OnLive

Remember when playing a big, new game meant buying an expensive console or constantly upgrading your PC? OnLive was a pioneer that tried to change all that. It was one of the first real cloud gaming services, letting you play high end titles on almost any computer, even a basic laptop.

The idea was simple but revolutionary. Instead of your computer doing the heavy lifting, OnLive's powerful remote servers would run the game. Then, just like streaming a movie on Netflix, the video of the gameplay would be sent live to your screen over the internet. You'd use your keyboard or a gamepad to control the action, and those button presses would be zapped back to the server. All you needed was their small client software and a decent internet connection.

For gamers without a top tier rig, this was magic. You could suddenly play the latest graphics intensive games without the huge upfront cost. Setting up took minutes, and you could jump into a library of games through free trials, rentals, or purchases. One of its coolest features was the "Arena," where you could spectate other players' games before deciding to buy.

The experience did depend heavily on your internet speed a slower connection meant the stream quality might drop. But when it worked well, the lag was surprisingly minimal. It also meant your game library was tied to your account, not a single machine. You could start a game on your home PC, then log in at a friend's house and pick up right where you left off.

While OnLive eventually shut down, its legacy is huge. It proved that cloud gaming was possible and paved the way for the services we have today. For a time, it truly offered a glimpse into a future where you could play any game, anywhere, without being limited by your own hardware.