Another problem with the whole 'streaming' concept, aside from the obvious world-wide lack-of-infrastructure, bandwidth limitations (in certain markets), and high cost (in certain markets, such as some European and Asian countries) is that streaming implies that you won't own games, just rent them.
Arguably, there are pluses and minuses to rent-only. But at least here in the USA, the law is going to be playing catch-up when all the unintended abuses begin cropping up every which way. There are already plenty of examples. One of the most egregious examples is when a company bans a customer from playing a game they pay for because they are critical of the game on their forums. Things like that should concern everybody.
Laws are going to have to compel companies to level the playing field when it comes to fair play between a game developer/publisher and their customers. What MS tried to do with Xbox One gives great insight into just how one-sided companies will attempt to be in an environment where laws fail to fully address the digital space.
I see these legal 'ownership' hurdles as big a deal as internet infrastructure hurdles. Remember when Napster first surfaced as a digital distribution for Music and the years of chaos that ensued? That kind of chaos is going to happen again if things don't start off in a planned and controlled manner where everyone's rights and responsibilities are clearly understood from a legal standpoint.
Arguably, there are pluses and minuses to rent-only. But at least here in the USA, the law is going to be playing catch-up when all the unintended abuses begin cropping up every which way. There are already plenty of examples. One of the most egregious examples is when a company bans a customer from playing a game they pay for because they are critical of the game on their forums. Things like that should concern everybody.
Laws are going to have to compel companies to level the playing field when it comes to fair play between a game developer/publisher and their customers. What MS tried to do with Xbox One gives great insight into just how one-sided companies will attempt to be in an environment where laws fail to fully address the digital space.
I see these legal 'ownership' hurdles as big a deal as internet infrastructure hurdles. Remember when Napster first surfaced as a digital distribution for Music and the years of chaos that ensued? That kind of chaos is going to happen again if things don't start off in a planned and controlled manner where everyone's rights and responsibilities are clearly understood from a legal standpoint.
