Digital Home Thoughts: TVs Can Do It All! Yes, Even Gaming

"The OnLive MicroConsole is one way to get your streaming game fix, but here comes Vizio with four more -- the bargain television company just revealed that those brand-new VIA Plus HDTVs and Blu-ray players (as well as that VIA Tablet and VIA Phone) will come with OnLive on board."

TVs have been gaining features year by year. Instead of just playing video, they now also display pictures, stream Internet video, handle apps and now, offer gaming. Why bother with an XBox or PS3 when you have all that you need in your TV? No hassle with cables or discs, just a subscription you pay each month, like NetFlix, and you have access to a host of games. Sure, that might not appeal to the more serious gamer, but for casual games or non-nano-second critical games, OnLive seems to fit the bill for a lot of people. While starting with VIA is a good start, OnLive will need to sign a few more brands to be successful. Of course, Microsoft or Sony could always begin offering their own integrated TVs or Cable boxes. It almost makes me frustrated though, since it seems like TV manufacturers are acting more like video card companies these days, offering new features each year to tempt you to upgrade.