Tablet gaming v console gaming – let battle commence, writes CIARA O'BRIEN

WE’VE ALL known for a while that touchscreen tablets and smartphones have changed the way people access information and entertainment. It’s even made an impact on the games industry.

So much so that, last March, Peter Vesterbacka, head of Rovio, the creator of Angry Birds,predicted the death of the console, saying that all the innovation in gaming had moved into the mobile and social arenas. Well, he would say that, given that Rovio is responsible for one of the most popular games franchises on the mobile platform.

It’s hard to imagine that the tablet could ever really replace the console. They’re just two completely different experiences. Consoles give you all the bells and whistles: powerful graphics, immersive 3D gaming, even the rumble feedback you get through controllers. Tablets have their plus points, as do smartphones, but you just can’t beat console gaming.

But could the console finally have a reason to fear the tablet? OnLive certainly hopes so. The streaming games service plans to bring console-quality games to tablets and phones through a new mobile app. OnLive has already carved a niche for itself since its launch, streaming games through its servers to your TV through its Game System.

Unveiled in the US in 2009, it launched there in 2010 and was brought to the UK last September. The games are streamed through OnLive’s servers to internet-connected devices, eliminating the need for consoles, high-end hardware, discs or downloads.

Of course, the games will need to be adapted for the touchscreen interface for tablets or mobile apps. LA Noireand LEGO Batman: The Videogamehave already been confirmed, with more than 20 others available, and the number is growing.

But OnLive’s Wireless Controller is compatible with smartphones and touchscreens, giving players access to almost 200 games through the portable format. And probably the best bit about the whole thing is that if you buy a game for the tablet app, you can play it on any other OnLive-enabled device – TV, PC, Mac or mobile – complete with all your saves. It allows you to bring your games with you and pick up play exactly where you left off.

It’s could be a powerful draw, but OnLive is still only available in the US and UK, leaving Irish players out in the cold for now.