GameStop Planning to Stream Games to Tablets
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Cloud gaming has become a topic du jour over the last several months. Companies like OnLive have been making a push for the new concept, by giving us access to live gameplay on PCs and Macs.
A few days ago, well known video game and entertainment software retailer Gamestop, announced its plans to get into the remote gaming business and possibly cater to the tablet market segment.
Unfortunately, large cloud gaming services are not ready to play on your iPad just yet. A full iPad application from someone like Gamestop or OnLive would be great, especially if it allows us to control and play multiple games directly from the tablet.
Onlive’s current iPad application allows you to become a spectator by allowing you to watch hundreds of games being played online. But, you cannot get into the action from your iPad. However, OnLive seems to be giving us signs that in a not so distant future, we may be able to play some games directly from a device like the iPad.
Gamestop’s purchase of Spawn Labs is another step into the future of cloud-based gaming directed towards mobile devices like your iPad. It was the advanced remote streaming capabilities being used at Spawn Labs that caught Gamestop’s attention. Spawn Labs seems to offer a remote console streaming capability that could fit very well on the tablet market segment as well as other mobile devices.
Don’t be alarmed yet. Gamestop is not planning to exit the retail gaming business. The company is simply thinking “outside the box”, and looking for ways to remain competitive in a volatile market that saw Blockbuster and other companies go bankrupt. Gamestop recognizes the changes created by devices like the iPad, and they are actively discussing with tablet hardware designers about the possibility of developing a gaming tablet.
GameStop president Tony Bartel has also stated publicly the company is entertaining the idea of selling in its stores a small number of tablets optimized for its streaming service. “If we feel like we could do a better job of making a tablet, we’ll do that,” said Bartel. Perhaps, the company can leverage its new streaming platform to cater to devices like your iPad and Android-base tablets as well.
The company has also spent some time talking with hardware accessory makers about ways to pair up different kinds of controllers with tablets to bring us the best gaming experience.
Gamestop has done extremely well in the retail gaming business. The company has managed its business model and relationships with large companies like Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo quite well. By looking into the online gaming business, certainly opens new doors to the company and makes us think of fascinating scenarios.
I mentioned the Gamestop announcement to my son the other night. His response was: “Wow dad. Imagine playing Call of Duty on your iPad while talking to my friends on my Bluetooth headset.”
I guess this may not be too far fetched in the future. We’re already seeing how large companies such as Amazon, Google and Apple are planning to move lots of content into the cloud.
