DavidReid
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GameTap now in Canada, other locations planned
GameTap, the subscription, all-you-can-eat game download service is expanding into Canada and other international locations. Beginning today, Canadian gamers can pay $6.95 USD each month and are also eligible for the current $59.40 USD promotion for a full year. GameTap plans a bigger worldwide rollout in 2007, with the first quarter goal to reach three or four other English-speaking markets. After that, the company will focus on additional English markets throughout the year, with non-English localizations prepared for 2008.We assumed that the delay for international release was due to licensing issues -- game distribution licenses vary by region -- however, David Reid, VP of GameTap Marketing told us via email that the wait was unrelated. Reid explained, "We were far more concerned with getting the product right before exporting GameTap out of the U.S. Now, with the original content, robust community features, over 700 games, and GameTap TV programming, we truly feel that we have a strong, comprehensive product ... ."However, the company can still be challenged by landing local publishing rights. Reid acknowledged that the exact lineup of games will be almost the same for all markets, but not every title will be available. He said, "For any games that are not initially included, especially any particularly notable titles, we will be working hard to bring those to our international audience."GameTap also announced its "GameTap Originals" brand, a way to publish new content. We already knew about Sam & Max, released today, and Myst Online: Uru Live, being released in December; both of those games will receive the Originals label.Reid couldn't specify, but said that other developers and titles are on the way. He also said that exclusivity -- Sam & Max will also be offered from Telltale next month -- will be determined on a case-by-case basis.While the news is anti-climactic for American gamers, Canadians -- and eventually other regions -- can now ponder the subscription-versus-ownership question for themselves.See also: Gametap for $5 paid in advance
Joystiq interviews David Reid of GameTap
We recently sat down for a quick meeting with David Reid, VP of Marketing for GameTap, the Turner game-download subscription service. GameTap had previously announced that the episodic releases of Sam & Max and Myst Online: Uru Live would be added to the service as part of its monthly $10 fee; these are the first new games to go alongside GameTap's catalog of re-releases. Reid talked about how GameTap is growing, the sort of gamer it attracts, and how -- as Reid says with his marketing prowess -- the site is shifting from the DVD-model to the HBO-model of new content.
Joystiq interviews GameTap's David Reid
We had a chance to sit down again with David Reid at PAX, and talk with the former director of platform marketing for Xbox and current vice president of marketing for Turner's online subscription gaming platform GameTap about the growing role of episodic gaming and downloadable content, the Sam & Max deal, competition with Xbox Live, and even the Penny Arcade game. Since the interview took place on Friday morning -- after the embargo on the Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness game had already been broken, but before the team made their official announcement -- there wasn't much David could say except that they'd be willing to work with Penny Arcade "in principle." You can download the full interview here (.mov), or watch the video embedded after the break.
