I got Gametap about a week ago, and these are a few of the things I noticed...

What I Like:

Interface- The interface is nice and easy to use as well as navigate, and it looks pretty. I've had no confusion about anything the entire time I've used it; everything is nice and clear to understand.

Variety- They seem to pay close attention not to fill up the Game Vault with too much of any one genre. It's good to see old arcade games, but I much prefer the new stuff- and there's just enough of it to keep me busy while I wait for Uru Live.

Gametap TV- I know there have been a few complaints about this recently, namely the blaring obnoxiousness of the Gametap TV screen when you first log in, but it takes about 3-5 seconds to load anyway, and I know now to turn down my volume before going into the Game Vault so as not to be blasted by the programming. The thing I like about it is the option to browse the various channels- I don't have to sit and watch it for half an hour to see what I want to see. If I see a news highlight I want to watch, I can watch it and then be done with it. The thing I like about this most is it's basically a tevo for your computer. It records a variety of shows off regular programming (admittedly, mostly cartoons) and stores them in an archive. The Spaceghost reruns are extremely entertaining and help pass the time while I wait for a game to download.

Download in Background- This is really nice. I was dreading having to sit and stare at a download bar for hours while I waited for something to load- instead, I can click 'download in background' and go off to play another already downloaded game while I wait.

What I Don't Like:

Interrupted Downloads- This is easily the most aggravating part of Gametap, as far as I'm concerned. I had hoped that after starting a download, I would be able to exit Gametap, then return, re-start the download, and be able to continue the download from where it left off. Not so. This has really deterred me from downloading some of the larger, higher-quality games that often take 2+ hours to download. I often can't tie up my computer for 2-4 hours at a time, and it's a little frustrating to have to download some big game, get to 67%, and then someone else needs to use my computer and I have to exit Gametap, thus losing two and a half hours of my time.

Download Times- I understand that these are big games and they need plenty of time to be downloaded, but there gets to a point when it takes so long it's almost not worth it. I can't imagine how long it's going to take to download Uru Live.

No Customization Options- There's really no way for me to customize my little 'opening page'. I'd like to be able to add/remove things, like an MSN or aol homepage. Maybe have a list of my favorite Gametap channels, or my recently played games, or a 'most popular' list, or be able to turn off the Gametap TV option... little things that would make it easier and less time-consuming to navigate through stuff.

Feel free to add things to this list.

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I miss my old signature.

I just got rid of a trojan that has stopped me from installing Gametap.

I didn't find the start up annoying. Yes, they should have a volume meter, but other than that I think it's a good program. As I'm typing, I'm downloading Sarges War (which I loved since I played it on a dreamcast at a friends house, but I've never been able to find). I can do other things while GT is going (maybe because I have two screens and am running GT in windowed mode on one and Firefox on the other). I just finished downloading Sam and Max, which I definitely want to try.

One complaint is that until about half way through the download, they're estimated time thing isn't very accurate.

Other than that, I love it.



EDIT: Where do you find the trailers? I can't find them anywhere.

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Fi copil din nou, joaca jocuri logice si alte puzzle-uri noi in fiecare zi mii de jocuri gratis pe cujocuri un site facut de jucatori pentru jucator.

Go to GameTap TV, select Games, click on Game Trailers. Other tabs in the Games Channel also have trailer stuff.

BTW, the Myst trailer has terrible spoilers...

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For cowards die a thousand deaths, while heros die but one.

Well, unless they're playing video games, in which case heros die a lot too.

My personal thoughts - hate it or love it - if we didn't have Gametap - we wouldn't be looking forward to a Xmas with UL.

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oh wad some power the giftie gie us - tae see ourselve's as ither's see us

Also, I'll get a front row seat into Uru Live. First day no hassle.

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Fi copil din nou, joaca jocuri logice si alte puzzle-uri noi in fiecare zi mii de jocuri gratis pe cujocuri un site facut de jucatori pentru jucator.

I finally caved in and used my credit card to get GameTap. I've had no problems with it - so far - knock on wood. I've even found a couple of adventure games I wanted to play. My one complaint is the lack of adult oriented adventure games. I put in the suggestion box a list of some I'd like to see added - like the three Journeyman Project games by Presto Studios and the two Syberias.

What I'm wondering though is how well GameTap will handle the download frenzy on the opening day of URU Live? We're talking about several thousand people on the North American contenant. I wonder if their servers are up to it!

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All things come to those who wait.

Quote:

like the three Journeyman Project games by Presto Studios and the two Syberias.

I'd love to see those on Gametap.

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I miss my old signature.

Calam wrote:

What I Don't Like:

Interrupted Downloads- This is easily the most aggravating part of Gametap, as far as I'm concerned. I had hoped that after starting a download, I would be able to exit Gametap, then return, re-start the download, and be able to continue the download from where it left off. Not so. This has really deterred me from downloading some of the larger, higher-quality games that often take 2+ hours to download. I often can't tie up my computer for 2-4 hours at a time, and it's a little frustrating to have to download some big game, get to 67%, and then someone else needs to use my computer and I have to exit Gametap, thus losing two and a half hours of my time.
Feel free to add things to this list.

Actually, you don't completely lose all of your time, there. Check the FAQ. I think there was a question about something similar. You can interrupt your download and come back and continue at a later time. However, when you continue, the percentage will no longer be accurate. For example, if you downloaded 50%, interrupt, and come back you'll be back at 0%. But this time, once the counter gets to 50% you'll actually be 100% downloaded.... or something close to that anyway.

And as far as downloading Uru Live... I hope they'll open up the downloading, maybe, a week or two early. That way we can download most of it beforehand and just perform updates/final download the day it's released. Although, it did handle Sam and Max opening... but that doesn't measure up to Uru Live.

By the way, I think Uru:ABM was, like, less than a gigabyte on my machine when I downloaded through Gametap, so I don't think the download will be too bad, at least in comparison to some of the other games.

I've got issues with their video card support...

...other than that it's a decent service. It's worth the price, at any rate.

...and it's where Uru Live is gonna be.


~Joey Zoonkerfoon

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"What you still don't understand you have failed to hear or don't need to know..."~Yeesha

Can you use something other than a credit card for gametap? Like a mail-in check or debit sort of thing?

Tylinol wrote:

Can you use something other than a credit card for gametap? Like a mail-in check or debit sort of thing?

That would be really nice, but it didn't seem to have that option when I looked at it. Not sure about debit cards tho...

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If you don't ask...I'll tell you anyways.

We used a debit to pay for our subscription and have had no problems. Try it -you'll like it.

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"What it all comes down to is...who's holdin' the umbrella?"
-- The Penguin in 'Batman Returns'

I'm enjoying Gametap. I've been using Gametap TV much more than their game content, but they're starting to get more of the console games that I played as a kid, like the NES Castlevania games and Tetris. It's also turned me into a huge Sam and Max fan overnight.

Their customer service is great too. I called them up because I was having billing problems with the credit card. I was on hold for less than 5 seconds and we fixed the problem in less than 5 minutes.

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DRC, give us more city areas, would you kindly?

Maratanos wrote:

BTW, the Myst trailer has terrible spoilers...

And it's scenes from realMYST. So, perhaps that's even more hope for you realMYSTless folks that it'll come to GameTap.

Quote:

BTW, the Myst trailer has terrible spoilers...

Yeah, the Myst trailer does.. so does the Riven trailer, sort of. But, consider these games were out since 91 and 97 respectively ... I think people pretty much KNOW

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-Whilyam