I'm happy that their focusing more on just being a game-service, but only because it increases the possibility that they will actually start accepting international customers. I swear there is nothing worse than being slapped in the face by Panzer Dragoon Zwei every week when the newsletter hits.

XanderSan

Hm, just based on a lot of the comments here, it seems that not many folks even knew Gametap had an editorial side. Seems to be plenty of folks that use the service, but didn't read/know about the previews, news, reviews, etc. Maybe that's the problem in that the two sides weren't integrated enough.

ChrisInSF

I work a couple of buildings away from them and a coworker of mine who used to work with another turner division was telling me a few weeks ago that they were getting rid of people as was Adult Swim and cartoon network. I wouldn't be surprised if some folks over there end up working a couple of cube away from me.

I digress....the editorial side of things was simply a sign they didn't have much hope that enough people would come to play games so by adding the editorial aspect, they can justify things by saying "people don't just come here to play games". Still baffled about writing articles for current games on a site that allows you to play games that are old and older-er.

agentUrge

The number of people using GameTap falls every day. And if the people at GameTap don't know why, then they're fucking clueless. GameTap keeps adding games that don't support Vista AND they refuse to support any 64 bit OS. At all. It's like they sat around a table and said "Hey, we've got an AWESOME business idea.... how can we fuck it up so bad that everyone involved loses a ton of money?!"

I signed up for GameTap about a year ago, and as I've upgraded PCs I've become more and more pissed off at them for being such utter dumbasses. Their comment on x64 operating systems is still "no plans for future support". All of the GAMES work, that's not the problem. It's only their encryption that they're too damned lazy to recompile.

otakucode

@ riffleraffle:

I know Gametap has a couple of the Wing Commander games, not sure if they have all of them. I remember having a problem getting them to recognize my joystick.

As others have said, Gametap is a pretty awesome service with some good games cheap. And it lets me catch up on old classics I've not played in years. I wish they could get LucasArts to release some of their old school adventure games, I'd like a super easy way of playing Monkey Island or Maniac Mansion.

gtabacchi

I used to be a big gametap fan. I cancelled after they started bringing about 2 new games per week, one was usually a recent PC Title like Kane and Lynch or Turning Point and the other would be some obscure japanese arcade game from 1983. They had announced all these awesome franchises like Thief, Wing Commander, and Mafia, but they never brought a damn one to the service!

riffleraffle

@okenny :): Yes i think youre right, Dana and Scooter who used to work at GFW who then switched over to Official Playstation magazine went over to gametap to work in the editorial section, once ziff closed down OPM. Man this blows.

BryanGuitarDude

Fuckin Scooter is out of a job again,this sucks.To bad for them as they're editorial team was far to good to be writing for fuckin Gametap anyway.

SlowDeath420

While I feel for those who are going to be laid off, if turner was going to start messing with GameTap I'm glad it was them. They weren't bad, they just weren't anything special

Narb

And to think, I saw a GameTap "Read" commercial on Adult Swim just last night.

Maximus Paynicus

I briefly subscribed to the GameTap service Way Back When (tm) and consumed their more worthwhile titles of games at the time with a ravenous gaming hunger. It's because of GameTap that I understand the grandeur that is Beyond Good and Evil, however like many others, I didn't give much more than a glance at their editorial section. I simply didn't require it, I have that sort of thing elsewhere on the interhighway and didn't need another source of.

That said, it always sucks when someone gets fired (unless Shoveling Puppies Into An Oven is a job I don't know about, in which case "fuck 'em"), so I wish the forsaken the best of luck.

Asper

Ah, that's a pity, hope they find jobs quickly enough.

Zeouterlimits

@okenny :): Think you might be right. I remember something along those lines too.

Shitty situation for all, really.

Rayk2099

@CCCombobreaker: that would be correct.

firesign

I'm a GameTap fan, and I love the service, but I've never even glanced at their editorial page. The awesome list of games distracts me from doing anything else.

I wish 'em all the best of luck.

Xeneizes

@Laughin_Caulk:

Is gametap even digital distribution though? I dont think you can buy games from them. You just pay a yearly fee to play the games on the service.

CCCombobreaker

OMG! I hope I'm wrong on this but a couple of months ago following the GFW magazine closure, they had a memorial episode where some ex-GFW people who were let go from the mag in the past came back in a podcast to commiserate. Now I think some of those guys worked for Gametap in an editorial capacity so if the link I'm making is accurate (which I myself doubt it is) then the Ziff curse is real folks!

okenny :)

I'm actually glad to hear this. When they added the editorial section and started doing reviews, etc., it felt like they started ignoring the core service a bit while attempting to compete as an all-in-one gaming site. I don't think the "Read" section was ever that popular either. Hopefully this will lead to good things and a return to focusing on the actual service/games.

slacker164

@Laughin_Caulk: *If

man we need edit buttons.

Laughin_Caulk

@CCCombobreaker: Digital Distribution, these are the only two around (that aren't publisher specific) so I can only compare these two. I there were some other services out there, I would be able to make better comparisons.

Laughin_Caulk

@Laughin_Caulk:

I wouldnt compare it to steam. Gametap is totally different. For $50 a year you can play all the games on the service.

CCCombobreaker

@Tulkamir:
@wild homes:
@Laughin_Caulk:

Okay, thanks. I was wondering how popular it was. Thanks for the answers.

neoepochx

Good luck to the former staffers.

akashhhhh

@neoepochx: I've used it for quite awhile now. Great service, despite various problems. It's really one of the best gaming deals out there.

ShaggE

@neoepochx:

I've got it. I'm very impressed with it actually. I'd recommend getting it if you don't.

Tulkamir

I used to use Gametap when I had the time to play lots of games. It was great, I really enjoyed most of the streaming video content, the selection of games was great and has only gotten larger, if I wasn't playing WoW, I'd be subscribing to this.

SirDanF

That sucks I always liked their videos, most of them were quite funny or informative.

Chaoticevl

@neoepochx: It's actually pretty popular. They get a number of good games each month. Maybe not AAA stuff, but they're not exactly aiming for the heavy GPU-packing crowd.

wild homes

@neoepochx: And do the one's that use it really care about their editorial staff anyway? I mean it's a pretty crap situation for everyone that got laid of, but come on now, show of hands to the people who'll miss it?

NoahIdea

I am a gametap user and find the service to be very much worth the money. Their library is quite large with a wide variety of titles. Also being able to play online with or against other people with almost no lag is also amazing. Being able to play Street Fighter Alpha 3 online against other people is worth the price alone

Techknow

@neoepochx: Not as much as Steam (because Steam is world-wide, reaching even China), but enough to co-publish games on Gametap first.

This news sucks, for everyone involved, of course. I just hope those guys find jobs soon.

Laughin_Caulk

Turner has been shuttering/reforming a lot of its internet ventures of late. They threw a lot of stuff at the wall and I guess now they're taking the time to see what stuck.

dan

How many people actually uses GameTap? Is it really that much, or am I out of the loop?

neoepochx

Scooter :(

SwimOdin

I stopped subscribing to GameTap a long time ago, but it was great when they introduced free games. Now, since they've had the same free games for forever, I've kind of lost interest in GameTap. Especially since I discovered Steam! Sure, it's not an "all you can play" type thing like GameTap, but their games are SUPER-CHEAP!! I spent about $23.50 on 3 games: Audiosurf, Lumines and the Advance Pack, & Bullet Candy for $3.95! I played the demos for all of these games, and I liked them enough to buy the full games!

dawimp523

I really enjoy the GameTap service and for those who don't know, you can actually play around 130 games on the service completely free. I've worked with (not for) GameTap PR in the past and they are pretty good company to work along with in my opinion. It's good to see the focus is going back on game titles but I know of a few of the writers that will be effected by this and that really sucks for them. Given their talent, though, I'm sure it won't be long before they land something else.

nestlekwik