What is the first thing you do when someone tells you not to worry? That’s right – you start worrying! Earlier this year I posted about how IGN had sold Direct2Drive to GameFly. GameFly is a console game rental subscription service, and had wanted to branch into PC game distribution and potentially rentals and saw Direct2Drive as a possible way to do that.
I had basically forgotten about the deal for a few reasons: first, we haven’t heard anything in 7 months; second, because Direct2Drive has been much quieter in general, leaving the big sales for Steam and GamersGate; and finally because of all the angst about GameStop taking over (and ruining) Impulse.
But now they’re baacck! And based on what they say in their email, you might want to check out the Steam and GamersGate sales to buy backup copies of everything you own on Direct2Drive!
What do you need to do now?
Right now, it’s business as usual; you can continue to pre-order and buy games just like you do today. We’ll keep you informed and send you more details when everything is ready to go. In the meantime, your Direct2Drive account will work as it does now, and we will fully support new releases as usual.
At the beginning of next year, we’ll migrate all Direct2Drive services to GameFly. We’ll take care of everything for you – transferring your account and purchase history to GameFly so you can pick up right where you left off (you’ll just need to reset your password for security). If you already have a GameFly account, we’ll combine the two.
Important Information There are a couple things you can do now to ensure a smooth transition:
1. Download your favorite game purchases from Direct2Drive. We plan to have as many game files as possible available on GameFly. Just to be sure, please download your old game files before the transition.
2. Download all of your non-game files (like Prima Guides). These will not be available on GameFly after the transition.
Once transferred, you’ll be able to access your account with one login across GameFly’s entire suite of integrated services: The GameFly Client, Web site, and Mobile App.
Now THIS is the #1 complaint people have about digital services – with a retail DVD game, you simply re-install from the physical media. I have many physical copies games that the companies have gone out of business and are not on Steam or another service, yet I have no problem simply grabbing the disc and playing them again! With a digital download service, you might bump up against some arbitrary install limit, or the service might simply go under or stop carrying the product and render you unable to reinstall! I already know I am on borrowed time with Dungeon Lords from Impulse – no one else has it, and I always assume GameStop will ruin everything.
And let me be blunt – anyone who buys ANYTHING from Direct2Drive at this point, unless (like Postal III) it is a Steamworks game that will attach itself to your Steam account, is an IDIOT. We have no idea what will happen in the new year, but it is safe to assume that the Direct2Drive we’ve all known for years is dead and gone.
Oh … and I guess that by now you can tell what I think of the tagline “Your gaming future is about to get brighter”. Yeah, get me my shades.
LOL, I loved this line: “Oh … and I guess that by now you
can tell what I think of the tagline “Your gaming future is about to get
brighter”. Yeah, get me my shades.”
They’re basically saying: ‘we bought a company you liked,
and are absorbing it into our own, but not all of it. Some of the games might
not make it, and say goodbye to your guides because we’re not going to even
bother. And we’re not really adding anything, or offering more. But it’s going
to be awesome!’
No thanks. Luckily for me I haven’t used Direct2Drive in a
while, and I don’t think I have any games there I can’t simply write-off, but I
can certainly empathize for other gamers whom that wouldn’t be the case at all.
I used to have Gamefly too, though I cancelled that as soon as my employer,
DISH, created the Blockbuster Movie Pass. It gives me way more for my money.
With a great selection of games, and movies—with the option of in-store
exchanges—plus unlimited streaming, and a bunch of HD movie channels. Not to
mention the fact that because it’s through Blockbuster, many of the new
releases are available 28 days earlier than Netflix or Redbox get them. So it’s
an awesome value for gamers, movie buffs and especially people like me who love
both.