Oh the Atlus PR team has fun. Just look at the title to their press release: "ATLUS ENDS YEARS OF ALLEGEDLY NOT PRINTING ENOUGH COPIES OF GAMES AND THEN LAUGHING AT EMPTY-HANDED CUSTOMERS, RELEASES DIGITAL DOWNLOAD VERSIONS OF PSP SYSTEM CLASSICS VIA PlayStation NETWORK." This is how they announce the addition of Crimson Gem Saga, Hammerin' Hero, Yggdra Union, Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament, R-Type Command, and Riviera: The Promised Land to the PlayStation Network.

Wait - it gets better.

"We've finally reached a point where, according to our physicians, any further laughing at our masterfully executed plan of never making enough copies of our games for everyone poses risks to our health," admitted Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales at Atlus. "In order to prevent illness, and because, hey, sometimes you just want to change things up, we're very pleased to offer PSP system classics via digital download. It may mean that we'll have to shut down our numerous online auction accounts, as we won't be able to hoard large quantities of our hard-to-find games and then slowly trickle them out at obscenely high prices anymore, but the end result will be better for everyone."

I knew that JabbariBay eBay handle sounded familiar...

As they did with Xbox Live Arcade and WiiWare, Amazon does with the PlayStation Network, launching a new section of their PlayStation 3 section dedicated to game add-ons and downloadable titles for the PlayStation 3 and PSP. The new area is live now, with a selection of the more popular PSN games and PSP titles. Purchasers will receive a code immediately after making a purchase, which they can then redeem through the PlayStation Network or send to a friend as a gift.

"With more than 600 million pieces of content downloaded to date, consumers are turning to PlayStation Network more than ever for digitally distributed entertainment content," said Peter Dille, senior vice president of Marketing and PlayStation Network. "We are excited to team with Amazon.com to expand our reach with Amazon's market leading ability to target current and future PlayStation consumers."

The benefit here is that friends and family can now easily gift downloadable content to their more game savvy counterparts instead of scouring store shelves for cold, impersonal PlayStation Network cards. Good for them.

Specifically, Petrovic will "building on the company's ongoing efforts to integrate digital media into the company's multi-channel strategy, as well as overseeing the development and execution of a digital acquisition strategy." In regular English, that likely means finding ways to sell digital goods to GameStop shoppers, the kind of thing that takes up minimal shelf space at a strip mall location. It's also the kind of thing that threatens the core of GameStop's business, selling you used games.

While Petrovic is probably whipping up a scheme to digitize yellow paper stickers to apply to used downloads, he'll also help GameStop in "identifying and effectively participating in emerging trends in casual, browser and mobile gaming."

With Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, WiiWare, DSiWare, Steam, Direct2Drive, et al. snapping up some of the dollars GameStop would rather have, the addition of Mr. General Manager, Digital Media looks like a response to all that.

Paterson's proposal, issued in December, included a section titled "Close Digital Property Taxation Loophole", which would impose taxes on all digitally-delivered items, including iPod songs, digital movie rentals, and video game content. In a press conference in Albany yesterday, the governor announced that that particular provision had been removed, along with taxes on clothing over $100, haircuts, non-diet soda, movie tickets, and gasoline priced over $2.

According to Paterson, the taxes were viewed as "inconvenient and frustrating" by New Yorkers, who viewed them as a direct attack on their leisure activities, and the one thing no one wants to deal with is inconvenienced and frustrated New Yorkers.

New York skips Internet, soda and other tax hikes [Reuters]

The online store located at Gamestore.Phantom.net carries a large selection of computer games, from today's top titles to the classics of yesteryear. Purchases made through the store will be tracked, allowing buyers to re-download their games at no additional cost until the end of time. Next year Phantom plans to roll out steaming gameplay, rentals, and timed trials to the service. This is pretty much the store that would have been the backbone of the Phantom console, had that whole thing ever worked out.

On the hardware side of things, Phantom is also announcing that they've secured funding to produce a new batch of their Phantom Lapboards early next year, complete with an upgraded laser mouse and new internal components. The Lapboard combines a wireless keyboard and mouse with a hard surface that allows players to conveniently play PC games from the comfort of their couch. I must have one.

It's nice to see the company putting out actual products, isn't it? In a few decades we'll finally be able to look back at the whole Phantom console debacle and laugh.

Phantom Entertainment Launches Highly Anticipated Game Store; Company Secures Funding for Innovative Lapboard Production

December 15th, 2008 – Tampa, FL

Phantom Entertainment today launched its highly anticipated online game store, located at gamestore.phantom.net. The game store features an impressive catalog of over 2,600 PC games including top sellers like Fallout 3 and Far Cry 2. The store allows for outright purchasing of video games or try before you buy, and features level 4 merchant abilities. It uses a highly advanced content licensing management system to track all games purchased, so once a game is paid for and downloaded, the user owns the license forever and can return to re-download the game in the future without incurring additional cost.

This is all made possible by a strategic partnership with GameStreamer, Inc. and their Enterprise Class Gaming Network built on top of Savvis Communications Tier 1 backbone and data centers. GameStreamer is diligently working on implementing technology to enhance its offering and providing unparalleled service to its users. Some of the enhancements will include a streaming system, subscription support, rentals, timed trials and complete automations with its content and distribution partners.

Phantom Entertainment is also announcing today that they have secured financing and have placed an order with its contract manufacturer to mass manufacture the Phantom Lapboard. The units will be arriving in January and be available for purchase on the Phantom.net website. Phantom Entertainment has been working diligently to address the needs and concerns of large big box retailers and OEM manufacturers to deliver upon their expectations of building an order history. The Lapboard is positioned to be the selection of choice for the evolving market for digital media centers, set-top boxes and devices in the living room or automobiles. Phantom Entertainment’s mission is to deliver our lapboards with the highest quality and customer satisfaction.

Phantom Entertainment shipped its first small order of lapboards last quarter and has made many improvements. The company “upgraded" the laser mouse and internal component hardware and is ready for retail and OEM distribution. The company has opened up a warehouse, logistics and distribution facility in St. Louis, Missouri and has worked out a system to ensure units are on hand to facilitate the demand.

The Phantom® Lapboard is a combination wireless keyboard, laser mouse and hard surface that makes it easy for you to work or play games from your couch, easy chair or any comfortable setting in your home or workplace. The Lapboard includes wireless technology, ergonomic design, one-touch features, and a wireless laser mouse. Its innovative design features a keyboard that rotates 360-degrees to accommodate left or right-handed users and inclines on a 22-degree angle with a hard surface below for the Phantom Laser Mouse. The Lapboard's interchangeable key-face technology is designed for game-specific and business software applications for PC or Apple Mac platforms.

As a special promotion to promote the launch of the Phantom game store and availability of the Phantom Lapboard, Phantom Entertainment will be offering the first 100 game store registered users a premium game title for free. Also, anyone who orders the Phantom Lapboard during the month of January will receive a credit to purchase a free casual game title.

“Gamecock is committed to providing gamers with original titles from the most talented developers,” said Gamecock’s ‘El Presidente’ Harry Miller. “With the growth and acceptance of digital download, gamers now have greater access to original titles. By partnering with GameTap, we have another chance to ensure that gamers can find and play great games made by independent developers.”

Both current and future titles will be made available for the service, from the intentionally buggy Insecticide to the sexy spy action of Velvet Assassin. If that doesn't interest you, then I offer the director's cut headline for this story, "GameTap Gets Stuffed With Cock."

GAMECOCK MEDIA GROUP SHAKES HANDS AND SIGNS DEAL WITH DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, GAMETAP

New Partnership Makes Available Original Titles like Insecticide and Stronghold Crusader Extreme for Purchase and Play!

Cockpit, Austin, TX – July 24, 2008 – Video game publisher Gamecock Media Group announced today that it has finalized a new partnership with GameTap, the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) network that is a leader in digital game distribution and broadband entertainment. The partnership includes the rights for the publisher’s titles to be available for digital download in GameTap’s online store, as well as for subscription and ad-supported play.

“Gamecock is committed to providing gamers with original titles from the most talented developers,” said Gamecock’s ‘El Presidente’ Harry Miller. “With the growth and acceptance of digital download, gamers now have greater access to original titles. By partnering with GameTap, we have another chance to ensure that gamers can find and play great games made by independent developers.”

“We are constantly looking for ways to expand our massive library of games by working with innovative publishers,” said Ricardo Sanchez, vice president of content and creative director for GameTap. “Through this partnership, GameTap will now feature some of Gamecock’s best titles, including Insecticide and Stronghold Crusader Extreme.”

As part of the new agreement, future titles, such as Legendary and Velvet Assassin will also be available on GameTap. All games will be added GameTap’s online digital retail storefront at launch and later added to the subscription service and ad-supported website.

"We want to become the best, the go-to place, the studio that is known for carving out our own part of the industry. Double Six is going to be the place to go for the absolutely best games on digital platforms"

Kuju targets digital downloads with new Double Six studio {GamesIndustry.biz]