Inputs taken from peripherals, like keyboards and game controllers, are fed back from the client computer to the host, which then performs the commands in-game. Using two computers over the same network, the powerful host computer can play the game and send a video stream to a client desktop, which displays the image. Valve Software's answer to this is built into the app for the Steam online game marketplace: Steam In-Home Streaming. Maybe there's a Mac mini connected to a large living room TV that isn't great at displaying games, but a Mac Pro in the home office which can easily do the job, but you don't want to move.
In the event that there happens to be a second computer that's more powerful and more suitable for gaming, the obvious answer is to use that one, but there are situations where it is unfeasible.įor example, the more powerful computer could be in a completely different place in the house to where you would prefer to play the game.
As newer games are released, the specifications needed to play them smoothly continue to rise, and can end up being unplayable on some desktops.
