Quote Originally Posted by Crandaeolon View Post
This would indeed be retarded, which is why the subscription has to be a flat fee and less than around 20 bucks a month - otherwise people will just buy hardware. I'd guess around $15-$20 a month for the service, normal one-time fees for games just like any other digital distribution, and rental fees comparable to existing rental services.



I don't see why indie game devs would be harmed by any form of piracy-free digital distribution, quite the contrary. Also, PC hardware will undoubtedly be around in some form, there's just less need to be at the cutting edge - hardly a problem for indie devs, since indie games tend to require less power.

But about mods, that argument I'll buy. Modding would certainly be complicated if not impossible.

I don't think Onlive, even if it works perfectly (very unlikely), will monopolize gaming. I'd see it more of an alternative to consoles and a platform to play AAA titles and multiplayer games.
$20 a month for games I have already paid for? I will not pay for the right to keep my own property, that I bought with money earned from my own hard labour. If I buy something, I expect to be able to keep it. If you are going to rent something to someone, then make them pay rent. If you are going sell something to someone, make them pay a price for it. You don't rent something to someone and make them do both. I personally won't pay for rented games at all. (not that I think there is anything necassarily wrong with games like WoW or other subscription fee based games, but that I have better things to spend my money on and quite enough bills as it is)
As for harming Indie gamers, I said it would make them impossible IF this takes gaming over (as the thread suggests), because then most people probably would not have the highspeed computers needed for gaming. Either way it will harm them though. If people start relying on games from OnLive, they will be used to the perfect performance (IF it come through like it is supposed to and IF they have a good connection), and not want to clutter up their computer with small indie games and rely on their computer to play them (no doubt with worse performance for most people than they will get with OnLive). Also, it will probably allow game developers to take quite a few steps forward in graphics development, as the computers used on OnLive will probably be capable of handling a lot more, and it will make life very hard for Indie developers who have to make their games for the common person's hardware. Also, if this is to be where the common person looks to find games (instead of the internet where most do now), they will completely miss Indie games and Indie devs will have very little chance of expanding their audience. It may not kill Indie games, but it will do it anything but good.
I say again, it is BS.