Amazon launches casual-game download service

(Credit: Amazon)

Amazon.com on Tuesday launched its first foray into digital downloads for games. The new online store offers more than 600 casual titles without the need for physical media. Amazon says all the titles at launch are under either $6.99 or $9.99 with older titles leaning towards the lower end of the spectrum. As an added promotion, the company is giving away three free titles, which gamers have a week to scoop up before the prices return to normal.

The launch comes just a little over two months since Amazon acquired Reflexive Entertainment, a casual-game service that is still selling titles with its own DRM solution and store front. In Amazon's case, purchased games must be downloaded with a special download tool similar to what's required to grab music tracks from the company's MP3 service. The games then phone home the first time you launch them to verify the purchase information.

Each game can be played for 30 minutes as a timed trial before the need to purchase. This model directly competes with that from Yahoo Games and to a certain degree Valve's Steam service, although unlike Valve, Amazon is not yet offering a download service for larger AAA titles from major publishers.

The service is PC-only for now, which is mostly a limitation from game developers who don't offer the titles on computers running OS X or Linux. However, a Mac version of the store is likely in the works.

[john94857]

I found out about this new service just a while ago. It works very well. In fact, I downloaded 4 games. They are listed somewhere at
http://www.uberi.com if anyone is interested.

Keep in mind that they also have an Amazon discounts table I have found quite useful. Anyway, in the past, I have done download games mostly through Steam if anyone else is familiar with that service.

Did you know what Amazon also bought out several smaller companies in 2008?

[MonTemplar]

Looks interesting... but, like the MP3 Music Store, you will need a US-registered credit card in order to use the service, so it looks like I'll have to wait for them to launch the equivalent store in the UK. :( Shame, but I suppose it's out of Amazon's hands...

[pentest]

The downloader/installer works just fine in Linux using Wine. The free games seem to run flawlessly.

A little tip, just because software isn't supported doesn't mean it won't run.

If they can get a hold of older game that are good, they will have something. Lucas Arts games and the city builders from Impressions are tought to get these days. That would be more worthwhile then the cheesy games they have.

Also, the download store is a mess, lots of CD only games get listed.

It is promising but Amazon has a lot of work to do.