GameTap losing over 7% of games; EA, Interplay and other publishers gone Dec. 11

by Alexander Sliwinski { Dec 3rd 2007 at 3:00AM }

Just as GameTap celebrated hitting 1,000 games on the service, it'll get to repeat the milestone all over again as it loses 70+ games in a couple weeks. Apparently EA, Interplay, Atari and some lesser-known publishers will end their affiliation with the service December 11. GameTap Editorial Director Douglass Perry says GameTap signs contracts with a publisher which have a beginning and an end. He says none of the games on the service are permanent. Perry also says they were unaware they'd have to pull all those titles when celebrating their 1,000 game mark.

We're currently trying to get a fuller explanation of the current situation. Perry says that GameTap will continue to expand their library despite this setback, but the issue seems to be a wake-up call to many subscribers that GameTap isn't the repository of gaming that they once thought. Although it's unofficial whether GameTap didn't want to pony up the cash to extend the contracts or the publishers asked for too much money to renew -- we're pretty sure GameTap isn't happy about dipping below the 1,000 game mark they recently hyped. It's also not a great day for the company when their subscribers learn quite harshly that games on the service have a virtual shelf life.

Update: An unofficial list of games being lost Dec. 11.

[Thanks Satertak, Matt]

Tags: Atari, EA, GameTap, Interplay

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Sokkratez @ Dec 3rd 2007 3:13AM

I'd be very interested in seeing a compiled list of the games being axed.

Satertek @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:01AM

Here's a list: http://www.gametap.com/home/profile/playlist?plid=7253506

Shockgamer @ Dec 3rd 2007 3:17AM

I look forward to the pulled games ending up on the consoles with a few HD or waggle bells and whistles and a price equal to a full month of GameTap.

Back in October 2005, there weren't three consoles with downloadable small games competing. I wouldn't be surprised if more companies decide to try for higher profits by the sold copy instead of diminishing repacking opportunities by going with Game Tap.

Yoshi Likes Boys @ Dec 3rd 2007 3:52AM

Very poorly handled by GameTap, pulling those games with basically no communication to their subscriber base, when this seems to have been a date set by the contract for a long, long time. It seems like it would have been easy to tell your paying subscribers what they can expect before they find out for themselves a week before the games are pulled.

xGabrielx @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:48AM

Uh, the only two games on Satertek's list that I'd actually miss are the Freespace games, and I still have my Freespace 2 CD's laying around somewhere.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:20AM

Its losing decent and populous also.

Most of the 70 games seem to be edutainment software (like 10 Arthur games that nobody plays)

As an above poster said, this is probably due to the existance now of XBLA and PSN and WiiWare. These consoles can basically exist as a set-top-box for older software, which was gametaps original long term goal.

Gavin @ Dec 3rd 2007 6:36AM

GameTap is a doomed to fail venture from Time/Warner.

Does ANYONE really still care about it?

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 3rd 2007 6:52AM

umm really? I've been hearing that it's actually doing pretty decent.

ck @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:26PM

Yeah, GameTap is doing quite well. It's a bummer for sure, but they should pony up the money if they expect to last long against PSN, XBLA and the Virtual Console. I don't think it would be a bad idea to up the cost per month - I mean I really wouldn't mind paying an extra $5-$7 a month to play 1,000+ games (granted only about a third I'm really interested in).

Still - I hope they can renegotiate somewhere down the line....

dalrint @ Dec 3rd 2007 6:50AM

Doomed to fail? It's been doing marvelously well of late, so I'm not sure where you're getting your information...

Ahrel @ Dec 3rd 2007 6:51AM

I don't subscribe to Gametap, but was thinking pretty hard about it recently (mainly because I want to check out Jericho), but this news has definitely shaken my confidence in the service.

Still, looking at the list of what won't be there anymore, it wouldn't affect me much, as I own most of the, what I would consider, good games from the list. Sad to see the Ultima series gone though...that's one series I only played the tail end of, would have been another incentive to subscribe. Gametap should try very hard to get the publisher back responsible for Alpha Centauri though -- I know a few people who subscribed to Gametap based purely on that game.

Brad Lee @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:38AM

Gametap has a subscription model where the first month is only 99 cents and every month afterwards is $10. And before Gametap only allowed users to cancel their service either from phone calls or from an online tech messaging system, but now it's just an option in your profile menu.

Basically what I'm saying is, try Gametap out for 1 month at 99 cents. If you like it, keep it, if not, cancel before it charges you $10.

I tried it and liked it, but unfortunately there were too many things holding me back from using the service, number 1 being the sheer number of great games being released around the holiday season on other systems. But also it's because I don't have a good enough computer to run newer games like Jericho.

But all in all, this kind of a thing is really no big deal, because if those games are fundamental to your subscription, all you really have to do is unsubscribe.

dark_inchworm @ Dec 3rd 2007 8:21AM

Oh blast, my Putt-Putt games :(

Vigi @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:22AM

Pajama Sam? NOOOOOOOOOO

Seriously, I played Pajama Sam as a little kid; totally awesome game for youngsters. No sex or violence and tons of great puzzles.

SmokestormX @ Dec 3rd 2007 8:24AM

ahaha I'm totally not surprised. I d/l the free client just the other day, all the games i d/l didnt work preoperly or crashed after 5 mins, i decided to contact support they made some bullshit up about it being because i was in the uk.. they had a client that might work better, but that was for people in canada only O_O and he didnt think it was a good idea to give me.

It was almost like talking to small children on drugs, i don't recommend it, I'd ask him a question and he'd come out with some non-sensicle babble. Anyway looked crap.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:21AM

Well, considering that Gametap is designed for US/Canada ONLY, I'm not surprised you had trouble.

SmokestormX @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:34AM

Nope, Your wrong.

Anyone can sign up for a Gametap ID and play games, i believe the only restriction is the game was released in their country.

"Users in any country can sign up for a TapID (Green account) and play games available in their country ".

I could mock you at this point, but i doubt it would be worth it.

Erwos @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:00AM

Losing all the Sim, Freespace, Ultima, Wing Commander, and Descent games definitely sucks. Hopefully they'll be able to renegotiate for them in the future.

Dirt @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:28AM

The service is actually quite good, and works pretty awesome when you're on the road. They even allow you to share accounts in the same household on multiple machines, too. Huge plus.

It stinks these games are going, but all in all that list only has a few "must haves". Alpha Centuari, and the Ultimas for me. Populous 3 was pretty lousy.

Speddy @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:43AM

HA HA!
This is what happens when you license content you don't own, and the owner gets a clue that Oldskool is profitable!

Hunting_Phoenix @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:43AM

>:\ so much for playing wing commander. I just found out about this the other day too while browsing GT. So ticked off that I just re-upped for another year. Oh well, Sam and Max will make it all better.

Carlos @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:49AM

SCOTT ADAMS IS GOD

Zach Adams @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:40AM

Just to be clear, Atari isn't 'ending their affiliation with Gametap' or there'd be a lot more than seventy games disappearing. Atari's arcade and 2600 games are not going anywhere, it's some titles that Atari distributed but didn't hold the rights to.

Steve @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:22PM

Crap not Interplay. Gametap is the only place to (legally) find a lot of those games. I never got around to playing Planescape: Torment, which I always wanted to play. Although I don't see it on the list Satertek linked to, but I'm guessing that's a mistake since it's definitely an Interplay game.

konajinx @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:25PM

I actually got a subscription to GameTap a month ago or so for my three year old. He loves that edutainment crap on there, and a year's subscription to GT for that kinda thing saves a whole lot of money on my end. He also likes playing other games on there like Mr. Driller, and I've enjoyed playing on there as well, but before everyone kinda starts going "so what" on the learning titles GT offers, there is an audience out there for that kinda thing. Luckily none of the ones my son digs is getting the axe. But then again, he seems to find joy in such weirdo titles as Kolibri and Bug on there as well.

turls @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:10PM

Maybe 7% of the total games, but a huge chunk of the decent Edutainment titles. Those actually get the most use in my household. Another great thing ruined.

I wonder if everybody is going to try to do their own "Gametap" now. Sorry, only enough money in most budgets for one of these services.

t_m @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:24PM

GameTap was one of those ideas i mocked until i tried. then i really liked it. (at least until they blocked all access from japan).

I can see how things like Live and the VC would be competition, and it'd be great to get some of these games available more widely. Often they can't be found in the shops at all.

However I'm skeptical about getting a lot of old PC games to run on consoles. Anyone remember how many keys you needed to play freespace or wing commander???

I wonder if they'll head to Steam? that seems to have been adding a fair number of old games lately.

Actually, I'm wondering if services like the VC won't have to move to more of a gametap model. Demand is great at the moment, but once they've exhausted all the classics, i dunno how much people are gonna want to pay for average SNES/NES games. A low monthly fee option might be more profitable, long term.

Penquin @ Dec 4th 2007 10:54PM

I'd like to make a point: Doing my own research, I found out Atari lost the distro rights to Humongous and Infogrames in late 06. That's most likely why their games are gone, but not all of the Atari games.