awomo (1), download (1), gdi (1), rome (1), rts (1), simulation (1), total war (1)
A new game download service, UK-based Game Domain International (GDI), is offering a free copy of Rome:Total War to anyone who tries out their AWOMO download service which purports to be "The World's Fastest Game Download Service." Interestingly GDI offers the ability to play games before completely downloaded. For example, a user with a 4Mbps connection can play Rome:TW after 22 minutes of download while the complete download takes 108 minutes. Even more interestingly, games are rented for 5 hours before deciding to purchase, and GDI plans to offer the ability to rent games over a weekend.
My main concern is how are the games "locked," do they use a draconian DRM system that when GDI goes bankrupt all games cease to play? I have used Valve's Steam download service for a while but not very impressed. Steam makes a nice game manager but I don't seen anything beyond that and it requires logging online. Also, a friends copy of Rome:TW on steam does NOT allow playing online multi-player because other clients think it is a mod. But, on a good note, steam is offering half-life for $0.98:
GDI is planning a 3d community that sounds like Playstation Home "in which you can not only organise and launch your games, but also socialise with other gamers."