games directly to their computer or TV with no large installs or discs.
Up until now, OnLive has only been tested through internal betas. The closed beta launch marks the first time it will be put to the test on a mass scale. OnLive's biggest rival, Gaikai, plans to launch its US beta shortly, although a date for it is yet to be confirmed.