OnLive: The PS Vita killer

I’ve said before that OnLive is the next big gaming platform. While I'm currently not amazed at its games portfolio or the video quality, I do think they’ve nailed everything else.

OnLive recently broke new ground by releasing the first cloud gaming app for mobile devices. So now, in theory, you can play hi-definition games on the move, a bit like the PS Vita...

I downloaded the free Android app and tried it down the pub. Wow I'm playing smash tennis and it looks amazing! I’m running an Android Samsung Galaxy S2 with an all-you-can-eat data plan from Three. Finally, I’m starting to actually utilise my data plan and get a full strength HSDPA signal at the same time!

Not all games are available for the mobile version, but this is a case of controller overload. The sheer number of buttons needed for a lot of console games is ergonomically not feasible on a touchscreen. Nor do they translate well from joystick to capacitive touch.

For the most part, OnLive mobile works best on a tablet in a Wifi network, but it does work without dropouts on a reliable 3G (HSDPA) network – which is an amazing testament to the quality of OnLive’s data compression technologies. It is proof in concept that hi-definition mobile gaming is just around the corner from the mainstream.

So forget Sony’s PS Vita (what a waste of money): buy one good phone on one good network and get OnLive instead. Your investment will pay dividends. Just hold off rushing to buy your new phone until the release of 4G LTE in the UK. Once the faster mobile networks appear, the experience will be reliable enough to truly take on the road.

The reasons to go use OnLive continue gather pace as the PS Vita’s high price tag continues to discourage buyers. With OnLive, you can pick up at home where you left off when you were out and about.

There’s a synergy between all your devices using OnLive; even the interface is the same. I suspect by the time 4G reaches the UK OnLive will have a larger list of games and maybe better quality video. Armed with this and the support for peripherals through wireless, the OnLive service will kill off consoles for good.

Get it now and you can tell your future kids you were there when it all went off.