We know that you've probably been racked by worry since it was revealed last week that WildTangent, developer of the pseudo-successful
Fate (and
alleged spyware distributor), would be
closing its internal studios -- however, the company hasn't quite kicked the bucket. Its digital distribution platform, Orb (which former CEO Alex. St. John assured us
would eventually replace the modern gaming console) is still in operation -- moreover, its catalog was recently bolstered as a result of a deal between WildTangent and UK developer Kalypso Media.
Kalypso, best known for its strategy title
Sins of a Solar Empire, has given WildTangent the right to
digitally distribute their entire back catalog, as well as the right to distribute all future titles they develop. Sure, it's not a giant step towards St. John's promised revolution, but it may be enough to keep the Grim Reaper from darkening WildTangent's doorstep for a while.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zalcon @ Nov 9th 2008 4:12PM
ahh, I hate WildTangent. Kalypso really should have just put all their games on Steam
Haggard @ Nov 9th 2008 4:13PM
^this
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 9th 2008 4:36PM
It doesn't seem like Kalypso has signed any kind of exclusivity agreement, so you'll probably see their stuff pop up in Stardock at least.
Like you, I'm curious to know why Kalypso didn't go with Steam as a distribution service. Maybe at the time Sins was released, they has signed some sort of timed exclusivity with Stardock? I dunno.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 10th 2008 3:36AM
aaaand I just realized how mind bogglingly dumb my comment was
Mr Khan @ Nov 9th 2008 4:24PM
I still lol at the idea that anyone would consider that Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony would voluntarily drop the power that comes from being a manufacturer.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 9th 2008 4:26PM
This article got me thinking about digital distribution in the upcoming generation of consoles, and it got me really excited.
If Sony/Microsoft/Apple/Valve put out a console, whose primary source of game distribution was by download, I could definitely see myself buying and supporting it.
Well... maybe not Apple. They would have to get their act together a bit.
Mr Khan @ Nov 9th 2008 4:44PM
Strange. Most people wouldn't like having a console where they didn't own anything
There are the obvious advantages, and if those outweigh the flaws, that's fine, but i really don't see it.
Tiptup300 @ Nov 9th 2008 5:06PM
Technically, if it's a really stable company, buying through digital distribution has it's advantages. I mean, once you buy it, you'll always own it, no matter what, your only limit is your internet speeds.
The disadvantage is that you can't sell them since they are a digital copy.
I'd really love to have the abillity to both buy hard and soft versions of games.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 9th 2008 5:11PM
I think one of the reasons I don't mind having digital copies is because I don't get any kind of satisfaction out of having a stack of game boxes and other physical brick-a-brack. Also, I very rarely go back and play games from previous generations and I buy/take care of my hardware so I've never run into data loss. All my old physical media and systems generally go to a friend of family member and if I can't download a retro game, I'll usually get a pirated copy so I can play it on a modern device. I'm playing through Monkey Island on the PSP now.
I guess it all comes down to personal preference in digital v. physical purchases; and yes, I have stated before that I prefer having physical copies of stuff; although thats because the compression is generally lower with physical mediums.
As the gap narrows between the compression quality of digital/physical items, the reason for me to buy a disc goes down. I'm also pretty good at determining which games I will enjoy before buying, so I rarely return or trade things.
I've been moving further and further into digital downloads recently. I got an e-book reader the other day, and I'm loving it. I've been using iTunes for about six years now and if I could, I definitely would have bought more games through the PSN.
Haggard @ Nov 9th 2008 6:09PM
lol, a Valve console (then again, Steam would work as a PSN-style thing on it, you could have cross-platform play, and they'd be able to put in decent and future-proof hardware).
Anyway, I have to disagree but only from personal opinion - I love having a shelf full of game boxes. The company who made it would also indeed have to be really stable, and if your friends have slow internet you couldn't just walk round to their houses with a bag full of discs.
deaftly @ Nov 9th 2008 5:23PM
shake your hips from side to side come on its time to go do the mario
michas_pi @ Nov 9th 2008 5:23PM
Yay for WildTangent spyware...not really *sigh*.
Cubfan786 @ Nov 9th 2008 6:43PM
good news
Jimmyjimjim @ Nov 9th 2008 11:39PM
Screw WildTangent. I've probably spent HOURS getting rid of all their crap on computers in my lifetime.
I hate them about as much as a lot of you seem to hate EA COMBINED.
Invasive software? Check. Worthless crap? Check.
Ceryk @ Nov 9th 2008 11:45PM
I'm honestly not sure who Kalypso is, but some of the games I see on their site are Stardock games, like Sins of a solar Empire, Galactic Civ 2, and Political Machine. Those are already on Impulse. Would make more sense to be on Impulse. I'm not sure Stardock would allow them to be distributed over this Orb platform in the US.
But I have to agree with the people who like having the physical media. That's why I don't think Digital Distribution will ever completely take over for a long time. Too many of us like having the boxes and disks. Plus I don't trust it and there are so many advantages to physical media. And it doesn't contribute to tying up bandwidth, which is approaching it's maximum capacity.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 10th 2008 3:17AM
Kalypso is the team that created Sins of a Solar Empire, and all the other games you see on their site.
Stardock digitally distributes Sin's using Impulse. Judging by the article above, they probably don't have exclusive rights.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 10th 2008 3:36AM
oops,
Iron Clad Games made Sins... so yea.
From what I can gather, Stardock sold publishing rights to Kalypso (a European distributor), who then sold publishing rights to Wild Tangent. Weird.
Anyways, all this typing could amount to inane gibberish, as some of my posts above have clearly illustrated.
Ceryk @ Nov 10th 2008 4:03AM
That's why I'm confused. One, this article is making it sound like Kalypso made Sins. And two, Stardock does the US distribution, and I believe WildTangent is also US based with intentional branches. And they use DRM I believe, which Stardock is adamantly against. I have trouble believing they'd allow another company to distribute their game in the US let alone with DRM. Unless WildTangent is just distributing like that outside the US, even thing, I think Stardock may raise issue with it as there are a number of games on Kalypso site that are Stardock games, especially Galactic Civ 2, which is made by Stardock itself.
Rich @ Nov 10th 2008 10:07PM
Hooray for spyware!!