GameTap Discussion [Free 1 month trial...]

[CheapyD]

http://electricartists.com/gametap/banners/gt-powerup_468x60.gif (http://www.gametappowerup.com/campaigns/reserve_collect/795d52e9be5c7b33b68396c02ba1cf7a/)
Click the banner above to get a free 1 month trial and your first 3 months for $9.95/month

There have been a few threads on GameTap (http://www.gametap.com/) [video (http://www.gametap.com/home/explore_gametap.jsp)] here, so I figured it was best to create one thread to rule them all.

GameTap is the new subscription based gaming service from Turner Broadcasting that allows you to legally emulate hundreds of old school (and newer PC games) games on your PC. They will also create original video content that focuses on gaming [examples: 1 (http://electricartists.com/gametap/video/AtariPoetrySlam.mpg), 2 (http://electricartists.com/gametap/video/Galaga_CarolVrl.mov)].

Those of us who were lucky enough to beta test it got a special $1/year rate, but the rest of you will have to shell out $14.95 a month after a free 2 week trial.

Personally, I am a big fan. I think the value will be there once GameTap's library grows closer to the 1,000 games that they have already licensed.
What do you think?

Current GameTap Titles (http://www.gametap.com/home/game_titles/index.jsp) [Homemade filterable Excel file (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/cheapyd/gametaptitles.xls)]

GameTap on CAG
CAG E3 2005 Best In Show Selection – GameTap (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/archives/000978.php)

Older threads:
GameTap is online early! (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66145&highlight=gametap)
Gametap $1 a year sub. for betatesters (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68430&highlight=gametap)
Beta Testers Wanted for GameTap (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53004&highlight=gametap)
CAG E3 2005 Best In Show Selection – GameTap (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53324&highlight=gametap) (discussion of article)

[Strell]

Um....I like the commercials...

:/

[SpottedNigel]

My main problem with it, and the reason im still excited for the Revolutions retro game features is that on my PC, Gametap has to fight for resources if ANYTHING else is going on. I have to make sure that the computer is doing almost nothing other than Gametap for it to have a hitch in the gameplay, and that unfortunately goes for simple things like pac-man.

Otherwise, i like it. I got the $1 deal as well, so i dont feel gipped, but as of right now with the selection available, i would at normal rates.

[SpottedNigel]

Holy hell! They arnt screwing around are they?

[evanft]

One word: Emulation.

[CYRiX]

I saw some DC stuff, that would be nice.

[CheapyD]

One word: Emulation.Yeah, this is emulation.
The arcade machines won't fit in your mailbox.

[CYRiX]

But for everyone's knowledge is LEGAL and offically licensed!

If they were smart they'd start selling USB Retro game controllers and joysticks.

[piscian18]

gimme capcom/snk,neogeo/sega arcade game access and I will glady hand them my pay check.

[CaseyRyback]

any news on some more new games coming? I want some older PC games along with some newer ones. They have picked some fairly good PC games, but I have most of them or don't really care to play the other ones.

[Mr.Answer]

I like the idea but the implementation is weak. If not for the 1 dollar yearly fee I would have steered VERY clear of Gametap.

[radjago]

I hope Gametap discs don't clog mailboxes and magazines like AOL discs do.

They need to fund a playable Sega Saturn emulator so they can add those games to the service. It would be well worth subscribing to play Panzer Dragoon Saga, NiGHTS, Shining Force III, Dragon Force, or Shining in the Holy Ark.

[SpottedNigel]

They just added Root Beer Tapper...or i missed it while browsing before. That game is great!

[urzishra14]

I hope Gametap discs don't clog mailboxes and magazines like AOL discs do.

They need to fund a playable Sega Saturn emulator so they can add those games to the service. It would be well worth subscribing to play Panzer Dragoon Saga, NiGHTS, Shining Force III, Dragon Force, or Shining in the Holy Ark.

I really like the idea of this service and when i build my cabinet I may get into it..

but it is like Itunes "legal downloading" of emulated software or is it like a "stream" of legal software?

[SpottedNigel]

I really like the idea of this service and when i build my cabinet I may get into it..

but it is like Itunes "legal downloading" of emulated software or is it like a "stream" of legal software?

um... stream is closer. You are able to play ANY game on the service for one flat fee. All emulation is done through the Gametap software. Once you stop paying, you stop playing. More napster/rhapsody like, i believe.

[CaseyRyback]

it officially launched today and they added quite a few new games. Its getting better.

CAPCOM and EA getting on board now as well:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135923.html

[Ecofreak]

The changed the free trial period to 2 weeks instead of a month.

[SpottedNigel]

Space Ghost vs. Rand Millar (Myst)...5 min or so long, cute though.

I also took a look and there were a few more Gamegear games, a few more Windows games, a DOS section (yep, you can now pay for Zork 1-3 :) ), and more arcade games (Dig Dug 2!). Not quite worth it yet, but its getting there

[CheapyD]

Got this PR announcement:

SEGA of America, Inc. announced the release of Shining Force Neo for the
PlayStation 2 today, so we wanted to ensure you were aware that starting
this week, the original SEGA Genesis version of Shining Force is
currently available and playable at www.GameTap.com (http://www.gametap.com/) (check out the
2-week free trial period). If you have any questions about GameTap or
the steps taken to ensure that our games reflect the original
experiences, please let us know.

[GTmaster39]

As soon as they get Radiant SilverGun I'm in.

[RedZeppelin]

Gametap is a brilliant idea and I was ready to sign up until I saw the price tag. $14.95 per month is too high of a price point for this service, especially when you consider how many of the "classic" games in Gametap's library are available in anthology form (from the likes of Activision, Midway, Sega, etc.) for the various consoles. Why pay $14.95 a month when I can pay the same price once or twice for a disc or two of these games that I can play whenever I like for as long as I like?

Also, psychologically I think it's a mistake to charge the same price to play these old games as most companies charge to play new MMORPGs. I understand that there is a difference between paying to play 300 games as opposed to just one, but in my mind I can't justify paying $15 a month to play "Ecco the Dolphin" when I could play WoW for the same price.

Just my $.02.

[U2K Tha Greate$t]

How do the dreamcast thing work?

Thats what i dont get, dreamcast emulators dont even work, so how is gametap doing it. Now i have no plans to mess with gametap because every game they got, i could get or i already have, not to mention i have over 400 pc games and 2 boxes full of dreamcast games, i was just curious on the dc issue.