Gamers at Ohio State will soon have another option when it comes to the world of video games.

OnLive, unveiled in March, will launch in beta form this summer with full service starting in winter. According to a press release by OnLive, the service will provide the latest and most popular games instantly to a TV, PC or Mac.

“OnLive is the most powerful game system in the world,” said Steve Perlman, founder and CEO of OnLive, in a press release. “No high-end hardware, no upgrades, no endless downloads, no discs, no recalls, no obsolescence. With OnLive, your video game experience is always state of the art.”

A small MicroConsole and a broadband Internet connection are needed to play OnLive on a TV, where a PC or Mac needs only broadband Internet and a browser plug-in. Both TVs and computers also need OnLive’s exclusive gamepad.

According to OnLive’s Web site, minimum PC or Mac requirements are low because the games run on OnLive’s servers. Games are available through OnLive’s data center, so instead of waiting for slow downloads, subscribers can access games instantly.

Dave Kerns, a senior in construction systems management, said that instantaneous game play will be a popular attraction, especially for games like “Halo,” which Kerns plays online with friends.

“If they could eliminate lag it would make games a lot more fun,” Kerns said.

Andy Baster, a sophomore in electrical engineering, thinks the concept is good, but he’s waiting to see if it lives up to the hype.

“I think it would be really sweet,” Baster said. “I’m just kinda worried if it’ll work or not because it seems pretty crazy.”

OnLive will remove the need for purchasing hardware for gaming consoles such as the popular Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and their associated games.

“By putting the value back into the games themselves and removing the reliance on expensive, short-lived hardware, we are dramatically shifting the economics of the industry,” Perlman said in a press release.

Baster doesn’t think the system will do away with video game consoles, but could decrease their use. He, for one, says he could be persuaded to make the switch from console game play to the OnLive system.

“As long is it works properly, I would,” he said.

Pricing for OnLive has yet to be announced. According to a press release by the company, the service will be offered at a monthly subscription.

Thomas Silvers can be reached at [email protected].