Jac, most people here still have a great preference for older games like Galaga, Bosconian and the like. We're naturally opposed to change. (Especially as how some of us don't exactly see what is broken with the current system.)

> {quote:title=badspeller wrote:}{quote}
> gametap, now with tiny unresizeable windows. but thats ok, couse the whitespace will be filled in by ads for world of warcraft, halo, and flash pop ups telling you that you won a free ipod
>
> While the old player needed a major overhaul, and getting desktop icons for games is kinda nice (if they launch the game directly and don't load the webpage first), However It seems pretty clear that they are sacrificing a lot of functionality to make it easier to sell ad space, which is the only reason for a web browser based interface.
>
> So my money is on a worse service that we have to pay for while also being ad supported

I didn't want to say anything, but my inner cynic thinks this is a big reason for the changeover too - more people hitting the site = more banner $$$. I notice in the screenshots for example there is a nice honda ad, and currently subscribers still see ads on the webpage and I don't expect that to change.

One thing I cannot stand is forcing paying customers to view ads. Since I'm being forced into downloading firefox anyway (thanks again for that guys) I'll simply download adblock but it still leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth.

I third (fourth? eighth?) waiting until at the very least you have full functionality back to shove this at us. Let us keep using the player until you get the bugs worked out. If it really is an upgrade like you claim people will be happy to beta test it for you. Better yet, just leave the player as a legacy option for those who wish to keep using it - don't support or upgrade it but don't make it stop working either. I'd be happy enough with that.

> {quote:title=mmmyeahright wrote:}{quote}
> Feels like the GT employees are moving awful fast to scrap the client. 4 day notice

The first blog entry said that changes will come in around 2 weeks... where did you get 4 days from?

> I notice none of the mods are selling this as an upgrade either.

I'm not judging it until I see the product for myself. It may very well be an upgrade, but I haven't used it yet so I can't say so.

>Does it have spy technology to report to you what I'm browsing/typing/etc?

You really need to look into some better quality tin-foil for that hat you're wearing.

are over-sensitive as to who's tracking them.

I still play old games and I love change. Only wanting completely new stuff and only wanting the old are equally dumb in my opinion. Here's the upgrade. I can now launch games with one click instead of clicking on the GameTap client, waiting for it to start up, clicking to the ring with the playlist the game is in, clicking the play list, clicking the game card and FINALLY clicking button to start it up. Shoulda been like that in the beginning.

i too love old games and if you look i think i was the first one too call foul on the change (well exept buddha but he didn't seem quite outraged)
but it is starting to feel like there is a mob mentality growing and everyone is grabbing their pitchforks and torches to go kill the luming monster thats is this update.
but since no one has actually seen it i think it deserves a chance too be fully represented before we start pulling it too pieces over things that will be fixed when give some time.

and to people worried about the ads remember you'll be able to have shortcuts so you probably wont even have to see the site.and if they were so bent on getting ad money that their trying to funnel us all though the site they would not give you this option.

I didn't like the change between the original client (with GTTV) to what is now the current client. Based on my reactions to previous updates, I'm not thrilled, but I am willing to try/beta test it on one of my machines.

If major features of the new Gametap won't be working when you plan to release it, I suggest you push it back until you can release a full product. I don't know why every company lately decided they were going to start releasing incomplete games and software. Did they decide that they can't afford to beta test so they are just going to release everything unfinished so they can get paying customers to beta test things?

I'm gonna miss the player.

> {quote:title=freyarh wrote:}{quote}
> I didn't like the change between the original client (with GTTV) to what is now the current client.
i think we all miss watching sam & max cartoons while downloading games.
but im willing to see what it's fully capable of before i start to condemn it as the wost thing to happen to video games since Uwe Boll.

with that said im quite leery of being forced into such an incomplete update and i am soaking some extra mice in kerosene in case we need some makeshift fire meteors to storm the castle and kill the monster.

> {quote:title=jac1002 wrote:}{quote}
> but im willing to see what it's fully capable of before i start to condemn it as the wost thing to happen to video games since Uwe Boll.

The worst thing to happen to gaming is . Thanks. ;)

I like novelty and change as much as the next guy, but it feels like every time GameTap completes and refines something, they scrap it. This new GameTap is coming and is going to be in a beta stage when we get it, but how do we know that once it's all stable and fully functioned, they're not just going to toss it in the garbage and give us another bare-bones interface with all new glitches? Right now, there's no clear-cut advantages of this new interface other than not having to use a client. Frankly, I think we all really enjoy having a standalone client that has a bunch of features.

Well Ithink we had to see some of this coming, the merger is big and Metaboli is going to want to make GT look a bit more like their model, working with a bit more of their tech. So I think that this is probably the last big change for a while.

Remember, each big change we've had has reflected a refocusing on various aspects and this is just another refocus. The whole "Buffet of Games on demand" business model is still under refining.

> {quote:title=mmmyeahright wrote:}{quote}
> Feels like the GT employees are moving awful fast to scrap the client. 4 day notice, scrapping all the client features, and putting on a happy face..something must be really bad over there. Now we direct launch games from the browser. lol.. : ( I notice none of the mods are selling this as an upgrade either.
>
> So, next question, did you develop your own plugin? Does it have spy technology to report to you what I'm browsing/typing/etc? Is this your new ad supported business?

This is a legitimate question. I want to know the new privacy statement and if this 'plugin' is recording my habits, or anything else, and if you wrote it or have no idea what's in it.

GT has prided itself upon not having any of that type of software in it's programming. The plug in will probably contain the same statistic stuff as the original client, Games played, how long, and crash data (which is important to them when determining what games to keep.) I think you're being a bit paranoid to assume they'd suddenly try to attach spyware to the software when they haven't in the past.

> {quote:title=tsrblke2 wrote:}{quote}
> The plug in will probably contain the same statistic stuff as the original client,

I don't like the term "probably" when a question regarding security is in the air.

> {quote:title=BetaWolf wrote:}{quote}
> I like novelty and change as much as the next guy, but it feels like every time GameTap completes and refines something, they scrap it. This new GameTap is coming and is going to be in a beta stage when we get it, but how do we know that once it's all stable and fully functioned, they're not just going to toss it in the garbage and give us another bare-bones interface with all new glitches? Right now, there's no clear-cut advantages of this new interface other than not having to use a client. Frankly, I think we all really enjoy having a standalone client that has a bunch of features.

Every time it changes, there's about 10 people who make 10 or 20 posts each complaining about it. People are more vocal about what they dislike. While I'm sure some people love having a client to mess around in, the success of Metaboli shows that a lot of us just want "Click icon, play game".

> {quote:title=LittlestCthulhu wrote:}{quote}
> Gold Members become Premium Package Subscribers and will continue to have access to the entire catalog, anyone currently paying $59.95 for their annual subscription will be locked in at that annual rate.

So, my annual Gold subscription was purchased in December. At the time Gold was access to the entire GameTap Catalog. Does your statement mean that you are promising that I will be able to pay $59.95 again in December of this year for access to the entire catalog for another year? If so, That is wonderful news, and makes me very happy to be a GameTap subscriber.

Or does it mean that you are promising to honor the existing contract you have with existing customers. A much less exciting statement.

Kontos: Read the thread.
> {quote:title=LittlestCthulhu wrote:}{quote}
> Green Members are now Free Sampler Package Subscribers and will continue to have access to the free selection of games.
>
> Gold Members become Premium Package Subscribers and will continue to have access to the entire catalog, anyone currently paying $59.95 for their annual subscription will be locked in at that annual rate.
>
> Classic Arcade Package -> All Console, Arcade, & DOS games. The package will be completely 64-Bit compatible.
>
> Additional details will be posted on the blog Friday.

> {quote:title=LittlestCthulhu wrote:}{quote}
> ...will not be ready at launch, but it is coming.

I'm probably just in a bad mood today, but this launch is sure sounding like "+ready... [b]Fire[/b]... aim.+" to me.

> {quote:title=PenquinDude wrote:}{quote}
> Kontos: Read the thread.

I did. In fact, you quoted the same post that I did. It is still not clear to me that GameTap is committing to keeping pricing level forever. I doubt that's the case. It's entirely possible that they intend to allow existing subscribers to renew at the same price at least once. It's also possible that come December, I'll find that to renew my "access the entire catalog" subscription I may have to pay more than $60. There's nothing wrong with that. It would just make the 'we're not changing package price' statement a lot less exciting.

> {quote:title=kontos wrote:}{quote}
> So, my annual Gold subscription was purchased in December. At the time Gold was access to the entire GameTap Catalog. Does your statement mean that you are promising that I will be able to pay $59.95 again in December of this year for access to the entire catalog for another year? If so, That is wonderful news, and makes me very happy to be a GameTap subscriber.

We have confirmed that if you are on the $59.95 annual plan, next December when its time for you renew you will be locked-in at $59.95.

What about us people on a monthly basis? Im signed up to automaticaly continue subscription each month.

> {quote:title=LittlestCthulhu wrote:}{quote}
> We have confirmed that if you are on the $59.95 annual plan, next December when its time for you renew you will be locked-in at $59.95.

h1. [b]S W E E T ! ! ![/b]

> {quote:title=Dekar wrote:}{quote}
> What about us people on a monthly basis? Im signed up to automaticaly continue subscription each month.
>
>

Your subscription price will remain at the $9.95 monthly rate.