Firstly, OnLive is a very good service, but most people acknowledge that it's no replacement for an actual console. It lags, freezes, skips and doesn't look very good, unless you have ultra high-speed internet. It's also not yet available in much of the world.

Also, Google TV is probably the closest thing to a complete flop that Google has ever created. Smart TVs really have not taken off, and I don't see them having a sudden surge.

Assuming it is a "threat", then wouldn't the PS4 and NextBox be more worried than the PS3 and XBox 360?

Threat to storage space at the retailers.

I don't see this happening. I want a hardware console in my house. But for casual gamers that like to fling birds across the screen, it could possibly be an alternative.

Google TV could be a joke today, but it's just the beginning of something. I dunno where does the story will drive us.

Google TV could be a joke today, but it's just the beginning of something. I dunno where does the story will drive us.

Smart TVs are the future, whether it be through a PS3, Xbox, AppleTV, or Google TV. The TV itself doesn't have to be smart, it just needs something smart plugged into it.

But whereas I see smartphones and tablets, disrupting the handheld space, I doubt this will carry into televisions. First off, both Sony and MS are firmly planted in the market already and are well-positioned to adapt and lead the market. Second, where tablets have a great input device (your fingers), "smart televisions" do not. A remote won't work and the casual customer is not going to buy a special controller just to play a limited selection of games on their television. People who want to play games will buy a console to be the "smart input device" on their television in the first place (Playstation, Xbox, Wii).

I think the biggest threat is the entry price and business model. I'm sure it will be very appealing for some if you can buy either a smart tv or a $99 google tv set top box with access to the latest games that you can rent for $6.

I'm not sure publishers would support this. It doesn't sound very profitable.

And of course, there's no chance that SCE or Nintendo would develop anything for that (there go all profits on hardware ever). So, it would basically be OnLive.

Well they must already, that is the price displayed on the onlive website - http://www.onlive.com/games/details/batman-arkham-city#&type=trailers

$5.99 = 3 days rental