GameStop acquired Spawn Labs earlier this year, taking a step toward offering something similar to the cloud-based game streaming that you get with OnLive. Now the company is putting its new purchase to work, with a recently launched beta for a game streaming service that is planned for a mid-2012 launch.
The unusual thing about the GameStop offering compared to a service like OnLive is its ability to stream content to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles as well as PCs. Actually, it's not entirely clear if content can stream TO your console; the gamesindustry.biz report simply notes that GameStop "is working with publishers to stream console games to smart devices."
The video game retailer's president, Tony Bartel, revealed that a beta is now underway, based out of a data center in Austin, Texas. "We continue to get positive feedback from our publishing partners about the pro-console, low-investment model that we have chosen," he said.
The closed beta will reportedly open up to a national audience before the end of this year. More specific details on the service will be coming in early 2012 and launch is expected to follow sometime during the first half of the year.
PowerUp Rewards members will get access to the Spawn client, which includes a demo element that "will not require publishers to modify their games." Which probably means you can play any game you want (or perhaps just select games) from the beginning for a set amount of time, just like OnLive offers.
"We're also experimenting with PC game delivery as well, but we can take that to any Internet-connected device including TV," Bartel said. "So clearly, it's part of our acquisition forethought. We anticipated being involved in smart TVs as well."
source
The unusual thing about the GameStop offering compared to a service like OnLive is its ability to stream content to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles as well as PCs. Actually, it's not entirely clear if content can stream TO your console; the gamesindustry.biz report simply notes that GameStop "is working with publishers to stream console games to smart devices."
The video game retailer's president, Tony Bartel, revealed that a beta is now underway, based out of a data center in Austin, Texas. "We continue to get positive feedback from our publishing partners about the pro-console, low-investment model that we have chosen," he said.
The closed beta will reportedly open up to a national audience before the end of this year. More specific details on the service will be coming in early 2012 and launch is expected to follow sometime during the first half of the year.
PowerUp Rewards members will get access to the Spawn client, which includes a demo element that "will not require publishers to modify their games." Which probably means you can play any game you want (or perhaps just select games) from the beginning for a set amount of time, just like OnLive offers.
"We're also experimenting with PC game delivery as well, but we can take that to any Internet-connected device including TV," Bartel said. "So clearly, it's part of our acquisition forethought. We anticipated being involved in smart TVs as well."
source
