Is cloud gaming a feature that will leave a positive footprint in gaming history? With technology and various gimmicks becoming part of gaming today, it’s no surprise to see cloud based gaming taking up a bigger role. Yet some still stand by the true way of gaming as a timeless procedure. Just what is the future for cloud gaming?

As you may already know cloud gaming is a procedure or process used to stream a specific game to be played through the main use of your internet service instead of your computer’s hardware. The game’s information and processes stay on the servers of the company regardless of location, as your computer only needs to send the input data and you get the end result in a video like manner. Though this all plays like the game is on your computer, by the help of a decent bandwidth the process is actually quite impressive. It also may seem like a gimmick to some, a waste of money to others, and even pointless over time to the majority.

There have been many types of cloud gaming services over the years. One impressive company Gaikai, has been bought out by Sony recently. Gaikai was a service that brought to gamers all around the world some of the most pc demanding games like Crysis 2, Dead Space 2 and Dead Island. Sony may have seen potential in this form of gaming yet they have also invested in other pointless and dying forms of gaming that gamers just do not care for. Regardless of Sony’s decision, cloud gaming will remain an option.

Friend or Foe?

As a long time gamer myself I get the feeling as though I am renting games by the use of cloud gaming. Though you do have access to said game whenever you want considering you have an active internet connection being your crutch, this fails to retain that palpable form that holds more value. When I would rent games, even older games, knowing that the game was not under my ownership sort of annoyed me. With late fees naggings at my back as I played and the sense of ownership nowhere to be found it did not result in a completely satisfied experience opposed to outright purchasing my games. With all this in mind you might consider how blockbuster and red box services are compared to actual purchasing sales.

On another note, it is a great feeling playing high end games on a computer you know could not normally handle games of that quality. With an internet speed of 30u/5d there was a slightly noticeable yet slightly constant twitch of lag though the overall experience is still very good. With a good service posing issues to those who love to own their games, considering they have many other options, where does cloud gaming stand in the future? Is it another ghost of renting, failing to become a major utility for the gaming community? Or is its place going to eliminate physical games for good?

In my opinion, I hope physical games stay at the top regardless of what other methods stand aside. I do enjoy the convenience of cloud gaming but at the price of only using the service when you have an active internet connection results in a hefty crutch. I believe cloud gaming will die out in time and a new gimmick will arise. Even though the technology for cloud gaming wasn’t particularly in the 90’s and 2000’s, physical gaming didn’t make it this far off of pure luck. An all-digital gaming foundation does not sound like something I can take pride in either. Collectors will no longer have anything to collect other than printed email receipts of the service as well. But regardless, who am I to say what will become of the gaming future. I can only sit back and enjoy the show no matter how it’s brought to me.