[krise madsen]

(Note: Also posted on BlackFoot Studios.com)

As some of you may know, I've been harping on new ways to develop, distribute, finance and play games, particularly to get out of the rut of the current "spend millions of bucks and get rich or go broke" Hollywood-style business concept.

Of particular interest is browser-based gameplay which has a lot of potential: Cut down/eliminate piracy, alternative development funding, gradual release/continuous development/continuous content additions, pay-as-you-play (economic incentive to support much played games for years) and other interesting options.

Well, it's here. The browser-based game site that allow you to play more advanced games than the usual smack-the-penguin 2D Flash games:

Behold, courtesy of GarageGames: Instant Action.com

Once registered, you basically play games as if they were 2D Flash games, except these also include full 3D games (an FPS is in development, among others). There are plenty of opportunities to set up play buddy groups for MP gaming and even move from game to game without "exiting" the group.

A few key issues:

The system is based on a new technology that works with practically any game engine.

It is capable of "near-console quality" graphics, full 3D stuff (like FPS). The site is aimed at harcore games, not XBL-type casual games.

You'll need a good broadband connection.

Game quality still relies on your hardware. (Presumably, this setup could work with next-gen consoles as well).

Different games can have different ways of paying: Pay once for permanent acccess (i.e. buy the game), fixed fee, free-game-but-pay-for-additional-content/micropayments, bundle buys/fees e.c.t.

In some cases, Instant Action.com will simply be a distributor. In others, they will fund the development and pay royalties from day one. The site is very focused on independent developers.

No word on mods.

This site is still in beta. Moreover, this is the first baby steps in a whole new way of distributing and playing games, so don't expect everything to work like your AlienWare gamer PC or XBOX 360 Elite from day one.

There is a lot of good info here: Gamespot Q&A with GarageGames CEO Josh Williams

I think this is a glimpse of a not-so-distant future

Respectfully

krise madsen

This post has been edited by krise madsen: 13 March 2008 - 01:18 PM

[Rocky]

I read this recently somewhere, flash may not be a new technology, but it is definately the next big thing. A lot of big names are looking seriously at flash as potentially a console killer that's going to redefine the gaming industry on many levels.

Instant action looks very interesting, checking that out in depth now...

[krise madsen]

Rocky, on Mar 13 2008, 04:19 PM, said:

I read this recently somewhere, flash may not be a new technology, but it is definately the next big thing. A lot of big names are looking seriously at flash as potentially a console killer that's going to redefine the gaming industry on many levels.

Instant action looks very interesting, checking that out in depth now...

Of course, you mean Action Inside.com's proprietary browser based technology as opposed to Flash which is 2D only

Respectfully

krise madsen

[Rocky]

Yeh, I need to find that article and post up a link - it hit on some important points from your post.

[krise madsen]

Rocky, on Mar 13 2008, 05:11 PM, said:

Yeh, I need to find that article and post up a link - it hit on some important points from your post.

Oh, I misread you, sorry

Respectfully

krise madsen

This post has been edited by krise madsen: 13 March 2008 - 04:26 PM