Earlier this week THQ told the world they “don’t really have much sympathy” for those who buy pre-owned games and now they want to get rid of consoles altogether.
“I am a huge believer in the concept of Cloud computing – huge,” said THQ boss Brian Farrell, “The concept of lowering the entry barrier to consumers for gamers to get into our games by not having to shell out for the hardware is a tremendous potential opportunity.”
“Why do we need a $1,000 [console]… that’s what these boxes [or] consoles actually cost the manufacturers to make. Why do we need that computing power?”
The are many benefits of cloud gaming for publishers including zero piracy and no pre-owned market. For consumers the view is less rosy – no Internet connection means no gaming and you will only ever be renting the game, once your subscription ends you lose all rights to the games.
Source: GamesIndustryTV
CircleOfFire
I honestly see only a small advantage to consumers with cloud computing, with massive question marks around things like latency and picture and sound quality. Plus as mentioned if you’re internet connection is problematic, no games for you.
Bilbo_bobbins
Also, he says they cost money. Does having a fast/good computer cost nothing then? Does paying for monthly subscriptions cost nothing too?
Alot of people also like to have a physical game in there hands. The idea is great for developers, as it will cost them a lot less money, but for customers it’s a different thing.
Anyway I think these guys are complete morons. Death to THQ !
beeje13
yes death to THQ, things go both ways.
Just because they were’nt profitable this year they blame US! So it’s not their sub standard games?
DrNate86
What will you play the game on though, something must have to be able to run it still, even if it is streaming? I doubt this will happen for a long time, if ever, as it has too many setbacks.
Rocket_345
That confused me aswell.
AG2297
You actually watch a video stream of it I believe, and your controls feed back to their machine which is actually running the game. Obviously it would all be doen instantly and in high definition, well in an ideal world anyway. I doubt very much it will work very well with the current internet structure in the UK.
heedbaw
Through a PC or set top box. So it’s a bit misleading as you still need some kind of hardware to play. The benefit to the publisher is that they can cut out physical distribution of their games.
MrTwP
THQ wont be around when Cloud computing are…
MrTwP
Is ;)
scavenga
Hope THQ won’t be around when Cloud computing still isn’t also.
gazo69
Don’t publisher’s make enough money from selling the game new anyway?
colossalblue
Do you want £40 for that product or shall I pay you £10 per month for the next year?
Publishers make plenty of money (if they get the mix right) but they always want a bit more.
gazo69
While i was typing that comment all i could think was greedy so n so’s, well worded a bit different that but you get my drift :)
icuyesido
I would rather download a game than using Cloud computing, I just like the reassurance that it’s there, it will run perfectly and if anything breaks at there end, it’s still playable. PSN have started to do this on the American store with Infamous and Red Faction, and I seem to find myself playing LBP a hell of a lot more now I have a download of it, I don’t know why, I just do, I hadn’t touched it for months then the second I had a download I was on it every day and I eventually got the platinum! =D. I would be great if you could buy any full game on the store or even pop to Game and buy a code that will allow you to download a new game =>
bunimomike
British internet is nowhere near stable enough to enjoy cloud computing. Countless people (including myself) enjoy loss of connection, slow speeds, etc.
One day in the distance future, THQ, then we’ll see how vehement the gaming community can get (it might not be the case, though). However, for now, we can enjoy a mixture of both plus a wonderful used-game market for all of us to embrace.
TSBonyman
Very nicely said, especially “wonderful used-game market” :)
CrawFail
Isn’t there a small portion of the price of a game that is there to cover the game being sold and re bought as a used product? I can’t be bothered to look into it but I’m sure I saw it on some professional looking pie chart not long ago.
Demibeard
Well my ‘$1000 box’ cost me a lot less, and does a lot more than play his companies shovel-ware.
I’m assuming his benefits from cloud would be to change the title of a WWE game from oh say 2009 to 2010 and present it as a new version, without the hassle of having to print up new boxes, well no thank you. Arrogant twit.
I’m glad nothing THQ have ever published has appealed to me.
Mick939
I’m struggling to think of any recent good thq titles
Horned Cow
Red Faction was alright but, ironically, not worth buying new and Homefront looks decent but thats not out for awhile.
AG2297
They didnt mention how this will totally destroy the games retail market, meaning thousands of jobs lost in gaming shops such as game, gamestop etc.
Klart
No, they didn’t as the probably “don’t care”.
scavenga
It’s a very valid point, though. They’ll have to [get to] sack thousands inside their own companies too, considering package design, sales, distribution etc.