Console Games on Set Top Box

Playcast becomes the worlds first to provide console quality games on set top boxes in a live service. The idea is simple. The game is run and rendered on a remote service, the resulting images being sent back to the set top box. The hard part is tackling the real world issues of lag and latency. There are strict definitions but in real world terms, latency can be thought of as the constant delay a user experiences from pressing a key to seeing a result, and lag as the effect of the game freezing at intervals.

The technology works for cable and IPTV but not for terrestrial or satellite. It plays on existing set top boxes by integrating a software client and will be available in Europe. A beta trial is underway in Israel now, and expected to roll out in Q1 2010.

More details.

Playcast isn't the only company trying to deliver console games remotely. OnLive too deliver this service. Their web pages show much more detail including specific gaming titles (eg Tomb Raider: Underworld and Bioshock). In the case of OnLive, a small console is required to connect to the TV though a Mac or PC may be used too, and the service will only be available in the USA.



It seems for now the two companies have different approaches and territories.