Gaikai has beta-launched their cloud gaming service on Facebook. Starting with a few games for the North American and European markets, the company plans to eventually roll out full service that includes MMOs. The only requirements for streaming the games are Java and an ample broadband connection. Consumers will be able to play their games without even leaving Facebook — the implications are tremendous.
“People don’t want to leave Facebook to play games – Zynga’s phenomenal success is proof of that,” said David Perry, CEO of Gaikai, “Cloud Gaming means that the game doesn’t need to be downloaded and run on your computer, it literally means the game runs out on the internet, in the cloud, with the experience being streamed to the players. Most video game publishers are now seeking to grow their digital customer base and unlike movie and music services like Netflix and Spotify, Gaikai gives the game publishers relationships with the customers.”
The first games to try in the Beta v1.0 Launch are:
- Saints Row – The Third (USA)
- Dead Rising 2 – Off the Record (USA)
- Magicka (USA & Europe)
- Sniper – Ghost Warrior (USA & Europe)
- The Witcher 2 – Assassins of Kings (USA & Europe)
- Orcs Must Die! (USA & Europe)
- Farming Simulator 2011 (USA & Europe)
Perry continues, “The power of Facebook is not only in the vast size of the connected audience, but also in the quality of the social ties and interactions that occur within the network. The Facebook social graph fuels our mantra “Try it for free”, “Share it if you like it”, “Buy it if you love it”.
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