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GameTap closing Atlanta office, focusing on newer PC titles
The slow transition of GameTap since "partnering" with Metaboli back in 2008 continues, with the company shutting down its Atlanta "technical and support team" and sharing some details about the future of the service. Speaking with Joystiq, a GameTap representative explained that by bringing operations to France, the company will "simplify the technical architecture" and can create a "global support center based in Europe." The Atlanta office will be closed down at the end of October, while the company's San Francisco office will recruit ten people over the next year to "strengthen [GameTap's] presence with major U.S. partners, distributors or publishers." As for the immediate future of GameTap, the next update to the service will also occur at the end of this month, when all the games will use a new download technology and be 64-bit compatible. The company is trying to move away from being associated with retro games -- with the possibility of dropping its brand name altogether in the future. For now, the update will create three major tabs on the GameTap site: "PC games Unlimited Play," "PC games Download to Own" and "Retro games Unlimited Play." "We need to show that we have moved forward and that we now offer a wide range of recent PC games," the GameTap representative said. The company will add 15 more games to its catalog of 550 PC games. "Some old PC games will be replaced by more recent PC games or by some casual games. Our decisions were taken based on our gameplay statistics, which is much better than our own opinion about the games or the opinion expressed by some of our users on the forum. We offer what people play." We've listed the games being added to the service following the October update after the break. Additionally, you can check out Metaboli.com's PC game catalog for a sense of the kind of games GameTap hopes to offer going forward.
GameTap errors caused by current tech, should be remedied by 'end of October'
A GameTap representative has informed Joystiq that the "4100 Error" affecting some games should be fixed with the "new version" of the website launching "by the end of October." GameTap's new website is part of the company's plan to feature "more recent titles," in addition to the retro games the service is known for. According to GameTap, the 4100 Error plaguing over a dozen titles, "Occurs with games that were packaged with a progressive download technology that is no longer in use when packaging new games. We now use a more effective and recent technology for all our new games. We have also started during the summer to upgrade our back catalog with the new technology." The update at the end of October will allegedly be more reliable and the company expects it to eliminate the 4100 error. Regarding concerns that the errors were a sign that the service was ending, the representative stated plainly, "We are not ceasing our operations in the US." [Thanks, Kyle B.]
Eurogamer wants you to get games from its new service, 'Get Games'
The digital distribution arena gained one more challenger recently, after Eurogamer announced its new PC game distribution platform, "Get Games." Like IGN's DIRECT2DRIVE, the service will offer downloadable PC games paired with editorial content from the "mother" site (Eurogamer). Partnering with UK digital distributor Mastertronic -- and in turn, company boss and totally not a video game character, Andy Payne -- the idea is to harness Eurogamer's "quality editorial content and eyeballs" as well as Mastertronic's "five years and vital experience in this space."GamesIndustry.biz says Get Games will host free-to-play, indie, classic, and new titles. No mention of Eurogamer's relationship with existing partner Metaboli (a very similar service) has been made and it remains to be seen whether Get Games and Metaboli will coexist on Eurogamer's site.
Metaboli's Chill-Out Pack brings casual games, parental controls
European game service Metaboli -- partner to GameTap -- has announced its plans to launch the Chill-Out Pack, a service dedicated to downloadable, family-friendly casual games. The service is set to include over 200 casual games, including recognizable movie licenses like The Chronicles of Narnia and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, according to Casualgaming.biz. The service will update with new titles every week as well.The Chill-Out Pack also offers new parental controls, including the ability to create sub-accounts for children, which allow parents to set parameters for their little ones, such as limiting playtime and deciding which games the kids can play.Honestly, we thought it sounded like a great idea, until we discovered that the pack offers Peggle. As a warning to unsuspecting parents: Know that Peggle has the ability to tear your family apart. Seriously, you might want to hide it from the kids.
GameTap taps into Microsoft Game Studios library [update]
GameTap's library of "on demand" games has just gotten that much larger thanks to a partnership with Microsoft Game Studios. Age of Mythology, Age of Empires 2, Fable: The Lost Chapter, Freelancer, Mech Warrior 4: Mercenaries, Rise of Nations and the Zoo Tycoon series are available now and lead off the service's MGS lineup, which will grow over the coming months.The arrangement applies to the US and Europe, the latter having already received Fable: The Lost Chapters, Mech Warrior 4: Mercenaries and Zoo Tycoon via GameTap's partner in the territory, Metaboli. Update: GameTap has clarified with MGS catalog roll out, stating that, at this time, "only Age Of Empires 2 and Fable are available now, the rest are coming soon."
Epic and Metaboli ink deal, Unreal series heading to GameTap
Epic Games, developer of the Gears of War series and everyone's favorite jackrabbit franchise, has apparently signed a deal with Metaboli, the European "partner" to digital download services GameTap and Games Planet, reports Develop. The contract solidifies a three-year partnership between Metaboli and Epic, with Epic bringing its entire Unreal series to the table. It remains unclear whether or not Epic will bring other franchises from its stable to the services but if the ailing economy dictates anything, it's the likelihood of folks selling what they can wherever they can. We contacted Mark Rein, VP of Epic Games, for comment and he told us it's, "Too early to know." It's a certainty we won't see the aforementioned Gears of War franchise though as it's handled by Microsoft. Rein told us, "Microsoft handles Gears of War PC distribution so that would be their deal." Sorry folks!
GameTap makeover imminent, Mac no longer supported
In two weeks, on-demand gaming buffet GameTap will go under the knife. The update will introduce a new plug-in, allowing users to launch games from the desktop, start menu or from GameTap.com. We've placed the full list of new features to the service after the break.However, the scalpel of change will also cut out some of the current GameTap Player features for the relaunch. The big change is Macs becoming persona non grata. Beyond that: leaderboards, challenge play, IM and save states are also affected. GameTap will allegedly let users know ways to "work around" these alterations soon. All these changes are likely being done to integrate the current system with new owner European "partner," Metaboli.[Thanks, Matt]
GameTap removing 97 free games
This Thursday, GameTap will remove 97 games from its gratis lineup, making them available only to Gold subscribers. The current free lineup consists of 145 titles, making this a 67% reduction in games. Of course, quality is more important than quantity in this situation, and there are several noteworthy titles (Tomb Raider: Legend, Deus Ex, Psychonauts) being removed. Going forward, GameTap will make certain titles available free for one week only, which is something the service has been doing for almost half a year. It's unclear whether the cuts have anything to do with Metaboli taking over the service in the near future. Check out the full list of games being removed from the free service after the break.[Thanks, Steve]
GameTap creates European 'partnership' with Metaboli
Turner Broadcasting's GameTap service will be "partnering" up with Europe's Metaboli to create an amalgamation of the two companies. The GameTap service will continue as usual in the US, but Metaboli will take "direct management" of the business and brand in early 2009. Turner will become an equity investor in the group going forward, meaning the company kind of got sold.We've contacted GameTap to clarify several points, most of which the company doesn't seem to be prepared to answer at this time. There's no real clear answer what this all means to gamers both in the States and Europe, just that the two companies will apparently work out what they'll become over the next few months.Update: We did hear back from a Turner representative that "contrary to what some are writing this is a true partnership with Turner majorly invested despite the fact that Metaboli will be taking over operations at some point in 2009."[Via GameDaily; Thanks Matt]
