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TOMB RAIDER ANNIVERSARY
ON GAMETAP
Copyright 2007 Eidos plc Press Release
[ May 1st 2007 ]
Turner
Broadcasting-owned GameTap has announced three
significant developments for its PC digital distribution
service: a deal with publisher Eidos
to make games available on GameTap the day they
hit stores, an online retail store offering games
via digital download, and a free selection of
GameTap titles on GameTap.com.
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.
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.
"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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