In time, it will deliver full games shrunk to one-fifteenth or one-twentieth their usual TV size.

The gaming service uses video compression technology to deliver high-quality games over the internet without the need for a console.

Longer term, video game machines might be replaced by cable television converters that will deliver not only games but television programs, movies and computer data.

In the future, analysts say, cable and telephone systems may deliver movies and games directly to computers, bypassing television altogether.

Sony's response this week was to say that it has fired up its own internal-development engine, which will deliver 15 PS3-exclusive games this year.

But Stern said he merely reiterated an old statement that the league was looking into delivering games, for a fee, to places such as bars.

The reserve forward Johnny Newman is a 15-year veteran who can still deliver 20-point games, and Scott prefers to see him coming off the bench.

The other upside to delivering games directly online is the inability for consumers to resell those games.

Cloud gaming-also known as on-demand gaming-is a way of delivering games to computers.

"Just like we've done with the Xbox 360, our charter is to push the envelope and deliver definitive games that maximise the platform," he said.