GameTap: Simultaneous Online/Retail Releases, Online Store, Free Basic Service
Beginning with the release of the Eidos-published, Crystal Dynamics-developed Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary (PS2, PSP, PC) later this year, GameTap subscribers will be able to download select games the same day they make their US retail debut. Said games will also appear on GameTap's new online retail store, which will allow users to purchase and download games instead of paying a monthly subscription fee.
"This is the first new deal with a major game publisher that will enable GameTap to feature the hottest games of today and tomorrow for subscription play in the same windows as traditional retail outlets," said GameTap senior VP and general manager Stuart Snyder. Both the online store and the concept of simultaneous online/retail release are reminiscent of Valve's efforts with digital distribution platform Steam, which has allowed users to download games such as Valve's Half-Life 2 and Arkane Studio's Dark Messiah of Might and Magic on the day of their retail release. Eidos recently signed on with Valve to make several of its games available through Steam.
In addition, GameTap will start offering free-to-play games through its web site on May 31, supported by banner and video advertisements. While the free games will not encompass the whole breadth of titles available to GameTap subscribers, the launch games for the site will include a mix of classic and more recent releases, ranging from Taito's Bust-A-Move and Space Invaders, SNK Playmore's Metal Slug, and Midway's Joust, Robotron: 2084, and Rampage to Crystal Dynamics' Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend. As with the regular GameTap service, it is expected these games will not permanently install to a user's machine, instead requiring an active internet connection to play.
"We're opening the tap to the millions of website visitors to experience free-to-play games and great new original content at GameTap.com," noted Synder. "Mainstream gamers want to play dynamic games they can access at work, home or anywhere, and aren't satisfied with the current portal offerings like card games and checkers. They want action/adventure, racing, sports, and fighting titles alongside the arcade classics."
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Twist of Cain
replyWoohoo.
GameTap really is a great service, it's a shame people don't seem to understand what it is exactly.
Hopefully this will clear things up. :)-
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"Taito's Bust-A-Move and Space Invaders, SNK Playmore's Metal Slug, and Midway's Joust, Robotron: 2084, and Rampage"
How is that not "at all" a series of emulators you pay for? Sure .99 cents and all your personal info and a recurring billing plan after the first month to boot. Again no thanks, I do not like being forced to re-pay for games I have either A. shoved enough quarters in to make your head spin (i.e. robotron, joust) or B. own in other forms (metal slug). Long live emulation.
I do understand they have decent exclusives (sam & max) however, I will wait for the collection of those episodes to be released and play it in its retail form.
regards
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In addition, GameTap will start offering free-to-play games through its web site on May 31, supported by banner and video advertisements. While the free games will not encompass the whole breadth of titles available to GameTap subscribers, the launch games for the site will include a mix of classic and more recent releases, ranging from Taito's Bust-A-Move and Space Invaders, SNK Playmore's Metal Slug, and Midway's Joust, Robotron: 2084, and Rampage to Crystal Dynamic's Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend. As with the regular GameTap service, it is expected these games will not permanently install to a user's machine, instead requiring an active internet connection to play.
Did you read this? -
Well, he's tried it and you haven't... give him the benefit of the doubt eh? :)
I took a brief glance at gametap.com and saw Uru, Tomb Raider 3, Prince of Persia : Sands of Time, Sam & Max, Splinter Cell : Pandora Tomorrow, and Sim City 2000 advertised, not really what you would call emulator fodder.
On the Shack and other forums I've heard that they also have the Myth games, Deus Ex, Silent Hill, Alpha Centauri... actually it sounds pretty interesting to me, although I'm not 100% convinced yet that the "nostalgia gaming" part of it would be as warm and cuddly as I expect. The digital delivery for new games is a nice new twist.
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You're not giving these guys enough credit. I have a subscription, and I'm blown away at the amazing job they continue to do over there. They're constantly adding new games (and a lot of recent PC stuff too.) Hell, they have the Serious Sam series.
Just try out the service, and if you don't like what you see, just uninstall and cancel immediately. -
think of steam, but you can play EVERY game for $10 a month. But it doesn't matter cause I can tell you're a troll from your posts.
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You call me a troll for stating a respectful opinion on a message board? Either you have not been on the internet for very long, or you are (the more likely) reaching into your limited barrel of insults to call me something.
So gametap is also a platform for abaondonware PC titles, got it.
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I wouldn't have called you a troll until this post. No, it's not a platform for abandonware. In fact it is the exact opposite of that. All games that are available through GameTap have been licensed from their publishers. Furthermore, one of the main points of the news report we're posting to right now is that GameTap is going to start offering certain games as they are released at retail. Even before today's announcement, however, GameTap has included many titles released in the last couple of year.
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Oh and there is a huge difference between paying 10$ a month on gametap and having "use" of the games while you continue to pay a fee and owning a game on steam. If you do not understand this then there is basically no hope for you. If Half-Life 2 was a gametap game I would have paid over 200$ for continued use from its release to now. But by all means, spend your money how you like.
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2 points.
1) You're saying you would have paid $200 for Half-Life 2 by now had it been on Gametap. You're paying a subscription for close to ONE THOUSAND games, so the cost is being spread over that many games as opposed to just one (I signed up a week back, and there's at least 20 games on there I'm interested in playing, for example).
2) "Said games will also appear on GameTap's new online retail store, which will allow users to purchase and download games instead of paying a monthly subscription fee." Sounds like they're including a Steam type model anyway. I would think this could expand retroactively over games already on the service fairly easily. -
There's over 800 games. I think it's worth it.
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I don't get it: you can pay $10 for all six Sam and Max Episodes and play them -now-, or you can spend $35-$40 and play them a month from now.
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Except you keep on paying $10 for as long as you want to keep them. I paid $35 for all 6 episodes and I play them barely a week or so after gametap gets them. Now when the DVD comes I'll get that too for just shipping costs and I can install and play for free anytime I choose. Gametap subscribers will eventually pay more, assuming they don't unsubscribe but then they'd lose Sam and Max.
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Good point. Personally, I don't plan on replaying them, so it's a decent deal for me, but for anyone that intends on revisiting the series, you have a point.
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The console games are only part of their selection. They also have a lot of classic PC games. The Myth series, Deus Ex, Railroad Tycoon 2 and 3, King's Quest, Space Quest, Far Cry, Tomb Raider, just off the top of my head. As well as console games for systems that, to my knowledge, have not been heavily emulated. The Dreamcast, for instance. That's not even touching on the original games and the original and licensed video content.
Calling Gametap "just a bunch of emulators" is a bit like calling Google "just a search engine".
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