It seems as if everyone is trying to get a piece of the cloud these days. I’m still not entirely sure I buy into this, especially in South Africa where latency and internet infrastructure are still such issues in much of the country. But, Square Enix is the latest to jump on the bandwagon.
In a series of demos shown to Polygon, Jacob Navok (director of business development) explained that this isn’t about cloud computing, but rather about a change in game design:
So up until now when we’ve talked about cloud gaming, we’ve mostly talking about streaming games. They weren’t really cloud games to us. Gaikai, OnLive and the other companies were just putting a console in the data center. They weren’t actually changing anything about it. There was a shift in the distribution model, there was a shift in the business, but there wasn’t a shift in the game design. It wasn’t a shift in technology.
Rather than using the local chipset within the player’s machine, which restricts the kinds of gameplay possible, the rendering is shifted to a virtual supercomputer. Square Enix believes that this will result in new experiences and game play. During the demos, Navok showed off an early version of this computing power which allowed hundreds of boxes to fly into the air and tumble to the ground without any lag because all the physics relationships were calculated on a separate server. Obviously, future games won’t be about falling boxes (or will they?), but can use this processing power to increase the scale of future games:
What we really want to get across today is that even utilizing our existing titles, we can come up with new concepts. We could possibly achieve real-time battles that look like battles in the Lord of the Rings movies.
Project Flare is still in its infancy – it will probably only be used in the next 2-3 years. However, Square Enix has partnered with Ubisoft on this project. They will be collaborating to see how the technology can be used and distributed.
As I said, I’m rather skeptical about this surge of interest in the cloud. This project may sound interesting, but I’m not sure that Square Enix needs to be worrying about the scale of games and making Lord of the Rings sized battles. It may be really cool and innovative, but will it work in all markets? I know that I still struggle with slow speeds and lots of lag, I would hate if all my games went that way due to cloud-based gaming. At least some of my experiences should be possible offline.
Last Updated: November 5, 2013
oVg
November 5, 2013 at 11:03
They all have their darn heads in the fucking clouds.
Devourer of Small Bunnies
November 5, 2013 at 11:37
hahahahahahahahahaha “Project Crystal Nova Alpha Versus Chronicles XIII-IV returns international advent edition.”
Youre gonna make a woman real happy someday
Captain GUZ
November 5, 2013 at 11:49
They must be smoking some good sh!t with all this talk of clouds hehehe
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 5, 2013 at 11:04
Lol. Can you just imagine if your physics run from the cloud had latency. Or a light source and shadows etc had latency?
Would look freaking hilarious
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 11:06
Stop dishing tech cause you’re in a 3rd world country!! America Fuck Yeah!!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 5, 2013 at 11:07
dishing tech? On what kind of plate would you dish up tech? Or would one use a bowl?
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 11:08
The important question is: “Fork, or Chopsticks?”
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 5, 2013 at 11:09
Chopsticks 😛
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 11:11
And you sir have won yourself a selection of virtual tech. Enjoy them with your virtual chopsticks.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 5, 2013 at 11:11
Wooooooooo! With a tank of fish that move away when you approach!
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 11:13
And ignore the invisible walls! Best. Fish. EVAH!!!!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 5, 2013 at 11:13
huehuehuehue
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 5, 2013 at 11:17
Finally we can break through the glass ceiling…
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 11:11
You must be from America if your grammar is anything to go by.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 5, 2013 at 11:11
‘Murica!
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 11:50
It is actually SPELLING, but that’s how I talk so carry it over to writing.
Now go play with your baboons and join your uneducated brethren.
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 11:53
Well if that’s how you talk perhaps it is you who should be going out and playing with the baboons?
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 11:57
I think he confused being able to read and write his own language with education.
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 11:59
Talking how I want is one of the freedoms awarded to me. Being a smug asshole who complains about people moving forward for the sake of convention or whatever is yours. Cause we all colour the world and make it beautiful. Although you might one to keep it one colour, cause god forbid we change and improve.
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 12:00
Ahh, here is the legendary grammar we were just talking about. C’mon man! You MERICAN, it’s spelt COLOR! LOL!
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 12:01
He actually gave himself away right there. Stop feeding the troll. Americans never spell it correctly, ie: colour.
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 12:02
Agreed. Though I am rather bored in the office right now.
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 12:02
Same, work sucks. But not having work sucks more.
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 12:04
I call Banana Jim on this, haven’t seen him around today…
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 12:05
I miss Foxhound. Though brain damaged or retarded (probably) he was at least entertaining
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 12:06
I remember this gentleman calling him Pri** I shan’t say the rest least I incur the wrath known as Gavin. I still sometimes bring up those memories when I want a good chuckle.
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 12:07
That was a fun day.
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:09
That is a common misconception. We use both color and colour.
Us adopting the metric system does not hold you back. Rather the other way around. Why don’t you elect a president that can give a speech.
America rules! Your country will one day not offer any employment, your currency will become worse. We will then either rescue you cause Julias Malema is a dictator, or we will leave you to burn. Either way you are more than likely to use the Dollar in the future. What type of citizens, which can act so smug, elects a brain dead president?
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 12:10
You mean the dollar that is being supported by your friends the Chinese?
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:11
The dollar that is your future saving grace. The dollar you will wash, because we gave you the scraps.
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 12:13
If your government can agree on a budget…
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:17
That is a unfortunate with our republicans. No denial there, but we will come out of it. We always do. Quick one. Our government has been shut for how long? How long for damage to set in and us falling in ranks. Are we behind South Africa? After all the knocks we have taken?
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 12:22
No what’s bullshit is that every time your country fucks up it’s economy the rest of the world faces recession as well. No wonder people are running to invest in China.
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:25
Proof of how dependant you are on us. I agree we mess up. That is a fact. At least we don’t tumble with the rest. We are the foundation you rely one to keep going. We take a knock, you feel it. Kind of when daddy has no pay check the children suffer.
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 12:28
Sad state of affairs this is. Which country are you going to bomb next to keep your war economy going? Syria?
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:40
I don’t think you realise just how much the wars cost us. Money that could have been invested internally. Here is the thing, that was committed under the Bush administration. Our current one did do everything to pull out and avoid that. Will we go to Syria? I don’t know. We do not want to, but as long as innocent children and citizens are being killed of we might have a change of heart. If we can do something to stop that. Yes! Yes we will!
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 13:01
Well here’s hoping
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:40
I don’t think you realise just how much the wars cost us. Money that could have been invested internally. Here is the thing, that was committed under the Bush administration. Our current one did do everything to pull out and avoid that. Will we go to Syria? I don’t know. We do not want to, but as long as innocent children and citizens are being killed of we might have a change of heart. If we can do something to stop that. Yes! Yes we will!
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 12:13
Wash them? Oh I have no doubt. Once the Chinese have finished using them as napkins we will definitely need to wash them.
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:21
So in your own words, your country is so far down. Will need help so desperately, that a “bastard” currency will need to bail it out. Keep digging your grave. You are good at it, playing to your governments game of divide and conquer. You are destroying yourselves from the inside, your own worst enemy.
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 12:23
You make valid points. I got to give you that. Our big problem is that the majority of our voters are uneducated which is why we sit, term after term, with some moron and his underlings that don’t know how to do their jobs in the government.
Enough politics from me.
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:32
The big problem, from what I see is apathy. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying you don’t care, but how many are doing something about it? Maybe I should rather have used the word passive. We see your country from here, and read, see, hear you complain. What we don’t see is action, a movement for change. Complaining is good, the start of change, but it needs to be coupled with action. We see how your countrymen complain about each other, you divide yourselves so much that every person wants to represent himself and want what’s best for him. Rather than compromise, stand together and vote and what is best for the country. That is why I love our voting system. Democrat vs Republican vs a few independents. As I said, I see things from the outside. Feel free to correct where need be.
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 12:36
The only thing about not living here is not knowing the culture. A lot of the South Africans have a “group mind” and they will kill everyone who opposes it (that’s not overstating). In these townships the poor people fear for their lives if they decide to oppose that majority and the problem is that the power of the vote lies with them, because they are in the majority.
Education is a huge issue though, but schools are burnt down in protest, so we’re fighting a tough battle here.
Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)
November 5, 2013 at 12:38
Well this could also be contributed to our government. They know if they do nothing about this, then the uneducated masses stay uneducated. And when voting time comes, they give them a carrot and blame apartheid for the current state of the country
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 12:42
Blame apartheid is the go-to response. It’s a vicious cycle actually. Because the current government knows their power lies with the uneducated and they indoctrinate them to keep voting for the same party. Empty promises is the food for African voters.
Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)
November 5, 2013 at 12:45
They keep claiming that it was the ANC who abolished apartheid, when in fact it actually started with F.W. de Klerk.
But anyway, how did this News24 type of debate even spill over to Lazygamer? Screw which ever country we are from and lets unite by talking about what this site is about… GAMING!!!
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 13:18
Hear hear
Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)
November 5, 2013 at 12:38
Well this could also be contributed to our government. They know if they do nothing about this, then the uneducated masses stay uneducated. And when voting time comes, they give them a carrot and blame apartheid for the current state of the country
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:49
I can understand that. Must be a huge frustration. I have seen the townships on television and the conditions there are horrid. Do those people vote for your current government? Are they the majority vote? I am confused a bit here. Going on what has been said here the government keep them uneducated and poor….Yet they keep voting for them? I have no words for such a phenomenon. May I ask, and I am not trying to stereotype your country or its people, but is it because of race that it occurs?
Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)
November 5, 2013 at 12:53
Like one person said on the radio… It is kinda like battered wife syndrome, even though they are being treated like shit, they will still vote for the party. This is because they believe that this party freed them from the bonds of apartheid.
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 13:00
I see. Very sad to hear that. We do not hear of these things from the outside really. So it is like blind allegiance because they feel those people saved them. Anyway, as you said. This is a gaming site. Was a pleasure trolling a bit (admitted). But also having some good discussions and learning something new about your country. Now if you will excuse me I am going to play COD and DISHING people on how gay they are. While doing things to their mothers. It is an American thing, our greatest pastime 😉
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 13:25
The townships are the majority vote, yes. And their naivete keeps the current government in power. They put a lot of it up to race, especially the media but in the end the white population is tiny and the majority of poverty and suffering are black people (we know how it looks), but they are also in power, because they have the ability to vote otherwise.
Our history is against us, this we know and it has contributed to a lot, we can’t deny that. But all that most of us want is equality and I like to think (regardless of how our economy is suffering) we’ve come a long way in under twenty years.
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 12:36
The only thing about not living here is not knowing the culture. A lot of the South Africans have a “group mind” and they will kill everyone who opposes it (that’s not overstating). In these townships the poor people fear for their lives if they decide to oppose that majority and the problem is that the power of the vote lies with them, because they are in the majority.
Education is a huge issue though, but schools are burnt down in protest, so we’re fighting a tough battle here.
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 12:10
I agree. He is brain dead.
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 12:10
We do have to agree on that.
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 12:12
Countries that doesn’t use the metric system? USA,Liberia and Myanmar. Countries that do…. the rest of the world.
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/aoz200A_460sa.gif
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 12:01
Adopt the metric system then. Stop holding the world back.
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 12:01
HAHAHAH! Dude, time to get some popcorn, this is going to be fun 😉
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 12:05
Oh wow. That’s perfect.
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 12:00
You type how you talk? So you talk with a slight lisp then. You pronounce dissing as dishing and spell it like that?
wtfc
November 5, 2013 at 12:14
That was a mistake. Thought you were referring to “cause”. If I were to lisp, would you take pleasure in dissing me cause of it? As it seems your intentions…
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 12:16
Nonono, we’re dissing you because you’re stupid. the lisp isn’t even a factor.
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 11:18
How’s personal privacy treating you guys?
Admiral Chief Ninja
November 5, 2013 at 11:28
lol
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 11:33
BOOM! http://cdn.themetapicture.com/media/funny-gif-Captain-America-fireworks-explosions.gif
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 11:35
Wow man, just wow.
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 11:42
Man. Wow! At least we have a (semi) working government. BOOM! *runs
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 11:48
Creating shadow accounts? Wow, that’s very ‘Murican. Grats on 2 comments btw.
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 11:52
NSA MERICA!
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 11:55
Semi working? Oh yes, your government actually CLOSED the other day didn’t it. I forgot about that.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 12:18
“Dishing tech”? Would that be stir-fried or deep-fried?
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 12:20
Again, the important question is: “Fork, or Chopsticks?”
See my post below to Sir Rants Pants.
CypherGate
November 5, 2013 at 11:07
The gaming industry has just gotten more loony. Why not concentrate on making proper good games instead of looking at advancing tech that in the end they will not even make full use of. All these gaming developers have lost the plot on what gaming really is about. All they have embedded in there brains is Half Games + Advance Technology = Money.
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 11:08
I know people in the UK who have lag issues. Is this really a viable tech right now?
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 11:14
Nope, it’s not. Online play isn’t even implemented properly yet for the most part. Ghosts multiplayer has already been hacked and it isn’t even out yet everywhere.
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 11:14
Nice header
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 5, 2013 at 11:15
The cloud is a lie. From now, I’m going to call it a “clied”
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2013 at 11:16
LOL
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 11:18
Sounds like an illness
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 5, 2013 at 11:21
It’s a mental illness. It makes you sound like a tool when talking about distributed processing for gaming.
Unalighned John (JJ)
November 5, 2013 at 11:21
Sounds fatal
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 5, 2013 at 11:24
It all depends on how you fall. The main symptom is spinning around & around very fast while looking up with your arms outstretched & shouting “wheeeeeeeeeeeee!” Eventually you get dizzy & fall down.
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 11:26
Unless you’re in a spinning chair. Then its fun. 😀
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 5, 2013 at 11:30
The rest of the management meeting never thinks so :/
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 11:34
They’ve got sticks up their bums, its far too uncomfortable for them. 😛
Her Highness the Hipster
November 5, 2013 at 11:24
is that pronounced like Clyde?
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 5, 2013 at 11:27
Exactly like that, because Clyde is also a silly name.
RinceandRepeat
November 5, 2013 at 11:34
Lacist.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 5, 2013 at 11:37
You’d prefer I call it “cried”? That makes no sense. Or maybe it does. Because rain falls from clouds. And people frustrated by lies cry. Cloud lie = rain cry!
Vampyre Squirrel
November 5, 2013 at 11:44
Tlevol you such a lacist!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 5, 2013 at 11:45
ror
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 11:46
I raughed at dis. So vely haad.
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 12:03
What wasn’t Cloud a character in one of their games? What are they playing at here?
Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)
November 5, 2013 at 12:11
So if they bring that character back then you would play as Cloud in the cloud
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 12:17
Croudo Ception. Vely Creva!