bit-gamer.net

Onlive launches for tablets

Published on 8th December 2011 by Joe Martin

Onlive has today launched support for tablet devices today, including the Kindle Fire.

Cloud computing service Onlive has today launched official support for tablet devices, with free Android and iPad apps available in the UK today.

The Android version of the app supports Amazon's Kindle Fire in the US and will be available here as soon as that device hits UK shores.

We had a tinker with Onlive on both Android and iPad yesterday morning and can confirm that the apps include all Onlive's community and cloud-saving features, with some 25 games including new touch-based control schemes. The Onlive controller can also be used to play games on the tablet devices.

Launching alongside the tablet client is a new Onlive controller SKU - a standard Onlive wireless controller with new Bluetooth support for tablets and USB dongle for other devices - which costs £39.99.

Onlive says the tablet client is intended for use over WiFi (2MB connection is the minimum recommended) and points out that 3G networks won't provide smooth experience. In the US, however, 4G is supported.

A free version of Lego Batman, with new touchscreen controls that work pretty well, will be offered to all who download the tablet app.

BT, Onlive's main UK partner, has also got involved with the launch and is offering three months of access to the Onlive Playpack games-bundle for free when users register before January 31, 2012.

Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

34 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

NuTech 8th December 2011, 11:09

Good to see Onlive going in a direction that makes sense, rather than targeting PC gamers who already have... PCs.

Hopefully they'll expand their service to platforms like Roku, AppleTV, 'Internet-Enabled' TVs etc. Should allow them to tap into a whole audience that has never even considered PC gaming.

wuyanxu 8th December 2011, 11:19

+1 for apple tv, even a jailbroken app would be great, put it on Firecore's list, or NitoTV.

£40 for a controller is slightly overpriced isn't it? especially when it is only compatible with a single app.

javaman 8th December 2011, 11:20

downloaded this on the atrix ok. only problem is the screen is pink.

bigc90210 8th December 2011, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuTech
Good to see Onlive going in a direction that makes sense, rather than targeting PC gamers who already have... PCs.

Hopefully they'll expand their service to platforms like Roku, AppleTV, 'Internet-Enabled' TVs etc. Should allow them to tap into a whole audience that has never even considered PC gaming.

Thing is, if they're playing using a control pad, on a tablet, on a game that they cant mod/tweak etc, it doesn't really give a feeling of a PC experience. It will just feel like a mobile console. Still, it will be handy, just not very PC (IMO, pun completely intended)

Plews 8th December 2011, 12:42

I've been waiting for this for a good while... Can't see the app on the appstore for my iPad 2 or Galaxy Nexus though?

ChaosDefinesOrder 8th December 2011, 13:05

So where do we get the Onlive Android application from, then? It's not in the market as far as a search for "Onlive" goes...

ChaosDefinesOrder 8th December 2011, 13:08

Nevermind, here it is: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.onlive.client

Still doesn't show up on a search for Onlive, found it through the Onlive website.

Hg 8th December 2011, 13:17

i have downloaded the app for my android but cant download Batman for free?
Any ideas?

ChaosDefinesOrder 8th December 2011, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hg
i have downloaded the app for my android but cant download Batman for free?
Any ideas?

I found the same thing, even in the "optimised for touch" section of the marketplace

Hg 8th December 2011, 13:41

People are saying, you have to wait and Onlive will email you....

ChaosDefinesOrder 8th December 2011, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hg
People are saying, you have to wait and Onlive will email you....

Confirmed, the email has just appeared in my inbox!

TheKrumpet 8th December 2011, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuyanxu
£40 for a controller is slightly overpriced isn't it? especially when it is only compatible with a single app.

That's like saying "A PS3 pad is overpriced isn't it? Considering it will only work for one platform..."

Onlive has lots of games on it, and the pad can be used with all of them. It'll work with the tablets, it'll work with your PC, it'll work with the TV miniconsole.

Hg 8th December 2011, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaosDefinesOrder
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hg
People are saying, you have to wait and Onlive will email you....

Confirmed, the email has just appeared in my inbox!

Ditto \o/

Panomama 8th December 2011, 16:21

I've been using onlive since release in september.
Patiently waiting for it to be released on iOS (waiting on verification from apple)

scott_chegg 8th December 2011, 16:41

Installed and had a quick play on Lego Batman. Must say I'm impressed. Had a go on the PC when it was released and thought it was proper m'eh.

thehippoz 8th December 2011, 16:55

http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/wiisaddle1.jpg

http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/wiisaddle2.jpg

:D

Coltch 9th December 2011, 07:18

Lego Batman looked fine on my Sensation and played quite well on 3G (HSDPA)

Denis_iii 9th December 2011, 08:28

Onlive should partner with Steam, 5quid a month or so so that I can play my steam games via Onlive.

Orca 9th December 2011, 09:35

Was quite impressed with this on my phone, never tried Onlive before! Yeah the vid quality wasn't great but I was pretty much playing Dirt 3.... on my phone! Looking forward to seeing how it works on my iPad now :)

Marvin-HHGTTG 9th December 2011, 12:40

I was also impressed with it on my SGSII. Only complaint I'll have is the touch controls aren't all that intuitive in some games, and there's no remapping ability (Dirt 3 for instance - the throttle stays where you put it, and there's a separate button for brake, so quite a few times I went careering into a bend. This is solved somewhat by playing on casual, where the braking is done for you, but that's not quite as fun...).

On Lego Batman, I may well be dense, but how do you get past the bit where you first see a new suit? There's no way out!?

pickledliver 9th December 2011, 14:38

I wonder if the fact you can make purchases within the app on iPad will prevent it being approved, as no money will be going to apple?

Marvin-HHGTTG 9th December 2011, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickledliver
I wonder if the fact you can make purchases within the app on iPad will prevent it being approved, as no money will be going to apple?

Are there apps for things like Amazon on the iPhone? If so, this can't be the reason...

Panomama 9th December 2011, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickledliver
I wonder if the fact you can make purchases within the app on iPad will prevent it being approved, as no money will be going to apple?

That's the reason its not out for ios yet.
Apple have said that they want 30% of all sales (millions of pounds).
Onlive refused and so have disabled it, so you can't buy games through the app.

You can however, buy them via the website or through the PC/MC app.

Marvin-HHGTTG 9th December 2011, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panomama
That's the reason its not out for ios yet.
Apple have said that they want 30% of all sales (millions of pounds).
Onlive refused and so have disabled it, so you can't buy games through the app.

You can however, buy them via the website or through the PC/MC app.

Seriously? Holy ****.

Wonder if Onlive might make it Android only as a middle finger, or maybe take it to WP7 - surely Xbox Live integration would be a great idea on that platform...

scott_chegg 9th December 2011, 16:58

Had a 30 min preview of defense grid via onlive today. I love this game on PC and it translates to touch screen amazingly well. Very impressed!

NuTech 9th December 2011, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvin-HHGTTG
Seriously? Holy ****.

Wonder if Onlive might make it Android only as a middle finger, or maybe take it to WP7 - surely Xbox Live integration would be a great idea on that platform...

30% isn't as crazy as you might think. Most established platforms (Steam, Xbox Live Arcade, etc) take a similar cut (but are slightly more flexible).

Although, you could argue those platforms do a much better job curating and promoting content compared to Apple.

But, you could then counterpoint Apple have to deal with significantly more content.

I'll stop arguing with myself now.

spt 10th December 2011, 13:05

Lego batman is looking good on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 well recommended, thanks.

zpikez 10th December 2011, 13:30

I've been playing a few trials on my galaxy s 2, WOW! everything i thought about cloud based gaming i shall have to take back.

seismic2k 12th December 2011, 01:02

Really impressed with onlive on my Transformer and my galaxy nexus but really disappointed that i can't use my PS3 controller. I suppose they want me to spend my money on their controller instead

pickledliver 12th December 2011, 14:41

I've managed to get this working on an HTC Desire, by upgrading to android 2.3, with the files from the HTC developer page. You can find the install file by googling "com.onlive.client.apk". The menu's work ok, but there is a massive lag when playing a game. Having used the microconsole, and the PC app, I know this isn't normally the case, and like most people, was pleasantly surprised to see how well is works! It's not great when using a mouse, but the joypad is fine.

Starfighter 12th December 2011, 22:48

Quote:

Cloud computing service Onlive has today launched official support for tablet devices, with free Android and iPad apps available in the UK today.

*grumpyface* There is no ipad app available. Any chance of an article correction, before someone else loses 10 minutes of their life wondering why they can't find it?

Volund 12th December 2011, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starfighter
*grumpyface* There is no ipad app available. Any chance of an article correction, before someone else loses 10 minutes of their life wondering why they can't find it?

you could read the thread?

I'll be downloading it tonight to see if it is any better than the crap experience I had with them on my desktop.

sandys 13th December 2011, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by seismic2k
Really impressed with onlive on my Transformer and my galaxy nexus but really disappointed that i can't use my PS3 controller. I suppose they want me to spend my money on their controller instead

You should be able to use your PS3 controller if you set it up right, it should work the sameway I set up my Xperia Play

http://www.xperiablog.net/2011/12/09/onlive-hits-android-hack-makes-all-games-xperia-play-compatible-video/#more-3648

cebla 20th December 2011, 01:09

I would have thought playing games on online would add a noticeable lag to the controls, how are people finding it? I would also like to see a Video of this in action. I'm from Australia and I can't access onlive from here.