Intel Signs Game Companies for Viiv On-Demand Service

Intel Corp., best known for its personal computing chipsets, has announced some of its partners in the upcoming Viiv digitally delivered entertainment package, to be run on its specialized PC hardware. The partners include some major video game publishers, as well as companies in films, music, and television. Among the gaming companies working with Intel on the Viiv service are Capcom, Square Enix, Ubisoft, arvato mobile, CCR Inc., Exent Technologies, Metaboli, NHN, Ourgame, Telecom Italia, The 9, and TWP Corp. The service will allow users to play games from the partner companies online with other users, as well as play single-player versions of Web games. It appears that some of the services will be subscription-based, similar to Turner Entertainment's newly launched GameTap, and many others will be on-demand with single download fees - the majority of announced services will be extensions of existing PC-based products from the companies in question. "The immediacy, global reach and on-demand nature of the Internet, together with the 10s of millions of broadband-ready PCs that already exist today worldwide, support a new trend in how people get their entertainment," said Intel Digital Home Group VP Kevin Corbett. He continues by suggesting: "Intel intends to accelerate this trend through our strong relationships with leaders in digital entertainment. This is about Intel Viiv technology-based PCs not only connecting to the TV, but also delivering the latest movies at home, creating 'music DJs,' playing games and showcasing home photos and videos -- it's a 'one-stop-shop' for entertainment." This attitude mirrors similar goals for Microsoft's Xbox 360 hardware, which has launched as a game console but has also shown increasing indications that movie and music delivery may be a long-term goal.