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Print 21 comment(s) - last by mindless1.. on Feb 6 at 12:51 AM
The first game offerings are casual games only, but will expand if customer demand is high enough

Amazon.com today launched a new online video game store with the first batch of video games designed to appeal to casual gamers only.

"Today we are pleased to announce the beta launch of the Amazon Game Downloads store, our first step into the downloadble games space," Amazon said in an official blog post.  "Loaded with an ever-growing roster of casual gaming titles for your PC, the Amazon Game Downloads store features more than 600 games on day one, all price under a tenspot at either $6.99 or $9.99."

To help convince Amazon users to test out the new store and download the Amazon Games & Software Downloader application, Amazon is offering the following games for free:  Jewel Quest II, Build-a-lot, and The Scruffs.

All other games can be tested for up to 30 minutes before customers are forced to purchase the game.  Once a customer purchases and downloads a video game, it phones home after the first launch so Amazon is able to verify the game was legally purchased.

The Amazon game store is a beta launch, as the online retailer promises to add more titles over time and is accepting all user feedback to make the store even better.  The store's launch isn't a complete surprise, as Amazon purchased casual game developer and distributor Reflexive last October.

Amazon previously entered online downloads with music and tax software downloads, and planned to enter casual games for some time now.  If its casual game download business is successful, expect Amazon to expand to other game genres in the future. 

Considering the brand awareness of Amazon's online business, analysts and gamers expect the e-retailer's first foray into online games to be a success.

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I'll consider it
By fishbits on 2/3/2009 4:51:30 PM , Rating: 3
"Once a customer purchases and downloads a video game, it phones home after the first launch so Amazon is able to verify the game was legally purchased."

I'll consider it, if that's all there is to it: No onerous downloader/installer or resource-using DRM tool(s). If my particular copy has obviously been given out and run off a ton of different machines, fine, let it close itself out after a "You've been naughty" dialog. Otherwise, leave me be with my purchase. If that's too much to ask, I'll pass.




RE: I'll consider it
By Rodney McNaggerton on 2/3/2009 5:21:41 PM , Rating: 3
What I would really like to see from amazon is the ability to buy domain names, web hosting, and netflix accounts. It would be nice if I could buy more products that only exist on the internet, rather than only products that ship right to my door. I mean it would be great if I didn't have to worry about my netflix, website, online services, etc. and it all went under one bill and was all bought from one place. That way I also wouldn't have to worry about getting tons of accounts for tons of sites. What are your thoughts about this idea?


RE: I'll consider it
By soloman02 on 2/3/2009 9:30:49 PM , Rating: 2
I'll consider it as well. As long as they don't do what trymedia does: lock the games to only using patches put out by trymedia. Hence why I refuse to go near gamestop/ eb games.


RE: I'll consider it
By mindless1 on 2/3/2009 9:34:24 PM , Rating: 2
That it's a minor inconvenience to have multiple accounts in order to avoid paying the Amazon middleman markup. Besides, to have these other accounts you have to submit your info to them individually anyway, so it's actually an extra step involved.


RE: I'll consider it
By Rodney McNaggerton on 2/4/2009 12:32:09 AM , Rating: 2
There would not be an amazon middle man markup. Amazon would offer companies that specialized in internet sales, for example netflix, increased sales at the expensive of slightly decreased profit margins(because amazon would take a comission) then you would fill out all the forms on amazon like you would on the netflix site, but it would actually be through netflix.


RE: I'll consider it
By mindless1 on 2/6/2009 12:51:50 AM , Rating: 2
If Amazon takes a commission, how is that not a middleman markup? Netflix doesn't need Amazon, anyone wanting their service can find them easily enough.

I'm just not buying the idea that it would increase sales, Amazon tends to do that more for small unknowns than major players in a market. Besides, why would someone go to Amazon in the first place instead of directly to who they were searching for? If anything, it's a walk in the park finding things these days with Google's search and typing in personal info takes about what, 20 seconds?


RE: I'll consider it
By salgado18 on 2/4/2009 8:50:34 AM , Rating: 2
It could be nicer if they opened the store to small independent developers, thus making a PC version of iStore. With the Amazon name behind it, could be a big success.


RE: I'll consider it
By Diesel Donkey on 2/4/2009 3:50:41 PM , Rating: 2
Can't you do this with Paypal?


RE: I'll consider it
By Triple Omega on 2/4/2009 12:35:34 PM , Rating: 2
I wish I could consider it. Seems I can't even buy from amazon's new download service without living in the USA. There go 600.000.000 possible customers that services like Steam can reach. Oh well, their loss.


Full steam ahead
By dj LiTh on 2/3/2009 5:01:59 PM , Rating: 3
I'll take Steam and Impulse personally. As for huge mega corporations trying to make a download service for games, i already have a dirty taste in my mouth from EA. Thanks but no thanks.




RE: Full steam ahead
By GaryJohnson on 2/3/2009 5:20:23 PM , Rating: 2
Is Amazon's service even supposed to compete with Steam? It looks like all they're carrying is why-isn't-this-a-free-flash-game crap.


RE: Full steam ahead
By bodar on 2/4/2009 2:47:27 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, Steam must be quaking in its boots at Pageant Princess and Juice Mania (god, I wish I made those names up). Couldn't they at least get some legit indie games?


RE: Full steam ahead
By jtesoro on 2/5/2009 2:31:42 AM , Rating: 2
I was wondering the same myself. I wonder how big a market are casual games. There are a lot which are free already, so I'm not sure if there's enough revenue to be made with paid casual games.


RE: Full steam ahead
By Pirks on 2/3/2009 5:31:52 PM , Rating: 1
What's wrong with EA digital downloads store? I used it to buy Dead Space, worked perfect for me.


RE: Full steam ahead
By oab on 2/3/2009 7:00:43 PM , Rating: 3
Because they don't offer guarantees that you will continue to be able to download it past 6 months (you can give them more money to extend it to two years).

Unlike steam or impulse, which say you can download the games as many times as you want, with no time limit.

Steam now sells EA games, so there is no reason to use an inferior service like the EA download manager.


I tried Steam....
By A Stoner on 2/3/2009 5:23:33 PM , Rating: 2
But when I could not patch my game for many weeks after the official patches came out I never went back. This is where all the DRM problems occure and I am with the first poster. If I can download it, play it, buy it, and not have some form of rootkit or other DRM software running background soaking up my resources, I am happy. Except one other thing is that someone has to take responsibility for making sure that any patches and such are going to be available for the downloaded version.




RE: I tried Steam....
By Alpha4 on 2/4/2009 10:18:24 AM , Rating: 2
In my experience Steam has kept its library of games updated on time, including non-valve products. But I agree they drop the ball on occasion, and it seems to be on titles that need it most.

I recently purchased Armed Assault and discovered that the 3.5GB install didn't have the latest patches applied, stopping me from playing online. Updates were nowhere to be found in the change log either, but at least I was able to download & apply the patches manually as though I'd purchased a Retail copy.

If that is possible for all their titles then it's not a complete loss.


Casual Gaming Epidemic
By ThisSpaceForRent on 2/3/2009 6:44:00 PM , Rating: 3
We need to stop all of this casual gaming that has become rampant. It has lead to an increase in the use of DRM software. I remember back in the day when you could game whenever you wanted to without worrying about getting infected. These days you have to be careful who you game with. You never know what the long term consequences of that decision are. I advocate gaming abstinence!




Optimistic outlook
By parge on 2/3/2009 7:08:35 PM , Rating: 2
Amazon did a great job getting into legal MP3's, and I am sure as hell up for giving them a go when it comes to buying games as well. Now we just need to get some games that people actually want to play.




im casual
By poohbear on 2/4/2009 3:19:08 AM , Rating: 2
hey, im a casual gamer, i game 30-45 minutes a night, but i play triple A title games, so why dont they offer such games?




no thanks
By R3MF on 2/4/2009 4:36:33 AM , Rating: 2
same price as Good Old Games, but infested with DRM.

i'll pass thanks amazon.




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