GameTap Announces Groundbreaking Day And Date Subscription Play And Digital Retail Program
Expands its playing field with free-to-play games
ATLANTA - May 1, 2007 -Turner Broadcasting System's GameTap has reached a new level of play. After a winning 2006, the broadband entertainment network is expanding to feature enhanced subscription play, a digital retail storefront and a free-to-play, advertising-supported offering.
The first game that will be launched in GameTap's new day-and-date subscription play and digital retail model features video gaming's leading lady in her latest adventure, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary. Through a "game changing" deal with publisher Eidos, GameTap will make the title available to its paying subscribers and for purchase at GameTap.com's new digital retail store on the same date it hits U.S. retail shelves.
"This is the first new deal with a major game publisher that will enable GameTap to feature the hottest games of today and tomorrow for subscription play in the same windows as traditional retail outlets," said Stuart Snyder, GameTap's senior vice president and general manager.
In 2006, subscribers played more than 20 million games from the GameTap "vault" -more than 54,000 a day. The vault itself has nearly tripled in size since the network launched in October 2005, and GameTap has added over 500 games as well as more than 600 new content pieces to GameTap TV. Last quarter, subscriptions were up nearly three-fold, and the network has expanded into Canada.
"We're opening the tap to the millions of website visitors to experience free-to-play games and great new original content at GameTap.com," said Snyder. "By expanding our offerings, we are giving gaming enthusiasts more ways to play."
Building on its 2006 success, GameTap will be introducing an advertising-supported program at GameTap.com aimed at capturing a new audience of "mainstream gamers" who are looking for a no-hassle place to play great games for free.
"While our paid membership model has attracted serious gamers, another class of player is coming to GameTap.com in droves," said Snyder. "Mainstream gamers want to play dynamic games they can access at work, home or anywhere, and aren't satisfied with the current portal offerings like card games and checkers. They want action/adventure, racing, sports, and fighting titles alongside the arcade classics."
Debuting on May 31st, 2007, GameTap.com will offer more than 30 free games, with more added every week, from the most popular game franchises of all time. Launch titles include Metal Slug from SNK Playmore, Taito's Bust-A-Move and Space Invaders, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend from Eidos, as well as Midway titles Joust, Robotron: 2084, and Rampage.
Anyone visiting GameTap.com also receives a new all-access pass that includes original programming from GameTap TV, which features top music acts and celebrities weighing in on their favorite games, as well as original content like the GameTap Retrospectives series and the all-new ReVisioned series, animated episodes that have well-known comic book artists and writers reinvent popular game icons. They will also have access to the new digital retail storefront, which will offer hundreds of the best new and catalogue PC games for purchase.
About GameTap
GameTap is the leader in digital game distribution and broadband entertainment. Launched by Turner Broadcasting in 2005, it now delivers more than 850 authentic versions of the greatest console, computer and arcade games on demand, including original and exclusive episodic properties. In addition to games for every age and interest, GameTap offers more than 600 original entertainment programs, popular video streams and thriving virtual communities to broadband-connected PCs. Continually updated with new games, programs and features, GameTap is a downloadable application that supports navigation and game play using keyboard and mouse, as well as most USB peripherals.
About Turner
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment products around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.
CONTACT:
Clint Bagley
Access Communications for GameTap
415-844-6250
cbagley@accesspr.com
Wendy Rutherford
TBS PR
404-827-5097
wendy.rutherford@turner.com