Amazon.com is jumping into the digitally distributed games market with its straightforwardly titled, um, "Amazon Game Downloads." The service begins its beta today and offers 500 casual titles for under $10 each. During the initial launch week, full versions of Jewel Quest 2, Build-a-lot and The Scruffs will be available to download for free.
We spoke with Greg Hart, vice president of video games and software at Amazon, who explained that the digital distribution service evolved from the company's acquisition of Reflexive late last year. He stated that the service does require downloading a client (think Steam), but that the 3MB application isn't invasive. When asked if we'll be seeing bigger (less casual) games available, he expressed that the company would have to see how things go during the beta first.
If you decide to give the service a try, be sure to let us know how well it fares. Us? Well, we'll give it a shot as soon as we finish looking at these CDs, books, DVDs and infrared toaster ovens. Gosh, there's a lot of stuff on this website, you know.
Reader Comments (24)
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 9:28AM (Unverified) said
Well I dont see this lasting that long, especially not with Steam being around. they would have to offer MORE than just those casual games, although they will most likely get quite a few of those casual PC gamers.
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Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 4:03PM FraGNeM said
Good point, Monkeydog.
Amazon cannot be ignored. They can be highly competitive, especially on price.
And I have no worries about the "invasiveness" of Amazon's required download client, since their MP3 downloader works better than expected -- it actually launches only when called and closes after completing, like any good software should.
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Amazon cannot be ignored. They can be highly competitive, especially on price.
And I have no worries about the "invasiveness" of Amazon's required download client, since their MP3 downloader works better than expected -- it actually launches only when called and closes after completing, like any good software should.
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 9:50AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Its worth a shot, especially considering Amazon is used quite a bit by buyers not only to get thier daily items but to buy DD music etc, games are just another feature really
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Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 11:06AM TheHolyGhost said
i agree. Think of all the traffic amazon gets a day. i would say that most of those people have no idea what steam is and would gladly drop a few dollars on some of these games.
These casual games might just be the next be thing for them
Reply
These casual games might just be the next be thing for them
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 11:36AM Tez said
Exactly; and once they build up a solid model on these lightweight games, Amazon could eventually be distributing 'big' titles digitally.
And I'd be okay with it. Steam (for whatever reason) does not like my computer, or vice versa. And Amazon won me over when they started selling DRM-free mp3s for less than iTunes did at the time.
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And I'd be okay with it. Steam (for whatever reason) does not like my computer, or vice versa. And Amazon won me over when they started selling DRM-free mp3s for less than iTunes did at the time.
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 9:59AM (Unverified) said
I would also be carefull in dismissing this too early.
While Steam certainly set the mark for the core market, Amazon casual aproach actually might be a good idea. For just under 10 bucks and not requiring a killer pc, this is just what many people look for: a few hours of simple fun, no strings attached.
And considering todays production and licensing cost for the core market, selling a million casual games is probably just as lucrative as selling a million core games, although it might not set of as much publicity.
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While Steam certainly set the mark for the core market, Amazon casual aproach actually might be a good idea. For just under 10 bucks and not requiring a killer pc, this is just what many people look for: a few hours of simple fun, no strings attached.
And considering todays production and licensing cost for the core market, selling a million casual games is probably just as lucrative as selling a million core games, although it might not set of as much publicity.
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 10:54AM (Unverified) said
it would also be good to know the numbers in the developers´ side. How much of this goes to paying them and how much does Amazon get?
Our company thinks that its great, since as the distribution channels grow, then we´re in better position.
This one is expensive compared to the iPhone as Follisimo says... But it is still another option and will improve the market competitiveness.
Reply
Our company thinks that its great, since as the distribution channels grow, then we´re in better position.
This one is expensive compared to the iPhone as Follisimo says... But it is still another option and will improve the market competitiveness.
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 11:15AM Deck said
This is probably going to do really well. Though I would expect them to stay to this more casual market. It wont be for anyone who uses steam, but for people who download random small games here and there.
I love the Amazon MP3 download service, and it works really well. If this is anything like that, I'd imagine they've got a potential hit on their hands.
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I love the Amazon MP3 download service, and it works really well. If this is anything like that, I'd imagine they've got a potential hit on their hands.
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 11:18AM RageOverdose said
Well, I just bought Crusaders of Space 2, which is an old school arcade aircraft shooter. Haven't played it yet though, just went through the whole process of getting it. It was $6.99 too.
It's thankfully really easy to get products. The client is small and it downloads the games pretty fast. They ask for a computer to download to, so I'm figuring you can download these games from anywhere and have them put on your gaming computer, assuming it is on and connected to the Internet.
Once it downloads, it goes straight to the installer. Easy as hell, which is good so casual players won't have to mess around with any tape.
Now, on to see if this shooter is really as hard as it should be.
Reply
It's thankfully really easy to get products. The client is small and it downloads the games pretty fast. They ask for a computer to download to, so I'm figuring you can download these games from anywhere and have them put on your gaming computer, assuming it is on and connected to the Internet.
Once it downloads, it goes straight to the installer. Easy as hell, which is good so casual players won't have to mess around with any tape.
Now, on to see if this shooter is really as hard as it should be.
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 11:22AM (Unverified) said
I prefer buying my DLC with wii points, then its easier to ignore how much all those donkey kong country games actually cost me because i'm too content with my Wii to hook up my SNES again
Reply
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 4:54PM (Unverified) said
God I love Amazon...
I have amazon prime... it's like anything I could possibly conceive of shipped to my house in two days... next day delivery on games is usually less than buying the game at retail with sales tax.
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I have amazon prime... it's like anything I could possibly conceive of shipped to my house in two days... next day delivery on games is usually less than buying the game at retail with sales tax.
Posted: Feb 3rd 2009 10:35PM (Unverified) said
Seems like a good idea, though right now i have no way to work out which games are good, and which suck.
For now i think i'll spend my 5-10$ on games at GOG, at least that way i can have an idea of the quality of games I'm buying.
But once it shakes down and there's a way to sort the gold from the dirt, it might be worth a look..
Reply
For now i think i'll spend my 5-10$ on games at GOG, at least that way i can have an idea of the quality of games I'm buying.
But once it shakes down and there's a way to sort the gold from the dirt, it might be worth a look..
Posted: Mar 4th 2009 8:29AM (Unverified) said
Amazon's growth is really amazing and now that they are venturing into this game download service, they just might end up as an online equivalent of Sears. I can get free games from other websites, though, but at least other people will be able to conveniently download any of their 600 games for less than $10. You can access my blog about their new offering here "a href = "http://www.thefinestwriter.com/blog/?p=328"> here
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