the future of server side
google streammygame.
Its a way to stream one game from one computer in HD to another computer or machine on your local network. This will eventually be possible over the internet.
In my last article I mentioned that consolidation is efficiency. Streaming games has advantages that will make it the only way to play certain games in the future.
-copy protection:
you can't copy it if you don't have the game
-more pricing control:
game 'publishers' will be able to charge you per play, per hour, per month, etc
-lower hardware costs:
Microsoft looses coin for each xbox 360 they sold. They make it up when people sell the games. Most consoles remain unused and wasted. Build a room full of computers, and they can be used 80% of the time...plus people playing low powered games could be clustered on the same machine etc...
-flexiable innovation
A new game can require a chip upgrade that the client doesn't have to know about
There are other advantages, yet the only disadvantage I can think of is increased bandwidth costs. Once bandwidth and latency are better suited for this task, we will see it happen.