Comcast Tries Online Game Subscription Route

WebGangsta writes "Comcast announced a new gaming service available to anyone: for a monthly fee of $14.95, subscribers will have unlimited access to more than 60 PC-based games, from mainstream titles to educational software. New titles will be added each month. Games referenced in the press release included Atari's Dead Man's Hand [plus other largely Atari titles from the recently launched, similar Atari On Demand, including Neverwinter Nights and Civilization III: Conquests]. Is this one of the revenue streams Comcast was thinking about developing when they combined G4 with TechTV? Is there really a market for pay-service video games, and was there a lesson to be learned from Sega's attempt at this market (which was priced $2 less just nine years ago)?" Update: 06/02 17:06 GMT by S : Commenters point out Yahoo! is offering a similar service, currently with a greater variety of games.

Comments

Phantom?

[oiarbovnb]

Let's hope this is better than the phantom console.

Re:Sega Channel

[sammaffei]

Dude (Torgo's Pizza), I love your handle...

"The master won't be pleased..."

pay for play? no way!

[eudas]

"Is there really a market for pay-service video games[...]?"

Not for me, there isn't.
Subscription-based models for games is just not something I'm willing to go for, and I think anybody who is willing to go for it is playing right into their hands. It's just not a good economic choice.

And think about it -- if a majority of games try to go subscription-model, they will simply cannibalize their business even more. Subscribers have a finite amount of cash they will spend on games per month. If games turn to US$15-20/mo each, then subscribers will only play 1, maybe 2-3 games.

So it'll turn into an environment where people will say "this game is so cool, come play with me" and you have to either say "no, i can't afford another game subscription" or cancel one of your other games to pay for the new one...

so you will only play a few games, thereby fragmenting the player communities. but who cares about that? divide and conquer! turn gamers into an even more splintered, more easily manipulated, and most importantly billable consumer group.

blah. why is the future so depressing?

eudas