The iTV Doctor Is In: Deploying Console Games on Legacy Set-Top Boxes

Dear iTV Doctor:

I read late last year that there is a game company in the UK that claims to be able to deploy video games on legacy set-top boxes without additional hardware. Now I know I can play casual games--puzzles and the like--on my trusty DCT2000, using the arrow buttons. But the only action game I've ever been able to play with it is "fetch." That's when the box crashes, I throw it out the window, and my dog brings it back. Has somebody really figured out how to do REAL video games on legacy boxes?

Gaming Gal


Dear Gaming Gal:

I think you're referring to the recent announcement, published in the [itvt] News Round-Up on November 30th. The company is Playcast Media, and I've forwarded your question to Peter Flood, Playcast Media's head of business development for North America. Here's what Peter has to say:

Gaming Gal, Hi and thanks for your question.

Not only has someone figured out how to offer all types of video games on the STB, but the service is up and running on the network of Israel's major cable operator, HOT. We are currently concluding a 1,000-subscriber pilot and are preparing for a full launch to over 725,000 digital STB's in the first quarter of 2010.

The fact is, if an operator offers VOD to their consumers, they can offer our "games-on-demand" service also.

The Playcast Media service is capable of delivering all categories of games--from fun and easy casual games to the most recently published console games. We see ourselves more like a pay-TV operation, engaging with MSO's, offering video games on-demand as part of the TV mix. The games portal will appear like a channel on the EPG.

Let me explain. The Playcast Media game service is based on technology that takes the consumer's input while playing a game from either a gamepad or remote control; executes that game on servers in the operator's headend; compresses that output into a video stream; delivers it to the STB; and renders it on the TV screen. The consumer is playing a game as if he was connected to a game console.

Thus, since it is a video stream, the requirements for the set-top box are minimal, so most legacy boxes will work. Now our ability to offer a console-level gaming experience is enabled by the use of a gamepad connected to the STB through either a USB or Ethernet port. So this makes the full value or impact of our service more suited for this type of STB. In fact, most operators we've spoken with are excited about the gamepad, to the extent it both upgrades the consumer experience and becomes a marketing asset to sell the service.

The real challenge is not with the STB, but with latency and the return channel of the network and how these are managed.

First, Playcast Media manages latency with a proprietary video compression system tailored specifically for video games. Our system cuts the control time lag to below 100 milliseconds, which is faster than the human eye can register.

Second, the quality and bandwidth of an operator's return channel can present some challenges. For example, implementing on an ALOHA return channel will have different requirements than a DOCSIS return channel. We are in fact down the road on at least one test in Europe with an operator who utilizes an ALOHA return channel, and feel comfortable that the service will be implemented successfully. In addition, US operators are doing what they can to improve the quality and bandwidth of their backchannels to allow offering more choice to the consumer such as our game service.

Our launches in the US will initially offer a mix of between 15 and 20 games designed to appeal to all tastes, from brain teasers and simple puzzles through to high-end action console games like "Call of Duty" and "Tony Hawk." We have generated a lot of excitement with video game developers and publishers who are desperate to extend the profitable life of existing games. This is evidenced by the number of content deals we have in place and current discussions. They are already embracing our system and are excited about the upcoming international launches.

In the US we have had discussions with most of the major cable and telco operators and are moving down the road for possible deployments in 2010 with a couple of them.

As we like to say: We could be looking at the last generation of separate gaming consoles.

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The iTV Doctor is *Rick Howe*, who provides interactive television consulting services to programmers and advertisers. He is the recipient of a CTAM Tami Award for retention marketing and this year was nominated to Cable Pioneers. He is also the co-author of a patent for the use of multiscreen mosaics in EPG's. Endorsed by top cable and satellite distributors, "Dr" Howe still makes house calls, and the first visit is always free. His services include product development, distribution strategy and the development of low-cost interactive applications for rapid deployment across all platforms. Have a question for the iTV Doctor? Email him at *itvdoctor@itvt.com