So this is not about how it's the ultimate DRM, and about the up- and downsides of streaming games in general.
Also not about Google's price policy.

It's about two others thoughts I had concerning this topic, one a bit scary, the other with a glimmer of hope:

The scary part

As we all know, what Google really deals in is - information about its users and with this information: ads. Collecting information allows them to target ads custom-tailored to the customers. That's why Google grabs bits of information where ever they can - through tracking, web-search, Chrome-id and URL checking, android devices phoning home, their DNS servers... you name it. Where ever Google have their hands in, it's to collect data about every one.
Now Stadia is a Google product. And collecting usage information off gamers is nothing new - Steam does it, Galaxy does it... I guess the other clients do the same. Many game engines try to phone home by default (telemetry... but of course it's also tracking who's playing what and for how long. So it's a given that Google will track the same stuff about Stadia users - what they play, and for how long, and this data will flow into the user profiles they already have to create an even bigger picture.

But, with services like this, there's even more... "opportunities". We don't know if the game version running on Google's Stadia servers is the same as the home PC runs. It could have a few more features - for instance telling Google what the player is looking at, and for how long. And what they do. Stop a bit to admire that sports car? Or that nice set of boobs on that NPC? Are you someone who helps every NPC with their troubles, or do you just love to go on a killing spree?
I think the way we are playing tells a lot about us. With a bit of machine-learning an observing AI might tell if you're playing while being very tired, or even drunk. How often do you do that? At what times?
And of course special Stadia versions of games might include features to inject ads directly into the game - dynamically reacting to how you play. I wouldn't be surprised to see a billboard with some energy drink after you missed that shot for the sixth time at 2:00 AM...
Knowing that "big brother Google" is watching how you play - would you really play the same way? Sometimes trying sick and crazy stuff? Visiting the Passiflora more often than required for quests?

The glimmer of hope

If I read correctly Stadia servers are running Linux with Vulcan. Now I don't know how the Stadia games are really implemented to run - but are those native Linux versions? If so it might actually help to bring AAA gaming to Linux since once a Linux version is made anyway for Stadia, why not simply bring it to the shelves for the traditional customer (looking at you, Cyberpunk)? If the games are emulated it would at least mean that running those games in Wine or Proton at home should also be easy to accomplish.

Thoughts?

My thoughts ? what's there to think about ? Just kill, avoid, nuke the damn thing already before it becomes the end of everything as we know them.

I wonder if ""my"" google assistant will screencap and do a video of my gaming moments, ricardo-ish style.
WEIRD, MAN, the future's pretty weird.

It's not only entirely plausible, certain large game studios have already patented half of that:-

https://www.techpowerup.com/240655/leaked-ai-powered-game-revenue-model-paper-foretells-a-dystopian-nightmare
https://www.pcgamesn.com/activision-microtransaction-matchmaking-patent
https://www.pcgamesn.com/ea-matchmaking-microtransactions-eomm-engagement-patent

^ I'm pretty sure that's what the push for cloud gaming is really all about long-term behind the "convenience" marketing brochure. Once they get the code running server side, almost every aspect of your game will be "played with" to drive micro-transactions, always online (even for single player) also means you can't block it with a firewall, devices with cameras + microphones + services run by advertising agencies (what Google really is) = going far beyond mere "telemetry". Gamers are a staggeringly naive bunch if they think it's going to stop at being just "like Netflix for games".

Does Hulu do targeted ads? I haven't watched since it was free.

Well "just". Netflix tracks when start watching, when you pause, and at what points people stop watching shows or movies altogether. They're building huge stats about what stops people to watch and what makes them continue. I guess there's even some "fell asleep during..." statistics, since Netflix will ask if you're still awake after two episodes with no button press and stop playing if you don't confirm.

yep...

I was more hoping for real-life experiences, especially about WHAT DOES IT COST?

It so happens today I ended up in a Stadia page, simply because I tried to find out what the pricing is. To me it appeared Google tried to be as secretive about it as possible. The only price that was easily visible was that I can buy the Stadia controller for 149€ or something like that.

Reading further, it appeared that:
- paying that 149€ or so for the controller would give me also three free months of Stadia playtime
- it talked a lot about Chromecast, not sure if it is generally needed or not.
- In the fine-print it was implied, but not confirmed, that the normal monthly fee currently is about 10€/month or so. It was not disclosed what exactly is included in that monthly fee (e.g. all games in Stadia, or some, or no games at all?).
- In the long fine-print it was also stated that if you end the service, you will not get to keep any games or items you have bought in the service. This kinda confirmed that the idea is not that for the monthly fee you get all the games Stadia can offer, but on top of that monthly fee, you are supposed to buy games (or microtransactions for "free-to-play" games, etc.).

So, yeah, at this point I am mostly interested in details about its exact pricing, also for the games or items you have to buy in the service. The people who have been trumpeting also here how Google Stadia will be the only way we play our games in the future have implied that people will flock to the service because of its cheap pricing, but I presume these individuals had no real idea about the pricing, or that you actually have to also buy games in the service (besides the "free" games that Stadia might offer for the base fee).

I just checked it out after reading your post. Looking at the 'About Stadia' tab, it shows they currently only have the Stadia Pro subscription available currently for (in Canada) $11.99 a month. Pro includes resolution up to 4K, 60FPS, and 5.1 Surround Sound. You do have to buy games, but there are also free games 'released regularly', and you get Pro-exclusive discounts on 'select game purchases'

Coming next year is Stadia Base which is free and gives you resolution up to 1080p, 60 FPS, and Stereo sound. You must buy games, but don't get access to the free games and no discounts.

A tad ironic that the 'free' games are only available if you're paying for a subscription. Not so free after all...

My guess is that Google has built their own proprietary layer on top of Linux to make this happen and that it has nothing to do with game companies providing native linux builds. I might be wrong, but it's what makes sense to me, otherwise they'd be knowingly hobbling their platforms ability to get content. And I just don't see them doing that.

I have only one: Fuck the cloud, always and forever.

And no, it's not the future, because you can't predict the future. And big tech corporations can't predict shit longer than a quarter.

This will likely get me low rated even by those who don't do it on every post I make, but I will be truthful:
I couldn't care less if they knew what I played/how long/etc....gov'ts and companies will find that info out some other way regardless, well unless one is a hermit and cuts themselves off from society entirely, that is.

As for linux gaming...that is good for those who choose to use such if they use such games that way(drm free linux releases after a set amount of time).



======================They likely do not want people to know the true cost....that makes it easier for them to hook people on the low initial cost and then drain them dry over time.

========================Don't many stores do that(i.e. give stuff for "free" when buying other stuff) already anyways? If so it's a par for the course marketing trick/gimmick.

That is actually an interesting tidbit, that there is an option to use the service without paying regularly anything. Because, after all, you are constantly using their resources to play the games.

Then again I am unsure how the game pricing goes and whether this is just use as an entry to lure people to subscribe to the Pro version. Ie. there are so many annoyances in the free system that will keep bugging you if you don't subscribe.

In the end, it depends how the games are priced there. If you still can get dirt cheap semi-new games on sales from regular digital stores while Stadia keeps asking 60€ for the same (to cover the running costs), customers will see that.

Also it will be interesting to see if they guarantee that your purchased games will remain playable as long as the service runs, or whether from time to time they will send certain games to /dev/null, if not for another reason but that not many are buying the game anymore and/or a system upgrade to their server farm made the game inoperable. Have to read the fine-print for that. Then those who "bought" the game will lose it too.

Another thing that interested me was that there is this gamepad-like Stadia controller... so I take it then all games in the service will be playable (only) with a gamepad?

I think the main problem with Stadia and other streaming gaming services is that they best cater for the needs of hardcore gamers (who don't mind paying monthly for a gaming service because gaming is an important past-time for them)... but these hardcore gamers are also the most cost-aware when it comes to gaming.

I figure with no discounts like the Pro version, you'll be paying full for the games, which means it's still monetized. If you don't buy a game with the free version, you have nothing to play, since there's no access to free games with it.

Yeah, I'm betting you'll be bombarded with ads. Annoying, unskippable ads similar to youtube.

Yeah, agreed. But the majority are all about convenience, so they'll likely overlook the cheaper games on Steam or other services since the cloud based service will be more 'convenient' (no need to install to a computer or other device and no need to worry about which device you're playing on).

Yep, another good point.

That's something I'm not clear on either. It seems as if you need their Stadia controller, which means an up-front entry cost. But then, if you need that controller, how do you play on, for example, your tablet? Maybe the controller isn't necessary. Not entirely sure what the deal is there.

The vast majority of people just don't care much about "privacy" when it comes to tracking their spending habits or social media likes or whatever else. People aren't ignorant about Google and Amazon doing this stuff, they just don't care. I've mentioned it to my wife several times and she just shrugs and goes back to Facebook. They're already sharing their entire lives on these apps, it makes sense they wouldn't give a crap about that stuff. Hell, even I don't really care much.

People care about privacy when it's about the nude photos on their phone, not when it's about how long they surfed Amazon looking for a new crock pot. The percentage of people who care about Google knowing what they play and when is infinitesimally small. Also they already gave all this power to Valve, Sony and Microsoft anyway.