Samsung Goes Gaikai

Expect to be further spoiled for choice soon, when Samsung enters the game business via a cloud-gaming service powered by game-streaming startup Gaikai.

Unlike the big three currently in the industry, Samsung will not be going into development or publishing.

How it’s going to work is that Gaikai will supply the data centre infrastructure and streaming technology, while Samsung rounds up game publishers to provide games.

These games will be processed through the cloud, and merely displayed – or streamed – onto the user’s computer or TV. Users will be able to play them in 720p resolution or at 1080p resolution at a higher cost. The cloud gaming technology is also expected to get a boost from Nvidia’s new Kepler-based graphics chip, which can support up to four users instead of the usual one in a cloud gaming service.

According to David Perry, chief executive of Gaikai, the service could begin testing in approximately three weeks, and users who have signed up for the closed beta will receive from Gaikai game controllers with which to test the service.

Eventually, users will be able to choose to buy a web-enabled TV (Samsung’s, of course) with Gaikai’s service pre-installed on it. Like many casual games available on the Internet, players will be able to try the games out for free for half an hour before deciding if they want to buy them.

In a report posted on VentureBeat just last week, Samsung was said to have already rounded up 37 game publishers for the service. Though competition is expected to be strong – especially from OnLive, another cloud gaming service – Gaikai, who has been working with Samsung for about nine months already, are optimistic.

They believe Samsung, who they say is “going after gaming”, will be big.

(Source: VentureBeat)