Server-side rendered games

I gathered from Penny Arcade that there has been some talk lately of "server-side rendering" in games. That would mean your own hardware is not responsible for drawing what you see on the screen. The benefit is that the server hardware is likely to be more powerful, so it should look better (as long as the images can be downloaded fast enough).

I can also imagine something sneaky going on. Game publishers may be looking for ways to gain more control of the market, and putting a stop to piracy. You used to buy a game, install it on your machine and run it whenever and however you like. But if part of that game needs to be run from the publishers' servers remotely, they will be able to make sure that you can't play a pirated copy.

The downside for gamers is that you need the publishers to continue providing a service:

• to keep running that server-side component for as long as you want to play
• to provide that component whenever you want it

It will increase the complexity and support costs of games, not decrease the total cost because of reduced piracy.

Mokalus of Borg

PS - And when a publisher has dozens of server farms chewing up power, and the bills are going up...
PPS - I'm just saying you can't rely on them to keep the servers going forever.