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GameTap Thursday: Grimm meets The Fisherman and his Wife; Prince of Persia also flips in
Katamari Grimm-acy rolls on this week as American McGee's Grimm tells the tale of The Fisherman and His Wife. Remember each episode is available for free to all for the first 24 hours after release, after which it becomes available to GameTap subscribers only. Grimm: The Fisherman and His Wife (Windows) - Greedy wife is bound to get what she deserves! Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (Windows) - The final chapter in the Sands of Time trilogy brings back some of the first game's charm and cuts out a lot of the second title's emo. There are no new additions to GameTap's free games lineup this week. If you still haven't tried the first episode of Grimm, it's available to play for free and doesn't require a huge time commitment.
GameTap Thursday: Grimm meets Little Red Riding Hood
Despite some awkward news today that parent company Turner is trying to unload GameTap, the show must go on. With that said, American McGee's Grimm adds a new episode this week, Little Red Riding Hood, which will be available to everyone -- not just subscribers -- for the first 24 hours after release. Grimm (Windows) - The ornery dwarf meets the naïve girl in the red coat. There are no new additions to GameTap's free games lineup this week. There should still be plenty of goodies on there to try for the freeloaders.
Turner to sell GameTap, Time Warner reveals [update]
Time Warner released its second-quarter 2008 financial report this morning, which included a brief mention of an $18 million write-off attributed to a "noncash impairment of GameTap." Say what? The report claims the write-off is based on "Turner's decision to sell its online video game business," leaving it at that. Say what! We've put a call into GameTap for more any information. Stay tuned.Update: A Turner spokesperson tells us, "There is considerable marketplace interest in the GameTap business and brand. We are considering various strategic options but have reached no final agreement as yet. When there is a resolution, we will announce it."[Via Gamasutra]
GameTap Thursday: Grimm and Alien Stars
This week's GameTap update un-Disney-fies fairy tales with the addition of American McGee's Grimm. Play as the crude title character in the first set of eight episodes over the coming weeks (schedule posted after the break). The game buffet also adds one other title for subscribers this week. Remember, the first episode of Grimm is free to play for all and all future episodes are free for the first 24 hours after release. Grimm (Windows) - One angry dwarf is bringing everything back to basics. Alien Stars (Windows) - A top-down shmup. So, pew, pew-pew, pew, pew-pew-pew, away. Grimm is this week's addition to the GameTap gratis lineup. The full list of free ad-supported titles on the service can be found after the break.
A Grimm first trailer
American McGee's Grimm begins its 24-episode adventure on GameTap this Thursday, July 31, with A Boy Learns What Fear Is. The first trailer was recently released from its Disney-esque sugary confines and can be found after the break.From our hands-on experience with Grimm's first couple episodes, it's definitely worth taking the title out for a spin. Each episode only requires about a half hour to go through and, if you know how to keep an appointment, it'll be possible to play each one for free.
The Joystiq Free Game Club: Psychonauts
We thought we'd take a break this week from our usual Flash-based fare this week on the Free Game Club to talk about a slightly meatier experience that you could be having for for free right now: Psychonauts. Yeah, that's right. Tim Schafer's bizarre, hilarious action-platformer is available right now as a free selection on GameTap.So here's the question: Why haven't you played it yet? You might have had an excuse a couple of years ago, when it was just a poorly-marketed Majesco game. But how has it not made its way onto your must play list at this point? It's cleverly written, it's got some really memorable levels and characters, it's just an all-around great way to spend your time. OK, so maybe some of the actual platforming and combat gameplay is a touch spotty from time to time. But we can look past it, and we're betting you can too.If you've played the game, feel free to use the comments below to share your thoughts/gushing adoration. If you haven't, we'd love to hear your excuses. If you're about to play it for the first time ... well, don't let us keep you. We'll still be here when you're done.
GameTap to add Gamecock titles to library
Good news! That $9.99 you're shipping off to GameTap every month just got a heck of a lot more valuable with the edition of Gamecock to the GT family. Think of it: For no additional money, you could be playing ... hmm, well, let's see. There's ... hey, there's Insecticide! ... Oh, and Stronghold Crusader Extreme. Anybody?OK, so maybe it's not so exciting at the moment, but it'll likely be considerably more valuable when Gamecock games like Legendary and Velvet Assassin appear on the service. Until then ... well, hey, there's always Sam and Max, right?
GameTap Thursday: Fallout, Battle Chess, Aveyond 2
All you need to know about this week's GameTap update is encapsulated in one word: Fallout. There, we've said our bit. No word yet when Fallout 2 will make it onto the smorgasbord. Fallout (Windows) - "A post nuclear role playing game." Aveyond 2 (Windows) - A relatively new RPG that looks like an old-school Squaresoft game. Battle Chess (Windows) - Play chess, but watch the pieces on the board beat the pixels out of each other. Oh, how we long for an HD remake of this game. Knights of the Round gets added to GameTap's selection of gratis games this week. The full list of free ad-supported titles from the service can be found after the break.
Fallout irradiates GameTap this Thursday
The feel-good post-nuclear-apocalypse game about finding a Water Chip, Fallout, joins GameTap this Thursday. There are still no details about when Fallout 2 will make an appearance on the service, but when GameTap originally announced Fallout was coming, the company did say it would be adding the "series." For those with some patience, the original Fallout should be available on GameTap's free service at some point in the future.[Thanks Joshua]
THQ games joining GameTap this summer
Gaming buffet GameTap just announced that THQ- and ValuSoft-published titles will begin finding their way onto the service starting this summer. Notable titles include: Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War and expansions Company of Heroes Red Faction Supreme Commander Saints Row 2 Puzzle Quest S.T.A.L.K.E.R. It's nice to see relatively new titles like Supreme Commander make the list. We're also curious to find out if Saints Row 2 releases on the service the same day as retail, similar to GameTap's deal with Codemasters. The THQ agreement is apparently a "long-term partnership" and some titles will also be made available on GameTap's free ad-supported service. This THQ announcement comes only a few months after Interplay returned and Take-Two committed to the service.
GameTap Thursday: ClayFighter and Aveyond
This week GameTap adds some new titles that might be worth trying after you've gotten through the last few weeks of excellent additions to the service. Aveyond (Windows) - The sequel to this RPG, Aveyond 2: Ean's Quest, will join the service in two weeks. ClayFighter (Windows) - The ubiquitous fighter genre in the '90s took a considerably strange turn with the addition of this title. Once again, GameTap doesn't add any new free games this week, but there's still plenty to check out in the list after the break.
VP says Gametap's troubles are 'greatly exaggerated'
In an interview with GameDaily, GameTap's VP of Content, Rick Sanchez, explains that rumors of the gaming-buffet's death are "greatly exaggerated." Although he avoids divulging whether GameTap is profitable, he does say that it is hitting parent company Turner Broadcasting's P&L (profits and losses) figures, so apparently it's still keeping daddy happy.Although rumors of GameTap's demise have pretty much been present since the service launched -- something even Sanchez jokes about -- things went into overdrive after the company laid off its all-star editorial team. GameDaily reports it heard rumors in the wake of the firings that the service would remain online only as a shell until December and then be buried. Sanchez "categorically denies" any of that, pointing to Grimm and more announcements expected in the future as proof of the service's growth.
GameTap Thursday: Descent Freespace and Off-road Redneck Racing
As we slowly prepare for the long weekend here in the States, hunkering down for some game playing with a grill right next to us, it's probably worth mentioning that GameTap's selection of free games (which we've listed after the break) won't cost you a dime or, more importantly, gas money getting to the mall. All that cash can be spent on some extra meat for the barbecue. But first, let's look at the new subscription games this week. Descent: Freespace (Windows) - If you liked Wing Commander: Prophecy and miss that whole space pilot genre, definitely check out Freespace. Off-road Redneck Racing (Windows) - Oh boy, do we have to write something here? Umm, Rednecks go racing ... it's slightly less offensive than Redneck Rampage. GameTap's free games list doesn't get any new additions this week, but if you haven't played Tomb Raider: Legend or Deus Ex, what are you waiting for?
Joystiq hands-on: American McGee's Grimm
click to enlarge After playing his latest creation, we're beginning to suspect that American McGee – whose previous work includes American McGee's Alice, Quake, and Doom II – has a bit of a fascination with the macabre. Grimm has its basis in some of the darker fairytales on record, and McGee has certainly milked them for every last, inky drop of blackness.As we reported earlier today, American McGee's Grimm is GameTap's first weekly episodic game. We plunged into the twisted depths of the first episode – "A Boy Learns What Fear Is" – to bring you the hands-on impressions you'll find after the break.%Gallery-26724%
The reasons why you need to play Myst Online: Uru Live
Shorah, readers! Kehnehn rahm b'yihm shehm!Myst Online: Uru Live seems to be one game that not only continually gets the proverbial shaft, but also knows how to come back from the dead better than the Scourge of the Eastern Plaguelands. Ubisoft canned it, Cyan Worlds brought it back via a shard system in "Until Uru", GameTap brought it back officially, GameTap canned it after one season, and now Cyan Worlds is once again attempting to put life back into their only online Myst game thanks to the extremely active and vocal community.Mike Fahey over at Kotaku might think Uru should die already, but this blogger is currently squealing in glee in his computer chair. In an attempt to pass the glee on to you, loyal readers of Massively.com, I've compiled not only what Myst Online: Uru Live is all about, but why you should turn your attention to this massive online adventure game.
American McGee's Grimm: All episodes free for first 24 hours
GameTap is taking a most unusual approach with its first weekly episodic game series. Each episode of American McGee's Grimm – individual "fractured fairytales" from the designer of American McGee's Alice – will debut as a free download and remain free for a 24-hour period. After that, episodes will go into GameTap's archives and be available to download individually for a yet-to-be-determined price.The model is likened to that of the iTunes or Xbox Live video download services. Catching a Grimm episode during the initial download-for-free window will be like watching a new episode of a show on network TV. Once it's "aired," you can download it if you missed it – for a price.The episodes will be supported by minimal up-front advertising and the first one, "A Boy Learns What Fear Is," will debut on July 31. We had the opportunity to play the first three Grimm episodes yesterday and will post our impressions later today.
Cyan acquires Myst Online, opens game development to fans
We all felt for the Myst community a few months back when Myst Online: URU Live was shutdown. Yet there looks to be some light at the end of the dark tunnel for fans of the unique MMO experience, as Cyan Worlds has acquired the game back from GameTap and plans to re-open its worlds for fans to not only play in, but help develop as well. With a staff that equals less than ten people total, we can understand why the developers are opting for letting the fans help develop new content. Plus, it's a really interesting prospect to have people like the Restoration Engineers creating new content in their own beloved title.We've seen a few games take on user-created content, with Pirates of the Burning Sea coming to mind. However, the type of content one would expect for Myst Online is entirely unique to any other MMO. This is literally a chance for players to see their own stories and puzzles featured in one of their most beloved franchises. Cyan has said that they're considering a $25 per six month fee purely to maintain in-house servers for the players to run on, which is a very small price to pay for the resurrection of an MMO like this.[via Kotaku]
GameTap Thursday: Civ IV Warlords, Descent 3 and American Deer Hunter
Some more Interplay titles return to GameTap this week, but the really nice addition is that of Civilization IV's expansion, Warlords. It added several new elements to the excellent turn-based strategy game, like the Great General unit, vassal states and unique buildings for each nation. Civilization IV: Warlords (Windows) - The expansion to Civ IV. There are also several scenarios in Warlords to try out if you're not looking for the full-blown world conquering experience. Descent 3 (Windows) - Shoot everything in 360 degrees of blasting awesomeness (for a third time). American Deer Hunting (Windows) - PETA will thank you for playing this game instead of being a real man and killing yourself a big ol' buck. GameTap's free games list gets several new additions this week. We've placed the full list after the break and bolded the new titles for easy reference.
GameTap Thursday: MDK, Cosmic Osmo and Descent II
The Interplay titles keep returning to GameTap as Descent II and MDK rejoin the service. We know that everyone's waiting for Fallout, but MDK is a pretty sweet game. Of course, the whole reason for playing it is to see the bizarre music video at the end of the game, which even today is still fantastically jarring. Cosmic Osmo (Windows) - There's some vague memory of having played this on a Mac way back in the day. Descent II (Windows) - Shoot everything in 360 degrees of blasting awesomeness. MDK (Windows) - If you can cope with the weirdness, there's a fun third-person shooter in there. This week GameTap's list of free games welcomes Dracula Twins (never invite a vampire in!) and Five Card Deluxe. We also received an image from GameTap with the release schedule for the company's upcoming original game Grimm. We've placed the free games list and the Grimm release image after the break.
A Grimm video dump
Once upon a time, there was a company called GameTap. Having parted with its stable of scribes responsible for game previews (games like American McGee's Grimm), the job now falls on the rest of the intertubes. We've placed a plethora of new videos of what to expect from Grimm, when it launches on GameTap July 31, after the break.For those just learning about this bizarre take of fairy tales, Grimm is a 24-part episodic adventure where cheery Disney-fied stories get back in touch with their original source material.%Gallery-9426%
