OnLive closes 'major round of funding' with support from AT&T, Lauder Partners, et al.
by Christopher Grant 
{ Sep 30th 2009 at 8:28PM } 
To that end, CEO Steve Perlman has announced via the company's blog that OnLive has "closed a major round of funding with participation from AT&T Media Holdings, Inc., Lauder Partners, Warner Bros., Autodesk and Maverick Capital." While Perlman isn't saying just how much is "major" the press release did note that this "is by far OnLive's largest closing." The money "will be used to launch OnLive's service offerings and to protect OnLive's extensive intellectual property rights."
We can only imagine Perlman and Company are watching competitors like Gaikai and Otoy closely. With the beta soon (now?) underway, and the company's coffers filled, we can hopefully expect a steady march of progress towards launch.
Source – OnLive Blog
Source – Press release
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marco le Polo @ Sep 30th 2009 8:30PM
Yay more crap with AT&T!
Ballistic H @ Oct 1st 2009 1:20AM
Not suprised. With ISP putting bandwidth data cap, it's gonna be raining money for them when customers go over their limit for streaming games.
Tony Montana @ Sep 30th 2009 9:05PM
Hmm this is interesting news.
I wouldn't think AT&T and Warner would be willing to invest in anything without a lenght demonstration of capabilities.
If they indeed did get a lenghty demonstration and were convinced by the service then maybe we need to re-evaluate the situation a little.
Tom Kalinske @ Sep 30th 2009 8:42PM
Warner did invest in the farce that is AOL... (sorry, Joystiq!)
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 1st 2009 11:45AM
maybe they're just interested in people going over their monthly bandwith caps in mere minutes.
Calvin @ Sep 30th 2009 8:36PM
Autodesk? That seems odd
Mr. Manly ESC Mcbeefington Ferguson The Second @ Sep 30th 2009 8:40PM
Autodesk: Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts Inventor 2010.
Mr. Manly ESC Mcbeefington Ferguson The Second @ Sep 30th 2009 8:44PM
Autodesk?
Go on...
(Revit 2010:The Videogame,Fuck Yeah!)
[ArchiGamer] [Soon to be a major religion] @ Sep 30th 2009 8:54PM
SWEET!! Now I can do floor plans as I play!!
Right?
scribblenaut @ Sep 30th 2009 9:24PM
@ Calvin
They were my thoughts at first, but then again Autodesk own the software (3dsmax, and Maya to a lesser extent) that 90% of game assets are made with so it kinda makes sense.
U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START @ Sep 30th 2009 8:37PM
I can't see myself ever getting on board with this...I'm such a packrat, and I love to hoard my video games in their physical form...usually around me in a giant pile that I sit in the middle of with a paper Burger King crown on.
Autobot @ Sep 30th 2009 8:40PM
I'm there with you, but I really wish the best for OnLive. It would be so fucking cool if it worked.
Lionbacker @ Sep 30th 2009 11:38PM
http://www.xkcd.com/625/
sony boy (6 years til sony man child!) @ Sep 30th 2009 8:38PM
oh god, why atat?!?! why not verizon!!?!?!??!!
Tom Kalinske @ Sep 30th 2009 8:41PM
Verizon? Are you serious? They've raped Alltel into the ground. I won't be resigning with them.
Special Agent Steve @ Sep 30th 2009 9:04PM
Are you kidding me?
http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/
http://www.rentcell.com/images/verizon-coverage-map.jpg
http://www.evdoinfo.com/images/stories/VZWvsATT_3Gcoverage.png
Verizon has much better service.
DeoWulf @ Sep 30th 2009 9:11PM
I have to agree with the OP, AT-ATs are not the best choice for distribution of this service. They're awfully slow and clunky.
DeepFriedSushi @ Sep 30th 2009 10:27PM
^^
/facepalm,desk,bbq wtf does cell phone coverage have to do with onlive. you're a bunch of morons you know that.
No Kill Tayler @ Sep 30th 2009 11:51PM
I use at&t's internet and well.... I download movies in minutes.
Jampirow @ Sep 30th 2009 8:42PM
This thing hasn't failed yet?
Azerael @ Oct 1st 2009 8:13AM
To work, this thing would have to defy the laws of physics. There was a great article about input lag I read (I think on Joystiq, maybe Kotaku), which talked about how average input lag for games was about 30-60ms. Now when you consider that it's going to have to process, compress and send that information two ways, we've already got at least 100ms of lag without even STARTING on connection latency.
OnLive has got to be the most cleverly marketed piece of phantom tech I've ever had the displeasure to hear of. The only thing worth being excited about is it's inevitable failure.
BunnySlapper @ Sep 30th 2009 8:44PM
AT&T on one hand denies to the FCC that online gaming is part of the broadband definition, and on the other doles out startup cash to a service like OnLive?
What the fuck? This does not bode well...if Comcast tries to assist services like this, but insists they're not part of the broadband package...they're likely going to try to bill the consumer extra for it.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/09/is-it-broadband-if-you-cant-play-internet-games.ars
honorelsu @ Sep 30th 2009 8:45PM
Sega TV take two.
Tom Kalinske @ Sep 30th 2009 8:46PM
Are you referring to the Sega Channel?
Mr. Manly ESC Mcbeefington Ferguson The Second @ Sep 30th 2009 8:46PM
I didn't mean to reply 2 times to calvin.
Huh the first time I have seen a reversal reply system fail.
Calvin @ Sep 30th 2009 8:48PM
this makes me laugh
Obie @ Sep 30th 2009 8:49PM
Since I have yet to experience a completely perfect internet connection. I am gonna pass on this one, but hey, I guess people with Fios could give it a shot! ;)
bongoes the Black Lantern @ Sep 30th 2009 9:23PM
I have Fios and it's not perfect. It's great but not perfect.
Chief Oddball @ Sep 30th 2009 8:55PM
AT&T's investment is ironic, given the bandwidth OnLive would need to stream HD games to your TV -- and the fact that AT&T is currently testing bandwidth caps ranging from 20GB to 150GB per month on its residential DSL services, in certain markets.
WiiFTW @ Sep 30th 2009 8:58PM
Not to mention they've stifled the development of legitimate broadband compared to other industrialized nations.
Well on second thought, I guess I'll mention it.
finnith @ Sep 30th 2009 9:45PM
Maybe they think they'll rape people who go over their caps, and then draw them into more expensive plans with higher caps.
[ArchiGamer] [Soon to be a major religion] @ Sep 30th 2009 9:09PM
Confused as to why Autodesk is on this, unless they are planning some sort of gaming program, which would be awesome, especially considering how well I know AutoCAD.
scribblenaut @ Sep 30th 2009 10:20PM
Dude, i don't want to sound like an ass but....3dsmax, Maya, Motion builder, mudbox all owned by autodesk and these are the industry standards for making games.
All the games you play have been developed using this software.
If you are into AutoCAD then you should check out 3dsmax. It can be confusing but you can do so much with it
[ArchiGamer] [Soon to be a major religion] @ Sep 30th 2009 10:30PM
Yeah I'm aware of that its just would be kind of nice to use the AutoCAD know how for game design. Maya is nice and all but it doesn't do measurements such as CAD, and I really love CAD for about everything I do.
scribblenaut @ Sep 30th 2009 10:49PM
It's true that AutoCAD and maya are made for different purposes. But anything you can do in autoCAD you can do in maya/3dsmax. I learnt autoCAD at the same time i leant 3dsmax and in my experience the skills are transferable.
If your serious about doing some game design then 3dsmax IS the "autoCAD game-design" software you're talking about.
They follow roughly the same principles.
Kodros @ Sep 30th 2009 9:15PM
"While Perlman isn't saying just how much is "major""
I have a source very close to this and he said that it was $17, maybe $18.
bongoes the Black Lantern @ Sep 30th 2009 9:22PM
"It would cost a fortune to get something like that off the ground!" you exclaimed to your parents over dinner."
When I talk about video games my parents ignore me.
Ashkental @ Sep 30th 2009 11:23PM
Make the DSG face and SCREAM like you never did in your life...
THEN...
They'll listen to you.
Hakaisou @ Sep 30th 2009 9:30PM
Calling it right now. OnLive onboard cable boxes within 5 years, if it doesn't tank first.
Kagebutsu @ Sep 30th 2009 10:26PM
I can only imagine how awesome onlive would be if the U.S. didn't have shit for internet compared to the asian countries.
RKN @ Sep 30th 2009 11:59PM
Exactly, but its still not as bad as in some countries but all these fucking high prices and caps are getting me down!
DKiller79 @ Sep 30th 2009 10:41PM
so Comcrap did't join o well back to Oregans trail
nickux @ Sep 30th 2009 10:51PM
Whoa! I read that headline first as OnLine was closing because of lack of funding! My brain had spasm on that. Glad to hear OnLine secured funding and resources! I want to believe!!!!
BananaBoat @ Sep 30th 2009 11:23PM
People have been speculating from the beginning that for OnLive to work properly, there would need to be an OnLive location at practically every major node, which would require ISP cooperation. If AT&T is willing to provide that kind of support, this could be huge.
Did anyone get into the beta? Not that you can talk about it if you did, but I didn't get in.
nofriendo @ Sep 30th 2009 11:39PM
I cant imagine this kind of thing working today, but I think its pretty naive to say it has no future.
kacex @ Oct 1st 2009 12:34AM
I read Launder Partners!!
Too bad they dont partner with some cartel people...
Lekko @ Oct 1st 2009 12:49AM
I don't like OnLive, not at all not one bit. Not because I don't like cloud computing, not because I don't think it has potential, but because I can see 5 years later Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo trying to remote stream home console games to portables, and getting sued by OnLive and the other 15 companies that had similar ideas later on.
forbizzl3 @ Oct 1st 2009 12:53AM
the only way they do this in a semi-functional way is by giving preferential treatment to packets that are for the on-live service. Hopefuly net neutrality kills this and other network shaping techniques service providers are doing.
karmaghost @ Oct 1st 2009 1:52AM
Until OnLive can strike a deal with Comcast, the largest ISP in the USA, who has strict rules that severely limit upload and download speeds that are sustained for longer than 15-30 minutes (speeds are reduced by 75% for 15 minutes or until up/download rates are reduced), they will never break into profitability.
oOWallaceOo @ Oct 1st 2009 8:05AM
The looks like all kinds of fun.