At the Games Developers Conference, a new product was announced that could change how we play games. It’s called the OnLive game service, which uses the internet to allow you to play games. This is how it works; it uses a server located away from your home, and the server will play and store the game information. Then the video feed is sent back to your TV or computer.

There is two ways in which to receive the service:

1. Through a set-top box connected to a TV. The set-up box has two USB ports for controllers (gamepad, mouse, and keyboard), HDMI port, Ethernet port, optical out and Bluetooth.
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2. To play games on the PC or Mac there will be a plug-in to install it on to the internet browser, so the spec of the hardware does not make a difference to the game. Is means you can play games without the need of upgrading your hardware.

The service requires a broadband internet connection, 1.5 megabit connection to play games at standard definition and a 5 megabit connection for a 720p high definition up to 60 frames per second.

There are a few games publishers already on board, EA, THQ, Codemasters, Ubisoft, Atari, Warner Bros., Take-Two, and Epic Games. Oh, and 2D Boy.

The service is paid by a monthly subscription or an on demand service.  The service has only been announced in the USA.

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Id Software has released a new Quake beta called Quake live. Quake live is a free, first person, online, multiplayer, shooter that uses your internet browser to play the game.

When, you have registered on the Quake Live website, you then have to wait in a queue to download the plug –in. (I waited about half an hour). Be warned the plug-in only works on a few internet browsers. Once you downloaded the plug-in and restarted your browser, you can then set your settings for the game and choose your avatar, while the game is downloading in the background.

There is a tutorial before you start, that is explained by an AI character called Crash. Crash explains how Quake is played, the different power ups and how to score points. At the end of the tutorial it gives you a rating. This rating allows you to play online with players of the same skill level.  The different game types are the usual; Team death match, Capture the flag, Clan arena and there is non-team games Free for all and Duel. There is a wide range of gaming arenas to play on. There are a few problems with the game, but there are regular updates. Overall the game is trying to bring a new way to play PC games, by using internet plug-ins. At this stage of the beta, there is the same fast pace game play as Quake and the graphics are reasonable.

I have been playing Battlefield Heroes for a while now, since its beta stages, but now it’s open to the public, so anyone can download it and play it with ease.

Battlefield Heroes is an online game that runs using your internet browser, so can be accessed with considerable ease. The game has its unique cartoon graphics and detailed environments which add to the game’s distinctiveness. My first thought to Battlefield was that it was aimed more at the casual gamer, but I was surprised to find that it plays like any other of the Battlefield games with the exception of the third person view. I didn’t particularly mind playing it in third person but it wasn’t as accurate as being in a first person view, mainly due to the fact that the camera and the character move together which makes it hard to spot enemies that are attacking from behind. The controls make the movement solid as well as making the animation of your character smooth.

In Battlefield heroes you get the chance to create your own player, and you get to choose which team you want to be in, either the Royal Army or the National Army. The game has one available mode, capture the flag.

You then choose the class of your character, from the three classes; Soldier, Gunner and Commando. Your characters can be customised by buying Battlefunds, which you spend on clothes for your characters and special emotes to taunt your enemies.

There are various vehicles available in the game. The tank, which is good to defend, however is quite slow. The jeep, which is the fastest of all the available vehicles, and is particularly good for running enemies over. The plane is good for airborne attacks and allows you to parachute troops into the capture points, however it is hard to master especially when using a mouse and keyboard.

Battlefield heroes does however come with a few more negative points. You cannot change the class of your chosen character mid way through the game and we found it difficult to join our friends in the game and found that you can’t choose what server you join. Overall the game was quite enjoyable and good fun to play, but it has many faults which can be off putting. Above all the main selling point is that it is free and is actually good for a freebie.

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By Hardeep Matharoo, The Number1Gamer