Amazon Enters Gaming Market

eldavojohn writes "Ars brings us news of Amazon's entrance into the casual gaming market after purchasing Reflexive last year. Amazon identifies this sort of gaming as a good start for its demographic of customers and is certainly making competitors in the field nervous. There is a lot of evidence that Amazon is testing the waters to see how these small time games go as a prerequisite to something bigger, although they aren't talking. From Ars, 'For the first week, visitors will even be able to grab three games for free: Jewel Quest 2, Build a Lot, and The Scruffs. That, along with the ability to try every game before you buy, should be enough to entice fans of casual gaming to check out Amazon's offerings. It also looks like this could be Amazon's first step into the world of digital distribution for video games.' Do you think this trial will go well for Amazon?"

Comments

Damn you slashdot

[afidel]

You've broken Amazon, good job! I went to checkout with Jewel Quest and there was an unknown error.

Windows only

[psergiu]

The games there are windows-only. Please tag as "windowsonly" so the Linux, BSD & Mac OS loving fellow slashdotters will know that they should skip this slashvertisment.

Re:Windows only

[$RANDOMLUSER]

Good point, since so many other games run on Linux, BSD and Mac.

Re:Windows only

[slackbheep]

I think they were talking about games people are willing to pay for.

Re:Yes

[StingRay02]

I don't know how much I'll use the service later on, but I've already grabbed the free games. Incidentally, there's a fourth free game available; Big Kahuna Reef. It's not advertised, as far as I can tell, so I don't know if there might be more hiding in the pages.

Anonymous Coward

[Anonymous Coward]

The games are US only too - your IP is tested as well to confirm your location.

Proxy.

Re:Anonymous Coward

[Dunbal]

The games are US only too - your IP is tested as well to confirm your location.

      Yes because who knows what would happen if these games ended up in Syria, Iran, or in the hands of the Taliban!

      You know, speaking as someone who lives outside the US, these IP checks are a pain - especially when they are poorly implemented. For example, because of my Latin American IP number, I can only buy the "Spanish" version of some software, despite the fact that having been born in Canada and just living here I would still prefer the English version.

      Meh, I guess I should set up a linux box at my US address and just do my surfing through that.

Proprietary downloader

[Atario]

Just tried this.

They make you download and install their special downloader first. This installs a service and a tray icon that run at startup, and provides no easy way to disable this (short of uninstall). (That is, easier than disabling them with RegEdit and Services console.) The downloader also makes you "name" your machine for its own purposes, and you pick which machine you're downloading to on the download page. I'm guessing this must lock that copy in to that machine (else why ask?).

Yuck.

If this is the same Amazon Video, then am out...

[freedom_india]

Amazon has a great reputation as a hard goods shipper. Excellent site, and great shipping. BUT it sucks in areas where Apple is King.
Video downloads was a disastrous service by Amazon.
First of all they have this crazy DRM fear so much that they rape your PC installing their downloader.
Second, they limit you to US by IP address...
I mean they ship their DVDs worldwide, but can't let me download a video outside of US???
Stardock got it right with their downloadable games option. Download from anywhere, even outside of US, and play anywhere without screwing up your PC.
Of course some of their games are lame, but i expect to see more 3rd parties coming in their way.
As a frequent traveller out of US, i strictly limit myself to Amazon for buying ONLY DVDs and Books. Rest all, i get locally.
Games? I would rather buy a DVD at a local store or download from Stardock or buy from independent producers (Democracy 2 anyone) instead of going to Amazon.