You will have to sign up with GameTap to get at the goods, and you can expect they will probably ask if you want to start paying for their premium service at some point.

There is a slight bug in GameTap's implementation of the game that means the screen will occasionally go blank (fixable with a few key presses) but whaddaya want? Its free, and its one of the games you need to at least pretend that you have played to avoid embarrassment at dinner parties.

Fallout [GameTap via Shacknews]

“GameTap is a significant strategic addition to our portfolio of established online gaming services in Europe,” said Pierre Gaudet, CEO of Paris-based Metaboli. “The addition of GameTap provides us a foothold in the U.S. market; valuable content and an established brand that integrate well with our existing operations; and a partner with whom we are honored to be in business.”

See? All's well that ends well. Our little GameTap is just growing up and flexing its wings. Let's just hope we don't find its broken corpse at the base of the tree when this is all over.

Turner Broadcasting and Metaboli Partner To Create A Global Online Gaming Service

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) and Metaboli, S.A. have partnered to create a global online gaming service under the GameTap brand in the U.S. and Metaboli brand in Europe, the companies announced today. GameTap will continue to offer arcade, console and PC games from a library of several hundred titles to broadband users in the U.S. The GameTap/Metaboli combination brings together two established leaders in the online gaming space that creates a global gaming brand with a presence on two continents.

“GameTap is a significant strategic addition to our portfolio of established online gaming services in Europe,” said Pierre Gaudet, CEO of Paris-based Metaboli. “The addition of GameTap provides us a foothold in the U.S. market; valuable content and an established brand that integrate well with our existing operations; and a partner with whom we are honored to be in business.”

“Our priority for all of our networks and businesses is growth,” said Stuart Snyder, who as president and chief operating officer of Turner Broadcasting’s Animation, Young Adult & Kids Media group has overseen GameTap. “Partnering with Metaboli significantly enhances GameTap’s growth prospects by leveraging our respective strengths. Metaboli’s recognized white label expertise, combined with GameTap’s vast game library, publishing agreements and brand equity will now offer turn key solutions to ISPs, Portals, Retailers and Publishers in the United States. There’s upside here for everyone, but especially for gaming enthusiasts around the world.”

Under the new agreement, Turner Broadcasting will continue to manage GameTap operations and provide technical and migration support through a transition period to conclude in early 2009, at which time Metaboli will assume direct management of the GameTap business and brand. GameTap will continue to be based in Atlanta and Turner will become an equity investor in the combined entity going forward.

Launched in 2005 by Turner Broadcasting, GameTap delivers more than 1,300 authentic versions of console, computer and arcade games, including original and exclusive episodic titles such as Sam & Max, Seasons One and Two and American McGee’s Grimm. Visitors to www.gametap.com can play free games on its ad-supported Web site and purchase top PC and catalog titles from its digital retail storefront. GameTap paid members receive unlimited access to its massive library of titles; community and multi-player features; and original games.

Metaboli is Europe’s leading provider of platforms and websites for games digital distribution. Consumers can subscribe to its games-on-demand service at www.metaboli.com and download to own games at www.gamesplanet.com.

Through “Digital Tycoon”, their business-to-business platform, Metaboli also powers the websites of more than 50 white label partners from MSN, T-Online, Orange, Virgin to Atari or Game.

GameTap closed down its editorial division earlier this year to "focus the business on our biggest strength, which is our game catalog." The service also recently dropped Myst Online from its line-up, lobbing control back to its creators.

It most recently launched American McGee's Grimm.

Time Warner Inc. Reports Second-Quarter 2008 Results [BusinessWire via Gamasutra]

“The opportunity to work with GameTap to develop truly unique content in this new episodic format has been a dream come true,” said American McGee, creative director and founder of Spicy Horse Games. “Grimm is a fairy tale adventure that incorporates innovative, mainstream play mechanics with classic elements such as platforming, power-ups, easter-eggs, and more. Grimm offers something for the cranky dwarf in all of us.”

The first installment is available to play now for free via GameTap, while the remaining episodes will be free for the first 24 hours as well as available for purchase at $3.99 a piece. Remember, if it says American McGee in the title, you know it's...most likely a video game of some sort.

GameTap Launches American McGee’s Grimm
Premiere Episode “A Boy Learns What Fear Is” Free to Play Online

ATLANTA—(BUSINESS WIRE)—GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., announced today the much-anticipated launch of American McGee’s Grimm. The newest GameTap Original title, American McGee’s Grimm, consists of 24 individual standalone game episodes, each of which is based on a classic fairy tale such as Little Red Riding Hood or Beauty and the Beast.

“We are excited to announce the launch of American McGee’s Grimm, our newest episodic title,” said Ricardo Sanchez, vice president of content and creative director for GameTap. “Working with American and the Spicy Horse team to bring this game to fans has been a great experience and we know this twisted adventure through classic fairy tales will appeal to a wide audience of game enthusiasts.”

The game’s main character, Grimm, is a crude dwarf who believes that the lessons offered in the original tellings of famous fairy tales have been lost over time, as the stories have been watered down with talking woodland creatures and Happily Ever After endings for all of the characters – whether they deserve it or not. As Grimm, players transform these toothless interpretations of the tales into dark and twisted versions of the story.

“The opportunity to work with GameTap to develop truly unique content in this new episodic format has been a dream come true,” said American McGee, creative director and founder of Spicy Horse Games. “Grimm is a fairy tale adventure that incorporates innovative, mainstream play mechanics with classic elements such as platforming, power-ups, easter-eggs, and more. Grimm offers something for the cranky dwarf in all of us.”

The new series debuts today on GameTap with the first episode “A Boy Learns What Fear Is,” which is free to play on the game service. The remaining episodes will be free to play for the first 24 hours exclusively on GameTap, and will also available for digital purchase in GameTap.com’s online store for $3.99 an episode.

The first Volume of American McGee’s Grimm will consist of eight standalone episodes, which will be released weekly as follows:

July 31 A Boy Learns What Fear Is
August 7 Little Red Riding Hood
August 14 The Fisherman and His Wife
August 21 Puss In Boots
August 28 The Girl Without Hands
September 4 Godfather Death
September 11 The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs
September 18 Beauty and the Beast

To get more information about episodes, view trailers, download avatars and wallpapers, please visit the official site: www.gametap.com/grimm.

“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.

“Our new partnership with GameTap allows both a brand new audience and fans alike to enjoy our titles and franchise games online,” said Adrienne Lauer, National Sales Director, Market Development for THQ, “Digital distribution is a great way to extend the reach of our properties and GameTap is an ideal outlet for this effort.”

See? GameTap knows what it's doing. The editorial content always seemed unnecessary to me anyway. More games is good! Hit the jump for the full PR.

GAMETAP SIGNS PARTNERSHIP WITH THQ

New deal includes top titles and franchises like Company of Heroes

ATLANTA – July 22, 2008 – GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., announced today a long-term partnership with THQ Inc. that includes worldwide subscription play and digital download rights for a wide selection of the publisher’s games for Windows PC. Additionally under the new agreement, some THQ games will also be made available for free play on GameTap’s ad-supported website www.gametap.com.

“We are excited to be adding THQ’s roster of top content to GameTap,” said Ricardo Sanchez, vice president of content and creative director for GameTap. “With this new deal, subscribers and website visitors will enjoy great games from THQ, including Company of Heroes and Red Faction.”

As part of the new agreement, GameTap will now feature titles from the THQ and ValuSoft catalogues, including critically acclaimed games such as Company of Heroes®, Warhammer® 40K, Red Faction®, Supreme Commander®, Titan Quest™, Saints Row™ 2, PuzzleQuest and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.

“Our new partnership with GameTap allows both a brand new audience and fans alike to enjoy our titles and franchise games online,” said Adrienne Lauer, National Sales Director, Market Development for THQ, “Digital distribution is a great way to extend the reach of our properties and GameTap is an ideal outlet for this effort.”

Cyan CTO Mark "Chogon" DeForest said in a community board letter that despite having a plan in place, cheerfully titled the "Myst Online: Restoration Experiment (MORE)," there are some "hurdles to overcome." Among the necessary compromises will be an implementation of a $25 fee for a six month subscription.

"We are not trying to make any money on this at this stage - but we do need to cover some of the costs," he said.

"You should know that the roadmap does not involve any new content from Cyan at this time. The plan is to start to move the content creation - the 'Art' - to you. In addition the guilds themselves will start to exercise some authority in monitoring, approving, communicating, etc."

Kotaku also spoke to Chogon about when the bigger, better, faster, MORE Myst Online might be up and running:

"We hope to have the MystOnline servers up sometime before the end of the year... hopefully, even sooner," he said.

The result will be a "more grass roots" Myst Online that will resemble Until Uru, but with more involvement with Cyan, Chogon said.

"Cyan will be in control of the core servers and the core of the game. While, the fans will be involved in not only creating content and tools but also helping run the game as well as providing structure (through the guilds) and key insights into keeping MystOnline going.

"This will start slowly but in the future, Cyan may be able to provide content once again and continue the story it has started."

Better still, McGee decided that those episodes, their are eight in the first volume, will be free to play for the first 24 hours of release. The best is that the very first episode, A Boy Learns What Fear Is, will be permanently free when it hits on July 31.

Those who want to play the rest of the games episodes at their leisure will have to sign up for the GameTap Gold service. Not a bad idea. It certainly shows just how much faith GameTap has in the game.

Hit the jump for the break down of episodes and scans from the press release story book that GameTap sent along today. Be warned, it ends with everyone dying!

July 31: A Boy Learns What Fear Is
Aug 7: Little Red Riding Hood
Aug 14: The Fisherman and His Wife
Aug 21: Puss in Boots
Aug 28: The Girl Without Hands
Sept 4: Godfather Death
Sept 11: The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs
Sept 18: Beauty and the Beast

“Cyan Worlds has been a great partner to GameTap," said content VP and creative director Rick Sanchez. "It’s just the right thing to do, giving Cyan and the fans the opportunity to continue to enjoy this rich universe that has become a second home to many of its inhabitants.”

The fan-favorite Uru Live getting shifted out of GameTap's portfolio for good comes just after Turner's content delivery network shuttered its editorial division and canceled its Galactic Command publishing deal with outspoken developer Derek Smart.

Amid all these issues, we asked Sanchez if there might be some difficulties at GameTap:

Sanchez reiterated that the editorial closing was so GameTap could focus more on other areas, which he detailed. "The reason we are moving away from editorial content is to focus our energies and resources on building our game library and new initiatives such as browser based games and expanded community features," he said.

"Our model hasn’t changed, we will continue to offer our paid subscription service of more than 1000 games, ad-supported free play on GameTap.com, and titles for purchase via digital download in our online store.”

Cyan president Rand Miller says that the newly relaunched game will include features that will allow players to create their own content, which was hinted at during the game's first relaunch. The revitalized title will carry a fee ($25 for 6 months was suggested) to cover the cost of maintaining servers.

There's something to be said for tenacity, but I fear in this case that something is "Just let it die already."

GameTap gives Myst Online back to Cyan. Cyan says it's opening the game to fan development [TXT - Thanks Kyven]]

As you may have heard, Grimm is going to be an episodic game, with new episodes appearing every week. Episodes will be free for the first 24 hours and from there you can either purchase them individually from GameTap.com/grimm or get them free via a gold GameTap subscription. Each episode will take on a different fairy tale (some well know and some not so well known) with the first being “The Boy Learns What Fear Is,” and others to follow including “Red Riding Hood” and “The Girl Without Hands.”

In the game, you take on the character of Grimm, an evil little troll who is sick of the happy endings that most fairy tales seem to have. So he takes it upon himself (and you) to wreak as much havoc as possible on the rainbow colored fairy tale worlds. Each episode starts out with a “puppet show,” with Grimm telling you the good version of the tale. Once the show is over, you are set loose in the land of the story to see exactly how much of it you can turn dark.

As you run about the darkness spreads around you, turning everything into an outlandish Tim Burton-esque kooky, spooky world. What makes this extra fun is that everything in the world has a light and dark form. The shiny hatchet in the corner turns into a bloody headsman’s axe, the bucket of water turns into a bucket of blood, the pretty princess turns into an ashen zombie and all it takes is a little running and jumping on Grimm’s part. As things turn uglier, your dark meter goes up, allowing you to reach a wider area and turn larger and larger object into their darker selves. But beware, do-gooder NPC’s are on hand to try and clean up the mess you’ve made! Give a good butt stomp near them to send them into a daze and gain enough darkness to eventually turn them over to the evil side. Once you are all finished you are presented with another puppet show, this time showing you the darker version of the tale.

Grimm has a great, simple graphical style but don’t let that make you think it’s a game for kids. This is a very twisted world and the game will have an M rating. The humor is quite black and may have some players scratching their heads but those of you with a sick sense of humor will absolutely love it. The keyboard and mouse controls are simple and easy to use but if you tend towards the controller, you can use any USB controller at your disposal (including the 360’s). Each episode is short and can be completed straight through in about 30 minutes, but there are plenty of reasons to go back and replay the levels including secret items, power-ups, beating your time and the simple pleasure of seeing everything turn scary. Since it is being powered by the Unreal Engine and the graphic style is very simple, it allows for a lot to be crammed in to a very small space and they take full advantage of it.

The first episode of Grimm, “The Boy Learns What Fear Is,” launches absolutely free for the PC on July 31 with the remaining seven episodes of Volume One appearing each week thereafter. Two more volumes of eight episodes each will also be available at a later date. No price for the individual episodes has been announced yet. If you like your games with a sickly humorous edge, be sure to give Grimm a try. It’s clever, fun, looks great and most importantly, twisted as all hell.

GameTap to Offer Classic Interplay Titles [Shacknews]

Deus Ex Coming to GameTap's Free Game Roster Next Week [Shacknews]

Sources have confirmed to Wired that all staff members not involved in developing game content will be laid off beginning in June. GameTap's editorial division has been operational for less than a year, and Sanchez said that "while we have been very happy with the work done by our editorial and video teams, we’ve made a decision to focus the business on our biggest strength, which is our game catalog."

"As a result, we will be restructuring the site to focus exclusively on gameplay."

Sanchez's full statement follows the jump:

A year ago we introduced a whole new GameTap to the world – GameTap.com. We added free, ad supported games, download to own games, and moved all of our video to the web site as well. A little later we added the editorial section.

We have had a lot of successes over the last year and the move to the web has been a good one for us. While we have been very happy with the work done by our editorial and video teams, we’ve made a decision to focus the business on our biggest strength, which is our game catalog. As a result, we will be restructuring the site to focus exclusively on gameplay.

What this means to our visitors is that instead of having a separate “READ” and “WATCH” section of the site we will be incorporating written and video content directly into the game pages. Doing this will allow us to improve and expand the gaming library and community aspects of our business.

For us, it’s always about how can we make your on-line gaming experience at GameTap the best out it can be and we think this is the way to do it. Speaking of having the best experience, American McGee’s Grimm is coming along great and will be ready to play this summer.

A change to GameTap.com [GameTap Forums via Game|Life]

Myst fans will be glad to read, however, that "Cyan is still a very valued partner of GameTap, we are on excellent terms, and we look forward to continuing our relationship in the future." Stay strong, Mysties.

Myst Online: Uru Live Season 2 Status [Myst Online Forums]

PC users will benefit too with the the GameTap player's updated, streamlined interface. I mean, you're not getting any new games or anything. But you've already had your fun while the rest of us were pouting in the corner, acting interested in our iPods.

Play Daikatana Free [GameTap]

GAMETAP LAUNCHES RE\VISIONED: TOMB RAIDER JIM LEE FINALE

Announces Season Two will explore the worlds of Activision

GameTap launched today "A Complicated Woman," the final episode in the premiere season of its new animation series "Re\Visioned" which features story and art from legendary comic book illustrator Jim Lee of Wildstorm/DC Comics.

Launched in late August, the first season of "Re\Visioned" features ten episodes focusing on the legendary Tomb Raider franchise and the adventures of popular video game heroine Lara Croft. Academy Award-nominated actress Minnie Driver provides her unique voice for leading lady Lara Croft, while Jim Lee, Warren Ellis, Peter Chung, Brian Pulido, Gail Simone, Michael Stackpole, Ivan Reis, Cully Hamner, Christos N. Gage, Louie Del Carmen, David Alvarez, and Six Point Harness, have provided their 'Re\Visioned' view of the famous video game heroine.

GameTap has also announced that the second season of "Re\Visioned" will feature six animated episodes that spotlight games from the golden age of Activision. For the new season that launches in December, GameTap has partnered with The Hero Initiative to develop episodes that will feature the work of top industry writers, including Mark Waid (Flash, Kingdom Come, Legion of Superheroes), John Ostrander (X-Men, Punisher, Star Wars Republic) and Paul Jenkins (Spectacular Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, Civil War: Front Line).

The Hero Initiative is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators in need. "We're thrilled that GameTap is continuing to support comic book creators with this second season of the 'Re\Visioned' series, especially since so many creators are video game fans," said Jim McLauchlin, President of Hero.

Episodes in Season Two will revolve around the worlds and characters featured in Activision's most iconic titles such as Pitfall, Kaboom and Pressure Cooker.

"Re\Visioned" is exclusive to GameTap and visitors can watch the finale and previous episodes from the first season absolutely free. For more information and to see the latest episode of Re\Visioned: Tomb Raider, visit www.gametap.com/tombraider.

Bushnell clarifies his stance on innovation later, claiming that too much of what's published today is "just bigger, faster, better."

Nolan saves the real venom for the Grand Theft Auto series, saying that it "values antisocial behavior" and the particular title at which he heaps his most scorn.

Fortunately, the uWink business man doesn't loathe all games. He praises games like Dance Dance Revolution, Tetris, Guitar Hero and Spore, alongside the Wii, as beacons of innovation. He may be cranky, but he may also have a point on some counts.

Kill the Editors! [GameTap]

GAMETAP APPROACHES 1000 GAMES IN SERVICE

Upcoming release schedule is highlighted by day-and-date offering of Clive Barker's Jericho, new original game episodes and the arrival of Game 1000

ATLANTA - October 18, 2007 - With its 1000th game on the horizon, GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), announced today its upcoming video games on-demand offerings, including the October 23rd day-and-date release of Clive Barker's Jericho, the premiere of Sam & Max Season Two, and the season finale of Myst Online: Uru Live. By championing original broadband episodic content and the day-and-date offerings of new games, while boasting the video game industry's largest on-demand library of games, GameTap remains at the forefront of the digital distribution trend.

"GameTap is focused on providing our subscribers with new original games, as well as great partner titles like Clive Barker's Jericho, that will premiere on GameTap the same day it hits retail stores," said Ricardo Sanchez, vp of content and creative director for GameTap. "We are also excited to announce that on November 15th we will be setting an industry benchmark of 1000 video games on-demand, reinforcing our reputation as the leader in the space."

The following are details regarding GameTap's hottest upcoming video game offerings:

* Clive Barker's Jericho: As part of its groundbreaking distribution strategy, GameTap is making Clive Barker's Jericho from Codemasters available to subscribers on October 23rd, the same day it arrives in retail stores. Written by legendary author Clive Barker, this game adds a new level of depth to the horror adventure genre by arming players with a squad of parapsychological soldiers, each with unique skills and abilities.

* Myst Online: Uru Live: In the Season Finale of this GameTap Original title, players embark on an amazing adventure filled with new worlds to explore and captivating puzzles to solve. The episode begins on November 1st and features the release of new game areas and the climax of the current storyline.

* Sam & Max Season Two: November 8th marks the premiere of the sequel to one of the most critically-acclaimed games of 2006. Sam & Max, stars of the industry's first successful episodic game, return for a second season of hilarious adventures. The first episode, "Ice Station Santa," pits the rabbity-thing and dog sleuth duo against a crazed Santa Claus. To get the party started early, GameTap is also now featuring Episode 4 from Season One "Abe Lincoln Must Die!" free to play exclusively at www.gametap.com/samandmax.

* Game 1000: On November 15th, GameTap will further solidify its position as the leading provider of video games on demand by releasing its 1000th title. What will the milestone title be? With hundreds of games already available in the service and dozens available to play free, count on it to be from one of GameTap's top publishing partners.

In addition to brand new games, GameTap is still continuing to add hit titles from the past, including Clockwork Knight, the SEGA Saturn side-scrolling classic, and Typing of the Dead, the SEGA Dreamcast-popularized game that introduced an entirely new keyboard-driven way to combat zombies.

To play the latest titles, Gold level subscription plans are currently available for as low as $5.00 per month and new subscribers can get their first month for only 99 cents. Gamers can also visit GameTap.com to check out the selection of more than 40 free games which are updated each week.

On Saturday GameTap is launching Deception, the newest episode in Myst Online: Uru Live. In this latest addition the D'ni Restoration Council continues its efforts to introduce a Guild system into the cavern, which includes new Guild pubs. Deception also forwards the plot of Phil Henderson who continues to spread information regarding the Bahro and their conflicts.

This episode, GameTap says, is the lead-in to the Myst Online: Uru Live season finale that hits next month.

"Given the limited shelf space and relatively quick turn of titles at retail nowadays, we consider GameTap to be a valuable vehicle that can help extend the video game lifecycle," said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing, Majesco.

Majesco and GameTap Partner on New Digital Distribution Deal

Top titles now featured on leading broadband gaming network

EDISON, N.J. - Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games and digital entertainment products for the mass market, announced today that several popular titles from its catalog, including Psychonauts, BloodRayne 1 & 2, and JAWS™ Unleashed are now available for subscription play and digital download on GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.). The new agreement includes that Majesco titles will also be made available on GameTap's recently launched ad-supported game play website.

"Given the limited shelf space and relatively quick turn of titles at retail nowadays, we consider GameTap to be a valuable vehicle that can help extend the video game lifecycle," said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing, Majesco.

Along with the critically-acclaimed Psychonauts from Double Fine Productions that is currently available for subscription play and online purchase, BloodRayne 1 & 2 are also prominently featured as part of GameTap's 'Bloodsucker Summer,' an original content program that the 900+ game service utilizes to bring both newer and older titles from their massive library to the attention of their subscribers.

GameTap is also inviting fans to 'Hit the Beach' today by offering the best-selling JAWS™ Unleashed to their Gold Level members for the first time.

"Majesco's wide range of quality games are a great addition to our current product catalog," said Ricardo Sanchez, GameTap's vice president of content and creative director. "Psychonauts is consistently one of our top titles and we've had a great response to the recent launch of BloodRayne on our service."

Psychonauts is a unique, third-person psychic odyssey from the mind of Tim Schafer that received numerous accolades and awards, including the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) award for Best Screenplay.

JAWS™ Unleashed adapts the landmark film into a unique interactive experience that lets you play as one of Nature's most powerful and fearsome creatures, the Great White Shark.

BloodRayne is an original action-horror franchise starring the super-sexy, super-lethal, supernatural heroine Rayne.

I'm sorta digging GameTap's Re\Visioned series. The idea is that they choose a iconic video game and hand the character over to ten teams of artists and writers to reimagine different elements of the icon. The ten-part Tomb Raider Re\Visioned animated series includes a number of interesting takes on the most famous video game heroine, including a humorous story of her untold young adulthood and more serious takes on her adventures, but by far the most interesting is Gail Simone's "Pre-Teen Raider" a look at Lara Croft as a young boisterous and sticky-fingered private school student.

The look of the young Croft and the short's script are both the product of Gaile Simone, who worked with Six Point Harness to put the six minute video together.

Simone, perhaps most known for her work on Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman, said she was approached by the GameTap folks because they were looking for someone with comic book experience. It was an added bonus that Simone also happens to be a big fan of the Tomb Raider video games.

"The very first Tomb Raider that came out, I played all of the way through," she said. "The last one, Legends, I played all the way through too. It was the first game I've played all the way through in a long time."

Simone, a feminist writer known for her talented comedy-action stories, said she was drawn to Croft because she wasn't the typical heroine.

"She's an adventurer, educated, classy, strong doesn't need to be rescued by someone else," she said. "She goes all over the world."

GameTap "asked me to pitch them a few concepts and (Pre Teen Raider) was my favorite," she said. "I thought it would be fun to explore what she would be like as a kid. I thought it would be a blast to show her that way."

And the end result it, an animated short that Simone describes as having a "lot of velocity. I'm excited about the visual look of it. It's very fun, it moves very fast, the jokes are funny."

Instead of trying to go back to the creative minds who initially gave life to Croft, Simone said she looked to the adult Croft for insight into what she would be like as a child.

"I just thought about how her character is as an adult," she said. "In order to grow up and have that personality what ideas she would have as a pre-teen."

I asked Simone if she was bothered by the seeming duality of Lara Croft's popularity. On the one hand she is popular because she is a representation of a smart, strong feminine hero, but on the other she is worshiped as a bombshell.

"I'm used to working with that," she said. "I write a lot of female strong feminine heroines. I'm not distributed by a female character being beautiful. I get disturbed by a bunch of video games that all look the same and all have the same focus."

While Pre-Teen Raider was a one off created for GameTap, Simone said it would make sense to turn into into a regular animated show.

"I think it would be fun."

Tome Raider

The party was set for 7:30 and as I arrived I was greeted by the ship's captain and soon after, a waitress bearing a tray of drinks all in Gametap's colors of orange, green and blue. I chose one of the orange concoctions and made my way to the upper decks. There was a terrific spread of food and a DJ spinning some fun tunes and after stuffing my face I went outside to enjoy being on the water. After about an hour at the dock, the ship finally set sail for an two hour cruise around San Diego Bay. It was great fun and being on the open water was quite a relaxing break from the crush of the Comic Con floor.

Gametap certainly knows how top throw a soiree and I look forward to seeing how their service progresses over the next year. With new games every week including rarities like Neo Geo titles as well as getting some games the same day they hit retail, they will be quite a force to be reckoned with, especially for those who prefer PC gaming to the expensive world of consoles.

The Game Sack has officially overflowed and sprung a leak on the GameTap forums. GameTap employee The RedEye let spill that four Hitman games will be coming to GameTap soon along with three Thief Games and two BloodRayne games.

He also hints that perhaps GameTapers might be getting some Legacy of Kain and Wing Commander IV in the future. Wing Commander IV! LOVE it. Brian Crecente

The GameSack is Leaking [GameTap]

The GameTap client for Macintosh will rely on Cider, the "wrapper" that allows Windows-based games to play on Mac OSX. That means some of GameTap's offerings won't be immediately available to Mac gamers, including releases like Sam & Max, Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Far Cry.

GameTap for Mac users will, however, have access to over 500 classic games, including titles released for the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast when the full service is launched. Michael McWhertor

GameTap to bring classic gaming service for Mac [MacWorld]

10 Years of Tomb Raider [GameTap]

Starting May 31st, all visitors to GameTap's website will be able to play through a rotating list of 30-60 titles (up to a T rating) and watch GameTap TV content (hooray) via an ad-supported Lite Player at no charge. Players who register become Green Level Members, effectively lifting the rating caps while gaining access to community features. Of course gamers will still be able to purchase the ad-free membership for $9.99 a month, only now they'll be considered Gold Level members. Fancy.

The new digital distribution storefront will allow paying subscribers to purchase new PC games directly through the GameTap interface, with Tomb Raider Anniversary from Eidos set to be the debut title.

Over at GameDaily.biz James Brightman goes in-depth with GameTap GM Stu Synder about the big changes, so hit the link to learn more about how they plan to make the system more than just a fancy Sam and Max delivery device with a logo that resembles the world's most impractical cock ring. Michael Fahey

GameTap Expands Business Model, Goes Free [GameDaily.BIZ]

Sega Saturn will be hitting Turner's GameTap PC service this Easter as a little Easter Egg, get it?

Saturn's platform title Bug! is listed as Insect? on the GameTap service. The game's description says that the debut is "...a hidden one-week sneak peek of planetary proportions... Stay tuned for the launch of more games for the Sega Saturn later this year," according to Gamasutra, which spotted the Egg.

That certainly seems to indicate that more Saturn goodness is headed GameTap's way. I've asked for confirmation from the service, but haven't heard back yet. Brian Crecente

GameTap reveals Sega Saturn License, Plans [Gamasutra]

From Shacknews:

Shack: Much ado has been made of your job solicitations for Wii and Xbox 360 programmers. What can you say about your plans there?

Dan Connors: Well, we're hoping to get on to both consoles, with Live Arcade and Virtual Console—I'm sorry, on all three consoles! But we're starting with Wii and Xbox, on both of their online services and retail as well.

Good news for gamers and indie developers looking for a lower risk, non-traditional retail route. Having Xbox Live Arcade, the Virtual Console and the PlayStation Network is sweet EB-avoiding relief. Michael McWhertor

Telltale CEO Dan Connors on Sam & Max [Shacknews]

GameTap presents the grand evolution of Myst

In anticipation of the February 15th release of Myst Online: Uru Live on GameTap, we take a look back at the history of one of the most famous video game franchises of all time:

September 24, 1993
Designed and directed by brothers Robyn and Rand Miller and developed by Cyan, Inc., Myst is distributed by Br derbund for the Mac. The game sets a new mark as the best-selling video game ever at the time and ushered in the first-person adventure puzzle game genre.

1995
Hyperion Books releases The Book of Atrus, the first book in the Myst series of novels, set in the same universe as the Myst computer games by Cyan. The Book of Ti'ana and The Book of D'ni, the second and third books in the series, are released in 1996 and 1997, respectively.

Making it into the mainstream: In The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror VI, there is a segment in which a 3-D version of Homer Simpson encounters the library from Myst Island.

1997
Br derbund's RedOrb Entertainment division releases Riven, the sequel to Myst. Riven, which is even larger and more beautiful than Myst, is considered the most mind-challenging chapter in the series.

1998
Virgin label releases Myst and Riven soundtracks, by artist Robyn Miller, in the UK.

Selling more than 11 million copies, Myst and its sequels held the title of best-selling computer game of all time throughout much of the 1990s.

2000
Updating the original Myst with the latest technology, realMyst was released featuring realtime 3D graphics. This is the version of Myst that Cyan and the world-famous Miller brothers always wanted to make, but the technology wasn't available at the time. Myst fans could now experience a fully immersive, dynamic world that they could wander through and interact with.

2001
Ubisoft Entertainment Software publishes the third Myst sequel, Myst III: Exile. This game focuses on a new villain whose home world was ruined, so he's out for revenge.

2003
Ubisoft releases Uru: Ages Beyond Myst, the offline version of the planned online game Uru Live, but cancels the online version shortly before it is launched. Since the online version is halted, the offline Uru: Complete Chronicles is released. This special edition includes the original offline game and its two expansion packs, To D'ni and The Path of the Shell, which contain content that had been intended for the online game.

To accompany the game, a soundtrack combining an eclectic collection of various rhrythms, voices, and moods is also released.

2004
Ubisoft releases the fourth installment, Myst IV: Revelation. Myst fans travel through environments pulsing with life to unearth a treacherous scheme involving two of Myst's most sinister villains.

2005
Ubisoft rolls out Myst V: End of Ages, the fifth Myst installment. Players embark on an epic journey into the heart of a shattered empire as the only explorer who can still save it - or destroy it with the wrong choices. Cyan Music Director/Composer Tim Larkin composes the game's original soundtrack with the tell-tale haunting and beautiful sounds that adeptly evoke the Myst series.

2006
GameTap announces it will be publishing Myst Online: Uru Live and opens the door to subscribers to check out the beta version of the game. In conjunction with the beta preview, GameTap launches www.GameTap.com/mystonline, a website that houses videos, podcasts, artwork, forums, wallpaper, game details and a host of other game-related offerings.

February 15th, 2007
GameTap introduces Myst Online: Uru Live, the newest chapter in the Myst story. This title gracefully fuses the social concepts of a traditional massively multiplayer online game with the mystery and problem-solving facets of an adventure game.

Join in, explore and help forge an entirely new Myst story: yours.

####

The entire list of playable games on the DICE "show floor" were: Crysis, Supreme Commander, Company of Heroes, Viva Pinata, Gears of War, Motorstorm (the PlayStation Store demo), Hellgate London, Sam & Max, and Robotron. The Age of Conan MMO was present, but would error out every time I tried to fire up the executable. Such a tease!

I did take one more spin through the Crysis demo, previously playable at CES. Unfortunately, the machines were a little less beefy and led to some noticeable slowdown.

Alright, so maybe there were a handful of unreleased titles on the show floor. What can I say? I'm spoiled and love to bitch! Michael McWhertor

The Mole, The Mob and the Meatball, the third episide in the Sam & Max Season 1 series hits GameTap today.

In this latest episode, the duo go undercover "Mafia-style" to help the commissioner, who is investigating an underground operation at the Ted E. Bear Mafia-Free Playland and Casino. The commish's mole has suddenly shut up, and it's up to Sam and Max to find him. Brian Crecente

Screens and videos of the new stuff is available at the official site. Michael McWhertor

Cue Situation: Comedy [the Telltale Blog]