Announced today and starting "this summer," Verizon will be offering "more than 1,400" PC games through its broadband service, for $9.99 per month. The service boasts a variety of games, ranging from Bejeweled to Splinter Cell, allowing customers to play the games over an internet connection or download the games directly to their computers -- provided the computer is connected to the internet, that is, presumably for license verification.

For now, the service is only going to be offered in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, with no word on when other areas will be able to sign up. Between OnLive, Steam, GameTap, and now this, that digital download future we're all expecting seems to be more feasible every day. We've contacted Verizon for more information on the service and will update you accordingly as more news comes in.

We've received a response from GameTap Community Manager Matt Marchini regarding the current status of Panzer Dragoon Saga. First and foremost, Marchini confirm that GameTap does have the rights to distribute Saga, but does not hold the exclusive publishing rights for the game and is not "barring others" from releasing it on other platforms.

As to why GameTap has yet to release the game, Marchini -- himself a "self-confessed Sega fanboy" -- told Joystiq, "The main factor keeping GameTap from releasing PDS [is the] complexity of Saturn emulation." (We believe him, the Saturn was notoriously difficult to program for.) He notes that it can take months to properly prepare a single title for release "or worse, to discover that after months of development the game will not be releasable." He adds that it's a matter of the amount of resources needed to release a game versus its worth to GameTap. Naturally, the larger a game's potential audience, the more beneficial it is to GameTap.

Thus, it comes down to consumer demand, and that's where you come in. Marchini informed Joystiq that GameTap has set up a poll about Panzer Dragoon Saga on the GameTap blog and said that the company will be keeping an eye on Joystiq's poll as well (be sure to cast your vote below). "If the audience is large enough to justify development time," said Marchini, "GameTap would reconsider the PDS as a higher priority."

You heard the man, get to it!

Technically, the second half of that headline hasn't happend just yet. We're working on it though, so bear with us. Now, the news: According to GameTap general manager Sene Sorrow, GameTap has the rights to publish Sega's Panzer Dragoon Saga.

A little history lesson: Panzer Dragoon Saga received widespread critical acclaim but had a very limited release -- only 30,000 copies in the US -- making it one of the most sought after games out there. Even today, copies routinely sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay. Releasing the game on GameTap would finally give gamers everywhere a chance to play the game without having to explain the credit card bill to angry spouses.

The problem, apparently, is that GameTap doesn't see a pressing need to publish the title. GameTap operations lead Jake Armstrong told GameInsano, "It's a good game and a very rare title, so there would be a definite cool factor in getting it out there, but there would be other emulation efforts I would think we would want to work on first."

GameTap wants to know what its audience thinks about it though, so feel free to take part in our poll below and let the bigwigs know that you want Panzer Dragoon Saga. While you're at it, go ahead and send an email to Sorrow and make your feelings known: sene [at] gametap [dawt] com.

We've contacted GameTap and will update this post with any new information.

Update: Joystiq has received a response from GameTap regarding the status of Panzer Dragoon Saga. Click here to read all about it and see how you can help Panzer Dragoon Saga appear on GameTap.

Epic Games, developer of the Gears of War series and everyone's favorite jackrabbit franchise, has apparently signed a deal with Metaboli, the European "partner" to digital download services GameTap and Games Planet, reports Develop. The contract solidifies a three-year partnership between Metaboli and Epic, with Epic bringing its entire Unreal series to the table.

It remains unclear whether or not Epic will bring other franchises from its stable to the services but if the ailing economy dictates anything, it's the likelihood of folks selling what they can wherever they can. We contacted Mark Rein, VP of Epic Games, for comment and he told us it's, "Too early to know." It's a certainty we won't see the aforementioned Gears of War franchise though as it's handled by Microsoft. Rein told us, "Microsoft handles Gears of War PC distribution so that would be their deal." Sorry folks!

PC gamers awaiting the multitude of changes coming to GameTap have been asked to wait a little longer. The official GameTap blog has announced that the relaunch, set to happen this week, has been put on hold because the "internal migration" is taking longer than expected. No new relaunch date has been set.

Not only will gamers have to wait for the relaunch but for new games as well. Scheduled releases for this week have been shelved due to the relaunch delay, including the latest episode of American McGee's Grimm. However, the sandbox action game Just Cause will be available for free-to-play access for an additional week -- it was originally scheduled to be removed from the downsized list on March 26.

[Via BigDownload]

Another week, another update to GameTap's service. This week three titles have been added as the company preps the service for a major overhaul. This week's offerings continue the Grimm franchise -- with what GameTap old us is the biggest episode in the series -- while introducing new gamers to the world of hard-boiled insect detectives. Yeah, you read that correctly.

• Insecticide, Part 1 (Windows) - A "hard-boiled film noir action-adventure game" set a bug-ridden future? Sounds like realism to us, kids.
  
• Freak Out: Extreme Freeride (Windows) - An extreme skiing simulator that combines two of our favorite things, freaking out and the word extreme.
  
• American McGee's Grimm: Sleeping Beauty (Windows) - The continuing episodic adventures of Grimm this time tackling the age-old story of Sleeping Beauty. This one is free to play but only for today! Hop to it!

GameTap has added Just Cause (aka GTA in the Caribbean) to the free to play catalog but will only be free until March 26. Check out a full list of the service's downsized free-to-play titles after the break.

In two weeks, on-demand gaming buffet GameTap will go under the knife. The update will introduce a new plug-in, allowing users to launch games from the desktop, start menu or from GameTap.com. We've placed the full list of new features to the service after the break.

However, the scalpel of change will also cut out some of the current GameTap Player features for the relaunch. The big change is Macs becoming persona non grata. Beyond that: leaderboards, challenge play, IM and save states are also affected. GameTap will allegedly let users know ways to "work around" these alterations soon. All these changes are likely being done to integrate the current system with new owner European "partner," Metaboli.

[Thanks, Matt]

Oh, blargh. Writing this post last week was so much easier when it was about Syberia II. This week, GameTap gold subscribers gain access to a neo-DOOM game and an RTS that might be a good -- wait, no, we take that last bit back.

• Painkiller: Overdose (Windows) - The pseudo-sequel to the old school-embracing shooter where you continue to kill everything.
  
• XIII Century Death or Glory (Windows) - Um, really, we have no idea. It's apparently a "historically accurate" RTS set in Europe. No word if it's so accurate it has giant enemy crabs.
  

X-Com UFO Defense will be available gratis for one week only. A full list of the service's recently downsized free-to-play offerings can be found after the break.

The mammoth adventure of Syberia concludes in the sequel, now available to GameTap gold subscribers. Syberia II finds Kate Walker giving up on her former life, instead accompanying an eccentric inventor as he seeks out the world's last hairy elephants (hint: they're in Syberia). Don't worry if you missed out on the first enchanting (and sad) adventure -- the sequel includes a handy plot recap.

• Syberia II (Windows) - Hans has been found, but now Kate needs to help him fulfill his dream.
  
• Paws and Claws Pet Vet (Windows) - Pet Vet Sim Tycoon. That about sum it up?
  

It's worth noting that GameTap axed 97 titles this week from its free-to-play service. A list of the 48 survivors can be found after the break.

This Thursday, GameTap will remove 97 games from its gratis lineup, making them available only to Gold subscribers. The current free lineup consists of 145 titles, making this a 67% reduction in games. Of course, quality is more important than quantity in this situation, and there are several noteworthy titles (Tomb Raider: Legend, Deus Ex, Psychonauts) being removed.

Going forward, GameTap will make certain titles available free for one week only, which is something the service has been doing for almost half a year. It's unclear whether the cuts have anything to do with Metaboli taking over the service in the near future. Check out the full list of games being removed from the free service after the break.

[Thanks, Steve]

GameTap adds some potentially interesting titles this week to its gold service, but the real draw is Sid Meier's Pirates! being offered for free. The Caribbean romp to save your family and get both types of booty will be available gratis for one week. Pirates! is definitely worth checking out if it's somehow eluded your capture over the years.

• Mahjongg Investigation: Under Suspicion (Windows) - Mahjongg meets adventure game? Could be interesting.
  
• Shattered Union (Windows) - A turn-based strategy game that takes place during the United States' second civil war. Prepare for the future.
  

The full list of free-to-play titles can be found after the break.

GameTap drives in its first update of the new year with the addition of GRID. Fans of Codemaster's DiRT might find it worth their time to check out the high-speed arcade style races found in GRID.

• GRID (Windows) - There's something magical about playing this game while sitting in a cardboard box with the top open. We also recommend turning off the TV sound and making your own car noises.
  
• Magic Academy (Windows) - It's a hidden object game. The digital version of a Where's Waldo book.
  

This week, GameTap adds Just Cause to the free games list. Why? You know, just 'cause. Ouch! We sprained a finger forcing that joke through. Check out the full gratis list after the break.

Fans of the adventure genre should rejoice as GameTap adds 2002's Syberia to its subscription lineup this week. The story follows Kate Walker, a lawyer sent to finalize the takeover of a family-owned French toy factory, who discovers that the owner has died and sets off to find the heir to the company. A fantastical journey follows etc.

• Syberia (Windows) - Adventure fans should make sure to play this game.
  
• Zombie Shooter (Windows) - Kill, kill, kill, the zombie threat.
  

This week, GameTap adds Total Overdose, an over-the-top action romp, to the free games list. Grimm's A Christmas Carol episode continues to be free to play until New Year's Eve. The full gratis list is after the break.

This week's additions to GameTap aren't all that exciting, but if you didn't take the opportunity back in October, now's your chance to play Overlord one week for free. The game's minions may be a little glitchy and frustrating at times -- but for free, it's worth a test drive.

• Stronghold Crusader Extreme (Windows) - Like Stronghold Crusader, but extreme!
  
• Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine (Windows) - An adventure game where the protagonist reminds us of Leisure Suit Larry. The game's description notes Al is a 42-year-old who lives with his parents and travels to "dusty Anozira out west to pick up his mail order bride, Ivanna."
  

Check out the full free games list after the break. Remember that last week's A Christmas Carol episode of Grimm is free to play until New Year's Eve.