OnLive gives away free MicroConsole with Homefront pre-order
updated 12:05 pm EST, Sun February 27, 2011
OnLive ties free MicroConsole to Homefront
OnLive hoped to kickstart adoption of its MicroConsole this weekend with a special promo tied into the launch of the resistance shooter Homefront. Those who pre-order the game through OnLive's streaming service get the MicroConsole for free and can play the game from most any HDTV without having to have a computer. The deal saves the $99 price and still gives access through Macs and Windows PCs, although it doesn't include shipping or taxes.
The deal helps satisfy users in the short term by giving them full access to the well-known Russian post-apocalypse game Metro 2033 immediately. Pre-orders are possible up through March 14 for the game, which costs the same $50 as a retail copy.
The MicroConsole includes both a gamepad and a small, low-cost box to make the connection. Its low price comes from OnLive's emphasis on putting all the gaming performance on a remote server rather than the user's device, allowing even netbooks and other very low-power devices to play a game smoothly. Plans are developing to use OnLive on iOS devices and on HTC's newer Android-based devices, such as the Flyer tablet.
