Sony buys Gaikai for 380 million. Cloud games on your Playstation soon...ish?

[Indy_aka_Rex]

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/02/sony-buys-gaikai/

Cloud-based gaming service Gaikai has had plenty of spring in its step recently, and now we know why: it's been tying up a deal to sell itself for a rather substantial sum of cash. The $380 million agreement is slightly below the $500 million bandied about it in some rumors last week, so perhaps SCE execs feel like they've got themselves a bargain.

SCE boss Andrew House promised that the union of Gaikai's "engineering talent" with his company's "game platform knowledge" would lead to "unparalleled cloud entertainment experiences." For his part, Gaikai CEO David Perry said he was "honored" to help Sony "grow their ecosystem." None of this sheds much light on precisely what the Japanese giant will do with its new acquisition, or how it'll deal with the potential (imaginary?) awkwardness of supplying a service direct to TV rivals like Samsung and LG. In any case, the two companies need to secure regulatory approval before getting down to the tricky stuff.

EDIT: In theory, this could nullify any advantage from Microsoft's Smart Glass, Nintendo's Wii U and even Sony's own Vita. With a move to full-on cloud gaming, the advantage of Smart Glass, Wii U's gamepad screen and even Vita's cross-platform play functionality is rendered moot. It could also mean another major "get" for Sony: PC-to-console ports as an OPTION, not to mention the possibility of a full-on PC game library.

Short of MS buying OnLive (which is possible), this is a pretty big deal for Sony.

[thejnc]

Why is smart glass, wii u and the vita's cross platform gaming moot because of this? This is a real question, I have no idea why cloud gaming would cause this.

[rm082e]

First off, there's nothing to say this service will come to the PlayStation console - PS3 or PS4. It could, or Sony could be using it as a way to try and push into F2P and Social games on the PC/Mac front.

Assuming it does come to the PS4, I don't see how this is a big win for them. MS will just modify the terms on their exclusive deals such that the developers are only making games for the Xbox console, not Xbox and PC. Wii U is going to hang it's hat entirely on Nintnedo first party software, so this doesn't help them at all in that respect. No idea what you are talking about with Vita connectivity.

Honestly the only advantage I see here is that PS4 owners will potentially have the ability to play some PC exclusives using their console. But they'll still have to deal with lag, no resale value, etc.

[TheAnalogKid]

First off, there's nothing to say this service will come to the PlayStation console - PS3 or PS4. It could, or Sony could be using it as a way to try and push into F2P and Social games on the PC/Mac front.

Assuming it does come to the PS4, I don't see how this is a big win for them. MS will just modify the terms on their exclusive deals such that the developers are only making games for the Xbox console, not Xbox and PC. Wii U is going to hang it's hat entirely on Nintnedo first party software, so this doesn't help them at all in that respect. No idea what you are talking about with Vita connectivity.

Honestly the only advantage I see here is that PS4 owners will potentially have the ability to play some PC exclusives using their console. But they'll still have to deal with lag, no resale value, etc.

I could see it coming to the ps4, but I see it more as a way to sell a sony service and thus, games, on 'smart' tv's, phones and computers. I think sony is looking at this as a way to get their product in the hands of people who traditionally wouldnt bother with buying a video game console. And I'm pretty sure there are more of those people than ones who do.

for sonys sake, their implementation of it better work alot better than their initial foray into their online service.

[Bane]

Why is smart glass, wii u and the vita's cross platform gaming moot because of this?

I don't get it, either. Especially as Vita hasn't been an advantage over anything yet.

[twonunpackmule]

Vita is on life support.

[CorruptedDragon]

Vita is on life support.

Yeah, Vita never left the maternity ward unfortunately. Prognosis is poor.

[twonunpackmule]

Yeah, Vita never left the maternity ward unfortunately. Prognosis is poor.

I just finished a commercial for these baby incubators. I think that's what Vita is in.

[Badger3920]

Vita = move, but a lot cooler?

[twonunpackmule]

Vita = move, but a lot cooler?

To whom? At least you can use a move in a different manner. A truly interactive experience.

[Badger3920]

To whom? At least you can use a move in a different manner. A truly interactive experience.

I'm not a handheld fan, but it's a decent piece of kit if you're into those sorts of things is it not?

[twonunpackmule]

I'm not a handheld fan, but it's a decent piece of kit if you're into those sorts of things is it not?

It's all about the games. Vita doesnt offer much uniqueness for me. So...

But, I'm a special case - or not, if goin by sales.

*plays Cthulhu Saves the World on his iPhone*

[Badger3920]

It's all about the games.

Oh of course. I was speaking on the machine itself. Without games, it's a paperweight just like move.

[CorruptedDragon]

Oh of course. I was speaking on the machine itself. Without games, it's a paperweight just like move.

I think Vita as a machine is pretty nice. It offers some cool tech at a decent price. Unfortunately like TNPM (I'm trademarking that) said there isn't a compelling reason to own one. It basically has handheld version of the "big boy" games on the ps3. They need to come up with their own IP and new games for it, not just hand me down versions of the console titles.

[Godstar]

Maybe Sony is trying to get into the cloud computing business and selling it to 3rd parties like Amazon is doing. Could have nothing to do with games.

Lastly, what both MS and Sony have been claiming are 'clouds' aren't really clouds in the true sense, and are just buzzwords used to seem trendy and tech worthy.

A true cloud is massively parallel which accounts for the cheap and cost effective way to provide fast solutions to many computer problems involving large data volumes.

Saving a couple 10kb save files isn't a cloud, nor cloud computing. Neither really is saving MP3's. They're selling a storage service not a cloud.