GameTap Launches Free Service, Marketplace

Officials from Turner's GameTap service have announced the launch of a free to play, advertising-supported program aimed at capturing a larger global audience of gamers beyond its already established North American audience. The free version of the service will give players a sample of the full paid subscriber service with a rotating sample of GameTap's library, as well as a portion of GameTap TV's library of streaming videos. Currently GameTap's subscription service is available only to North American PCs, with a version for Macintosh users expected later this summer. In addition, GameTap has also opened up its recently announced digital retail storefront, which will offer "a large library of titles from vintage to brand new" for purchase. The first game to be launched in GameTap's new model offering both full purchase and subscription play is Eidos' Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary, both coming June 5th, the same day as the title hits retail. GameTap's digital marketplace will also host more than 450 titles, including Space Empires IV Deluxe, Civilization IV, Psychonauts, and Resident Evil 3. "We've opened the door even wider-so that practically anyone with a broadband connection can give GameTap a spin," said Stuart Snyder, Turner's executive vice president and chief operating officer of Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media. "We want people to sample not just the massive library of GameTap titles, but the adrenalin rush that attracted over 20 million game plays last year."