Recently I obtained an Onlive Micro-console. If you don't know what it is, Onlive is an internet streamed method of playing video games - a very progressive area in home entertainment. There are few loadtimes, no need for installs and save storage is no longer an issue. Anyway, as the service saw it's launch here in the United Kingdom recently there had been a number of promotions ranging from £1 introductory games to the pre-order bonus that is the micro-console I am presenting in this blog. Wonder what game I preordered? It was Saints Row 3.

So firstly, the shipping. Although my Onlive console was technically free because of the Saints Row 3 pre-order, the shipping costs were not. It cost me £6 to have the machine sent however it was handled with care: the box was padded strongly with cardboard, with courier service courtesy of DPD. Needless to say, there was barely a dent even on the packaging and that says alot to me. As for the micro-console, it has some of the flashest packaging I've ever seen out of a gadget. The entire box has a glossy look, with the swirly patterns featuring a stronger matt finish. I like the look of it as it appears to be very elegant with it's simple yet affirmative design - much like the product itself.

The interior of this savvy device opens up like a shoebox. What you see above is simply the top half of the design as it pops up like so. Here we see the snuggly fit controller and console, and believe me, they're snuggly fit. Unfortunately they do have the same black reflective plastic that PS3 owners might be familiar with as smudge magnets and the photo might show that already as I smothered my greasy paws on the controller. It was worth it. As you can see, the console's logo makes a sleek cameo on the side again. Although I didn't take photos, underneath the board that fits the controller and console there are the cables necessary to hook the device up. I'm sure you'd imagine how they'd work anyway.

So the controller of the Onlive was the major draw to me when I purchased the console. You can actually plug-in a keyboard and mouse, aswell as an Xbox 360 controller into the Onlive console as far as I understand but given I already have a PC and an Xbox for both of these, I found it a little irrelevant - especially as I hate the Xbox controller. The Onlive controller is like a cross between Sony and Microsoft's designs. You can see that the face buttons bulge out like on the 360 controller however there are bumbers aswell as triggers for the shoulders. Despite this, the thumbstick layout is the same as on a Dualshock 3, as is the d-pad and the home button.

It's an ergonomic controller and I like how the joysticks warp like a radar dish because I dig my thumbs in easier this way. The triggers also don't feel like they trap as on Xbox 360, or squeak even, they simply click and have notably better pressure sensitivity to their design. The start, select buttons are small and out of the way, the guide button is also tiny and needs a good push before the switch is pressed - I prefer it this way too. I will say though the D-Pad is disappointingly stiff and the battery bulge, given this a wireless controller, it just as big as on the Xbox controller. Yet the Onlive Micro-Console includes both a rechargable controller pack AND a pair of batteries with a cover to give the option for the lighter, but less enduring option anyway. The media panel below I can only guess has use on videos via Onlive, which don't provide much aside from Gametrailers, atleast at present.

And finally the console itself. As you can see, it's compact, fairly lightweight although actually can get pretty warm when in action. It's best comparable to a media hub or external drive yet somehow more sophisticated. The photo was shot at an odd angle but you should be able to see that there a ethernet port, a HDMI slot, an Optical Out port, a 3.5 jack slot for the audio and another for the power cable - which, not surprisingly, has an external power brick. There is finally a tiny AV slot which I assume can be used if you want to play in composite or component. On the front, there are two USB slots which as suggested earlier can be used for anysort of controller supported by Onlive.

Well that's your lot. I only wanted to do a quick hands-on of what I got in the box. I can happily report that in 1080i, the device plays wonderfully with Deus Ex Human Revolution and I'm looking forward to playing Saints Row 3 when it is released for it. I may eventually subscribe to the playpack bundle but we'll see how it goes. As you can see in the photo above, I got Super Meat Boy. It's really good and it came with a T-Shirt too!

Until next time...

Oh, I almost forgot, see this game here?

It didn't cost me £100. It cost me £10

You look hard enough and you'll find rare games cheap anywhere.

Thanks for reading!

Loopy_101

Looking good.
Onlive has surprised me how well it works, best present I gave my little brother ever, since he has a horrible pc and now he can play all the games he want.

Wait, since when did these forums support emotes?

Did you just ad them in as pictures? That seems like an unneeded hassle.

@Management said:

Wait, since when did these forums support emotes?

Did you just ad them in as pictures? That seems like an unneeded hassle.

I copied & pasted the same blog from Gamespot. It carried them over it would seem.

Make a blog about how well it works in general :D

I've been wondering since the day I heard about it whether or not it works well.

Does anyone still have 56k and have to dial up through a phone line? Does that even still exist in the world? I wonder.

@CaLe said:

Does anyone still have 56k and have to dial up through a phone line? Does that even still exist in the world? I wonder.

Yes, yes it does.

Not saying I have it, but I did until a few years ago, and I know there are areas around here where you don't really have any other choice. Someone I know was just able to get DSL earlier this year, but even then the fastest he can get where he is at is like 1Mbps.

So...What is this? If I have a crummy computer I can play games like the Witcher 2 and stuff with OnLive? Or am I missing something here?

@Fizzy said:

So...What is this? If I have a crummy computer I can play games like the Witcher 2 and stuff with OnLive? Or am I missing something here?

Yes, that's the idea. Although the Micro-console works stand-alone.

@loopy_101 said:

@Fizzy said:

So...What is this? If I have a crummy computer I can play games like the Witcher 2 and stuff with OnLive? Or am I missing something here?

Yes, that's the idea. Although the Micro-console works stand-alone.

I want one! Do you know how much the actual console costs?

Micro will work with the Witcher 2 and stuff right?

@CaLe said:

Does anyone still have 56k and have to dial up through a phone line? Does that even still exist in the world? I wonder.

I think people should have a 'cellular internet warning", that's a little more modern.

@metalhead87 said:

@CaLe said:

Does anyone still have 56k and have to dial up through a phone line? Does that even still exist in the world? I wonder.

Yes, yes it does.

Not saying I have it, but I did until a few years ago, and I know there are areas around here where you don't really have any other choice. Someone I know was just able to get DSL earlier this year, but even then the fastest he can get where he is at is like 1Mbps.

My download speed is 52kb/s. My up is 30kb/s.

@Chavtheworld: I feel your pain. I think I would go insane if I had to go back to 56k.

@Fizzy said:

@loopy_101 said:

@Fizzy said:

So...What is this? If I have a crummy computer I can play games like the Witcher 2 and stuff with OnLive? Or am I missing something here?

Yes, that's the idea. Although the Micro-console works stand-alone.

I want one! Do you know how much the actual console costs?

Micro will work with the Witcher 2 and stuff right?

Normally alot more, I was fortunate to get mine for £6 following a pre-order promotion. It works with the entire library as I understand.

Hah, never seen the OnLive Controller before, looks like they took some of the PS3 controller and some of Xbox 360 controller and mashed it all together.

I didn't realize you could pre-order OnLive games- do they think they're going to run out of virtual copies? Weird.

@Fizzy: I've been using the service for about a year and love it. The key is having a good and consistent internet connection. The better the connection, the better the graphics. They're starting to get good titles now too, I've bought Warhammer 40k, AC:Brotherhood, AC:II, Red Faction; Guerrilla, Just Cause 2, Borderlands GOTY, Batman Arkham Asylum, and LOTR: War in the North and a couple of others in the last year. They've also got a monthly subscription with about 100 games ($10/month)...though most of the games are older (which may or maynot be a draw for you). You also get a 30% discount on any purchases if you subscribe to the monthly service.

The service has awesome deals, much like steam (sometimes games will be as low as $3, $5 or $10$). They also give good pre-order bonuses. I got my console for free when ordering Warhammer (I did have to pay $10 for shipping) and I got a free game for buying LOTR. I also got a $20 gift certificate because Warhammer's multiplayer was delayed. They usually have a $5 game every Friday.

The downsides: sometimes graphics aren't maxed out settings, and if your connection strength dips so does your graphics. If anything cuts your internet connection, you can't play. The games don't always get released at the same time as other platforms (for example Dead Island isn't going to be released on Onlive til mid October).

Overall its great if you don't own a console or a decent pc. I think it'd be a bit redundant if you owned those things.

@lazyturtle said:

@Fizzy: I've been using the service for about a year and love it. The key is having a good and consistent internet connection. The better the connection, the better the graphics. They're starting to get good titles now too, I've bought Warhammer 40k, AC:Brotherhood, AC:II, Red Faction; Guerrilla, Just Cause 2, Borderlands GOTY, Batman Arkham Asylum, and LOTR: War in the North and a couple of others in the last year. They've also got a monthly subscription with about 100 games ($10/month)...though most of the games are older (which may or maynot be a draw for you). You also get a 30% discount on any purchases if you subscribe to the monthly service.

The service has awesome deals, much like steam (sometimes games will be as low as $3, $5 or $10$). They also give good pre-order bonuses. I got my console for free when ordering Warhammer (I did have to pay $10 for shipping) and I got a free game for buying LOTR. I also got a $20 gift certificate because Warhammer's multiplayer was delayed. They usually have a $5 game every Friday.

The downsides: sometimes graphics aren't maxed out settings, and if your connection strength dips so does your graphics. If anything cuts your internet connection, you can't play. The games don't always get released at the same time as other platforms (for example Dead Island isn't going to be released on Onlive til mid October).

Overall its great if you don't own a console or a decent pc. I think it'd be a bit redundant if you owned those things.

Thanks for all the info, I'm hooked right up to my modem so, hopefully I won't have any connection troubles.

@loopy_101 said:

@Fizzy said:

@loopy_101 said:

@Fizzy said:

So...What is this? If I have a crummy computer I can play games like the Witcher 2 and stuff with OnLive? Or am I missing something here?

Yes, that's the idea. Although the Micro-console works stand-alone.

I want one! Do you know how much the actual console costs?

Micro will work with the Witcher 2 and stuff right?

Normally alot more, I was fortunate to get mine for £6 following a pre-order promotion. It works with the entire library as I understand.

Ah, alright. Thanks for the info.

I haven't seen anyone type "56k warning" in many years.

56k warning...I would have had to avoid this thread a few years ago.

That Super Meat Boy box looks cool.

Maybe not quite the in-depth look at the OnLive that I was looking for, but well written now the less. Good job!

I got DiRT 3 for £1 a couple days ago and onLive is GREAT!

I didn't know the micro-console was a pre-order or I might've done that.

I tried OnLive here in Canada on fairly bad internet and the delay and resolution were terrible. I would probably use it if I had faster internet.