Does OnLive plan to offer any kind of in-game ads to perhaps generate revenue outside of user fees?

Well, we aren't releasing details about our revenue models at this point, but we are certainly considering and testing several different methods. However, in-game ads would actually be up to the individual publishers and developers to determine what's appropriate for their gaming experience (just as they are on other platforms). That's not a decision that we would make on their behalf.

Could MMO games also be streamed using OnLive tech and if so has there been any interest in MMO companies in using the tech?

OnLive can technically support almost any type of game, including MMOs, but we've chosen to focus on standard single and multiplayer games for our initial launch because they're the most obvious fit with our platform on a business and consumer end of things. We've spoken to many, many games publishers, including those in the MMO space, and I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about in the world of MMOs in the future.

Is OnLive worried that already established companies like Steam, Direct2Drive, Impulse and others could offer up a similar streaming service with their established server infrastructure, perhaps even before the projected launch of OnLive?

There are plenty of great companies out there really working hard at developing systems for digital distribution, and I hope they all do very well. Big picture, we're all building a market together so I don't really view them as competitors. What sets OnLive apart in the space, though, is that most of the other services that are out there now still rely on downloading software (games) to thick clients (big honking PCs which games had to build or buy then regularly upgrade). The way OnLive works is that we push all that we need for computer power back up the network into our data centers, so gamers a) don't have to buy expensive gear to play high-end games and b) don't have to wait for any huge downloads to occur before they get to play a new game.

OnLive was an immensely complex engineering effort, that took years of development and testing to make it work seamlessly, so it's going to take a while before anyone can really try to emulate our exact model.
How will OnLive handle its open beta for the service and when will sign ups for the beta test begin?

We've already begun signups, and will start to open the doors selectively in summer 2009. We'll be announcing further details about how it will work over the coming months.

If an independent developer for a game like, for example, World of Goo or Audiosurf wanted to make their next game available via OnLive will there be a program for that kind of service?

Yes. Instructions for becoming a certified developer or publisher and for getting access to our SDK are available at www.onlive.com. Not available 'til later this year, though!

Finally if OnLive does work as advertised it could make all of the consoles from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo redundant. Have you picked up on any animosity from those companies towards your planned service?

Not at all. I love my consoles. OnLive was not and is not intended to be a replacement for the traditional console, it's more of an entirely new way of delivering games and thinking about the overall gaming experience. Hopefully we'll open up the market to a whole new audience, and also add a new option to the mix for folks thinking about buying new hardware, regardless of whether it's a console or a PC.