Lock in your Gametap price now for life! New Pricing Structure coming mid-March

Wolfpup

Wolfpup

CAGiversary!
I just got an email Gametap. It says you can lock in their current annual price for life (or until you quit renewing) if you subscribe prior to the end of March 15th.

Current annual pricing is $60/year, which is really a steal.

New pricing will be $50/year for their "Classic" package which is basically most of the emulated stuff, and $80/year for the full package that currently costs $60

I think the reason they're doing that is currently their PC games use DRM that's NOT 64-bit compatible. They're trying to work with the company that provides their DRM, but so far it's stuck with 32-bit. Their emulated games on the other hand use their own in house encryption, so work on 64-bit systems too.

I'm thinking I'm going to lock in the $60 rate, even though I can't run the PC games until they get it upgraded.

At any rate, this service is a really good deal.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
GameTap is just going for one last big cash grab before they go Bankrupt. They are on the verge of collapse. So keep your $60 and don't give it to them.

Besides 99.9% of whats available on GameTap can be your for Free if you know how to use Google and have 1 hour of free time.
 
My problem with Gametap is that they have really nice games on their service, but I subscribed for a year and only used it for maybe 3-4 months. Do you know what the monthly price will be?
 
Looks like monthly price is the same $10 as before (or $5 for the 'Classic' part of the service). (Or you know, $4.95 :D )
 
Wolfpup, how do you always come up with the scoops on GameTap? I don't have any e-mail from them and I've been a member since the first $4.95 deal (2 1/2 years?).

So what do those of us under the full gold $4.95 a month plan (paid yearly) have to do to lock this in? Anything?

[quote name='JadoJodo']Do they have any decent games?[/quote]

Uh, yeah they do. Just look at the site and you should know in a few minutes if it is a good match or not.
 
does gametap support any linux distros? ubuntu? it would be great on one of my netbooks.

nvm it doesn't.
 
[quote name='shlby']does gametap support any linux distros? ubuntu? it would be great on one of my netbooks.
[/quote]

Its not just a classic gaming service. They have titles like SupCom that probably won't run on any netbook well. Its worth booting into Windows for.

In any case, here's the details on the sub changes:

http://gametapblog.com/gametap-subscription-update/

Sounds like we don't have to do anything if we already subscribe, unless you want to move to the 64 bit compatible pack. I want x64 compatibility as well, but I'm not delusional enough to think I can have x64 as my only gaming platform any time soon.
 
[quote name='Wolfpup']I just got an email Gametap. It says you can lock in their current annual price for life (or until you quit renewing) if you subscribe prior to the end of March 15th.

Current annual pricing is $60/year, which is really a steal.

New pricing will be $50/year for their "Classic" package which is basically most of the emulated stuff, and $80/year for the full package that currently costs $60

I think the reason they're doing that is currently their PC games use DRM that's NOT 64-bit compatible. They're trying to work with the company that provides their DRM, but so far it's stuck with 32-bit. Their emulated games on the other hand use their own in house encryption, so work on 64-bit systems too.

I'm thinking I'm going to lock in the $60 rate, even though I can't run the PC games until they get it upgraded.

At any rate, this service is a really good deal.[/QUOTE]

i joined Jan 25 for the first month for 99 cents and played it everyday for the lunch time tourament until around Feb 17 and then got bored as hell with it... I went to cancel on Feb 22 and they offered me a free month until MARCH 25... I still have not played it since Feb 17

with pogo, big game fish and a number of other FREE SITES i dont know if this is even worth 60 a year
 
[quote name='gamerkevin']good find, but whats the catch?
iy.gif

iy.gif
[/quote]

What's the catch? Why is there a catch. They've been around for years and many CAGs use them. The "catch" is its a rental service. Another "catch" is they'll drop games or lose rights to them from time to time. Nothing that doesn't make it well worth $5 a month.

Anybody that says it isn't worth the price of one 360 game a year probably doesn't care about their exclusive content or doesn't care about playing newer PC games. Or doesn't have the rig to run it.

I mean, the new Sam and Max debuted on GameTap. That's worth a heck of a lot.

I think there is a lot to be said that if you are objectively speaking this blows away the value of GameFly, which is a similar service to get games you never own. I spend as much in less than 3 months with GameFly that I do in a year with GameTap.

I know there are lots of services competing for that monthly fee, not just gaming, but the value level on this is off the charts compared to many other monthly fees, gaming or not.

I haven't said this for a while, but if you have kids and buy software for them this is a must-buy also. Unless you prefer to just use the free stuff.
 
I've been unsubscribed for about 6 months because I am so busy with work. But $59.95/year is such a great deal, I figure I better lock in that price now before it's too late.
 
[quote name='turls']I think there is a lot to be said that if you are objectively speaking this blows away the value of GameFly, which is a similar service to get games you never own. I spend as much in less than 3 months with GameFly that I do in a year with GameTap.[/quote]

No I don't think it "blows away" Gamefly because they are 2 different services. One allows you to rent games before you decide you want to buy (also comes physically) and one is just a subscription to a ton of games. Plus they are 2 extrememyl different mediums. Gametap targets PC users only and Gamefly has just about every relevent console (and portable) to date.

Also, gamefly is a lot closer to owning something than Gametap is.

Though, Gametap does seem like a good investment if you like PC games.
 
[quote name='turls']Wolfpup, how do you always come up with the scoops on GameTap? I don't have any e-mail from them and I've been a member since the first $4.95 deal (2 1/2 years?).[/QUOTE]

I don't know, I get emails from them from time to time. Maybe I opted in? I can't remember.

[quote name='turls']Its not just a classic gaming service. They have titles like SupCom that probably won't run on any netbook well. Its worth booting into Windows for.

In any case, here's the details on the sub changes:

http://gametapblog.com/gametap-subscription-update/

Sounds like we don't have to do anything if we already subscribe, unless you want to move to the 64 bit compatible pack. I want x64 compatibility as well, but I'm not delusional enough to think I can have x64 as my only gaming platform any time soon.[/QUOTE]

Just to be clear for anyone, the 64-bit compatible thing is just a subset of the games available (basically the console stuff). A Gametap person told me again that they are still working on 64-bit support for everyone else. I think it's some licensing issue with the encryption they use :(

I soooo want to try those Grimm games! Figures that I get a new laptop and STILL can't play the new stuff, not because of my OS :lol:

[quote name='slidecage']i joined Jan 25 for the first month for 99 cents and played it everyday for the lunch time tourament until around Feb 17 and then got bored as hell with it... I went to cancel on Feb 22 and they offered me a free month until MARCH 25... I still have not played it since Feb 17

with pogo, big game fish and a number of other FREE SITES i dont know if this is even worth 60 a year[/QUOTE]

I don't really like casual games. To me there's no comparison between Pogo or something like that and Gametap. Gametap is mostly stuff I actually want to play (ie real commercial games I'm actually interested in). Pogo I think I've spent an hour or two on, but...
 
I bought a new powerful system recently and was thinking of resubscribing, but was surprised by how many I couldn't play due to "requires 32-bit windows." Now I might take the gamble and subscribe in hopes they get that worked out. In the meantime, I guess I can run the other games on a VM with 32-bit and gametap on it, or else on my weak no video card laptop that is still 32 bit...
 
I'm taking the gamble, I guess. They just yesterday told me on their forums that they are working on it still, so hopefully...
 
As a volunteer mod for the forums over there, I can say that 64-bit compatibility is definitely still a priority for the dev team. The new Classics subscription is intended to fill the gap until a full 64-bit solution is in place. There's still no ETA, since there's more to the compatibility issue than it seems on the surface, but they're aware of the demand for compatibility and are working to correct it.

And if anyone wants to test drive the service with some free games to play over the weekend, they're offering a free preview of the entire Classics collection starting this Thursday (the 12th). The included games will be free to play until the launch of the new site, which I believe is scheduled for sometime next week. More info on that here: http://gametapblog.com/classic-pack-world-wide-sneak-preview/
 
You can turn around and buy the games on GameTap too if you like them in many cases. Mostly not brand new release games, but that strategy (getting new games to try before buying, if that's what you were referring to) is hit and miss with GameFly anyway. Maybe you have to find a physical copy, but you may also be able to download it electronically elsewhere.

[quote name='iRent']No I don't think it "blows away" Gamefly because they are 2 different services. One allows you to rent games before you decide you want to buy (also comes physically) and one is just a subscription to a ton of games. [/quote]
 
nice line up of games coming QUESTION THOUGH is

if im right now at 9.95 per month i wonder if i can change to 59.99 per year come march 25.. am i billed as soon as i change or at the next bill cycle ...
 
I think you'd have to upgrade now to the yearly plan-you'd have to be locked in before the cut off, which I think is this weekend.
 
[quote name='slidecage']nice line up of games coming QUESTION THOUGH is

if im right now at 9.95 per month i wonder if i can change to 59.99 per year come march 25.. am i billed as soon as i change or at the next bill cycle ...[/quote]

To lock in at the $59.95, you have to switch your plan to the yearly rate before March 16. I'm not sure if you'd be charged immediately or if it would kick in after your current paid-time ends, but I'll try to check on the specifics of that and post back.

Edit: I just heard back from some of the staff who say that you can switch from the monthly to yearly plan before the 16th in order to lock in the $59.95 / yr rate, and the billing system should wait until your current month ends on the 25th to bill the annual fee.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You mean if you "buy" them? As far as I know they don't, which is why personally I woudln't "buy" stuff through them (I use Gog.com if I'm going to use anywhere).

But mainly it's sort of a rental service, so it makes sense it has DRM. I've had no issues with it so far (other than PC games not running on 64-bit OSes yet.)

Oh, and it looks like they're droping OS X? That's too bad (though again, it only supported part of their library). Must not have had enough people with OS X use it.
 
So does that mean some of the games might install starforce or securom on my computer if I want to play them? What if I only play the games through my web browser?
 
Oh, I see what you mean, I misunderstood. No, as as far as I know they don't use their original DRM, just Gametap's DRM, which seems to be fine for what it's used for.
 
OK, I am giving in and subscribing even though they will probably never get 64-bit for all games. Here's my justification for anyone else teetering. I was interested in the 3 fallout games, puzzle quest, and the snk arcade vol 1(cheapy just posted a deal at walmart), Together they would cost at least $40 if I just bought them separately, so I think I can justify $60 for them and tons of other games.

As for why I now think they will never get 64-bit for windows games, I doubt they would go through the trouble of adding a separate 64-bit classics pack unless they have no plans to make the rest of the games 64-bit compatible in the near future.
 
I had that same thought too, but in response they've explicitly said they're working on it, and it's more complex than it looks from the outside.

At any rate, I signed up today right after waking up. I think it's over though (not 100% sure what time zone though), and I feel kind of bad for people who missed out :(
 
Bummer, seems like I missed out.

I was going off this "Upgrading before 11:59PM EST 3/15/09 will lock your subscription price in at $59.95" and based on the fact that my most recent paycheck didn't clear until yesterday afternoon (and have been busy today until an hour or so ago).

But looks like I'm already s.o.l. as new accounts can't be created because they're migrating to a new system.
I sent off a question about the timing to customer service, but I'm not hopeful especially since their customer service hours are already over.
Saves me money I guess as I wont be motivated to jump on it for $20 more/year.
 
i can see major problems here

until migration is complete all account
data is not avaiable


Meaning if you were say month to month billing and your next bill date is say tomororw and you dont want to stay you CAN NOT CANCELL TOnight

talk about a butt load of chargebacks this company will get
 
I guess, but it's a one time thing while they merge with their English counterpart.

What I don't like is they're switching to a browser plug-in. Didn't realize that, and it won't have feature parity with the separate program at first :(

Oh well, hopefully it'll be as good as it has been.
 
Well I got this back from CS:
"Yes, GameTap is currently migrating to a new system. Until the migration is complete, account and billing information is unavailable. Please contact us when the migration is complete, and we may be able to help you get locked into the $59.95 plan."

So if you were trying to get in last minute, like myself, there may still be hope.

EDIT: Update for those who care, got this e-mail from a service rep

"Dear GameTap Customer,

I apologize for the misunderstanding, but midnight EST was a misprint. The real deadline was 7PM EST, but this was not made known until 1-2 days before the 15th. We are currently investigating to see if we will be able to do anything for those people who tried to sign up in the 7PM-midnight time frame. "
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top