E3 2010: Dell signs OnLive deal

OnLive has announced it has teamed up with PC specialists Dell to power the launch of its upcoming cloud gaming service.

The two companies have been working for several years on custom-designed servers that will handle the new service when it launches this Thursday. Dell has also confirmed it will work on future generations of OnLive.

Thanks to Dell’s long-running experience in data delivery and infrastructure, the announcement should calm any fears about the ambitious service that will allow consumers to play streaming versions of games such as Mass Effect 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum and Splinter Cell: Conviction.

As a startup, it can be challenging to access the resources needed to produce and quickly scale computing infrastructure,” said Steve Perlman, Founder and CEO of OnLive.

Dell has been an outstanding partner, working closely with our engineers to design servers to our exact specifications and business needs, incorporating patented and patent-pending OnLive technology.

Dell has the expertise and mechanisms in place that enable us to quickly ramp up to a mass-market scale for the delivery of the hottest games instantly through the Internet to gamers anywhere on a PC, Mac, TV and other devices.”

Dell’s vice president and general manager of server platforms Forrest Norrod added: Customers in the hyperscale data center segment like OnLive demand a different approach to infrastructure design and delivery, one that is customized and collaborative, and focused on dramatically reduced total cost of ownership.

Dell is proud to be working with a truly innovative company like OnLive to design and produce the infrastructure solutions that will help OnLive grow its business and bring this breakthrough service to gamers worldwide.”