Theoretically, there's no limit to the quality of the video feed used. The free version of the software is capped at 640x480, but an unlimited subscription is available for $19.99 a month.
It's not quite perfect though. Although the streaming options for resolution and compression are highly configurable, a lot depends on the hardware at either end, and the quality of the network between. Even with the source PC running a quad-core processor and a GeForce 8800GTS, anything over 1,024x768 ataround 1Mbps can be too laggy.
The Eee proves itself surprisingly good at decoding a stream, though, and given that the largest screen model is just 1,024x600, playing in native resolution is just about possible – although quality of pixels at lower compression is more important than resolution. It lends itself well to less intense games like WoW over a fast FPS, but the novelty of lying on the sofa playing around in the Outlands can soon be replaced by longing for a larger screen and bigger text.
It's more than just a fun project, though. StreamMyGame may offer a glimpse into the future, with a role to play in the larger trends for server and storage virtualisation going on in the IT world. Google, Microsoft and Amazon are gradually turning office applications, desktop programs and storage into server-side apps, and Tenomichi's plan is to do the same for games.
A boost to these hopes came at Computex, where Intel hosted the company on its stand and demoed various games being sent to WiMax-enabled phones. There are a few more hurdles in video virtualisation to overcome before your ISP will be hosting the next Elder Scrolls, but the ambition is already clear.
If this happens, then it really will be the end for expensive PCs in the home and there'll be nothing a simple netbook can't do. Bring it on.
