Talk:GameTap

Game list
Is the list of games like that really nessesary? This is just copy and pasted from the website, it looks like, and really bloats the article unnessesarily. ♫ Melodia Chaconne ♫ 16:08, 28 April 2006 (UTC)


 * I agree, it should be removed. 71.96.234.140 16:22, 28 April 2006 (UTC)


 * I removed the list, per WP:NOT an indiscriminate collection of information, and the fact that the list is very easily found on the official website. --Interiot 02:46, 5 May 2006 (UTC)


 * Perhaps instead of removing the list it should be put under its own article. There is no guarantee that the list will always be available on the publisher's website, i.e. if the company ever folds.  Gh5046 01:14, 27 October 2006 (UTC)


 * What about making a "Category:GameTap_games" category? There is a category for Virtual Console games, this wouldn't be too different. Luigihann 18:56, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

Advertising controversy
When Electronic Arts released the Command & Conquer compilation "The First Decade", an advert for Gametap was mixed with actual content on the bonus DVD, this was covered in Gamespy's review of The First Decade (http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Reviews.Detail&id=73, about a third of the way down the page), perhaps this should be mentioned here? —Preceding unsigned comment added by W3bbo (talk • contribs) 16:56, 8 June 2006


 * I really don't see any controversy on the GameTap side. Just seems to me like it was a very simple ad following some actual content. Kinda like a TV commercial. If it is truly worth mentioning at all (I don't know, I'm not much a part of the C&C community, so I don't really know if it caused all that much of an uproar), it would belong on a C&C page. Afterall, it would've been EA's decision to place it, not GameTap's. --Phorteetoo 23:43, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Requirements section
Is listing the system requirements appropriate? It doesn't seem to be a typical inclusion in articles on PC games, and it seems likely to change. Kickaha Ota 02:00, 24 June 2006 (UTC)


 * With the fact that GameTap itself has minimum requirements to be actually launched, I find that a System Requirements portion is appropriate for this article.
 * ---Freyar 05:05, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Uru Live
Is it worth mention that GameTap has partnered with the guys at Cyan to resurrect Uru Live? Kasreyn 19:10, 23 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Probably not in the main body (GameTap has hundreds of games so focusing on one would be too selective), but perhaps a link could be added to a "See also" section. Esn 09:50, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

Removal of "Problems"
I removed the following statements:

''However, Gametap does not have an option to purchase a game outright. Some poeple belive they should add this so that people do not have to log in every time they want to play a game.''

It isn't really a problem with the software when it is by design. This statement is editorializing rather than stating encyclopedic information.

''Gametap also has some issues with certain ISPs. On certain connections, more often on cable rather then DSL, Gametap will crash or kick you off because it "thinks" you are on a dial-up connection.''

I have never even heard of this. It is entirely possible it is happening, but I can find no info about it elsewhere, so if it is happening, it is happening to a very small number of subscribers. All software has bugs, and unless it occurs to a significant portion of the users, said bug is simply not notable.

It also has ocassional problems with game files presenting an error that says "Gametap failed to access the files. If the problem presists contact customer support.

This one is actually on the support site, but it's the only place I can find it, so again it doesn't appear to be a significant problem with very many of the users.

--Phorteetoo 22:09, 2 August 2006 (UTC)


 * The first one you removed at least now is no longer even an issue. GameTap is now allowing a digital distribution model on a purchase basis now instead of the subscription basis, though it is not distributed through GameTap itself (as far as I understand.) ---Freyar 05:07, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

"Criticisms" section
An anonymous user recently added a "Criticisms" section with this content:

"GameTap has been criticized by emulator users for charging money for games that are available as ROM images downloaded for free."

I removed it for four reasons:
 * Unlike the rest of the article, it's unsourced.
 * There are bits of information throughout the rest of the article that are critical or negative, so creating a separate "Criticisms" section seems very odd.
 * A section consisting of only one sentence seems equally odd.
 * The section presents only one side of the issue. Yes, I imagine that there are emulator users who criticize GameTap for charging for ROMs that can be obtained without charge. But the obvious counterpoint to this would be that the great majority of those freely-available ROMs are being distributed illegally in the US (which is GameTap's market area), so criticizing GameTap for legally licensing them and charging for play is arguably saying "Why should I pay for legal access to a product that can be illegally accessed for free?", which brings us to the whole software-piracy debate, which is way beyond the scope of the article.

Naturally, comments/criticisms/threats of arbitration are welcome. :) Kickaha Ota 03:36, 17 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I fell that the article needs to have some solid criticisms with sourced statements. Without these, the current version of the article, in my book, just looks like an advertisement. 4.131.84.107 06:54, 29 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Feel free to be bold and add them yourself. ♫ Melodia Chaconne ♫ 12:06, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

Advertisement tag
I think that with the recent edits, the article sounds a lot less like an advertisement than when the tag was posted. The only thing that I would still change is the opening paragraph and the "over 300" and "over 700" thing. Is there a source with exact numbers for how many games GameTap started out with? The source that was there was a dead link, so I removed it. Esn 09:52, 7 November 2006 (UTC)


 * Agreed. There is no advertising anymore. I say we remove it. "Some customers (as of April 2006) have reported being pressured to stay subscribed." doesn't really sound like a market pitch. Dkkicks 03:25, 11 November 2006 (UTC)


 * Amusingly enough, there have been no significant edits since the tag was placed. I was waiting to remove the tag to see if the anon decided to come justify it a bit more clearly, but then I forgot all about it. Removing it now. --Phorteetoo 09:06, 11 November 2006 (UTC)
 * Maybe it's the "flat monthly fee of $9.95" right in the introduction that makes it sound like an advertisement? I admit that when I read it, it looks kinda like a salespitch to me... would it be better if we removed the price from there, and maybe moved it somewhere else, or should it stay in the intro? Esn 12:56, 11 November 2006 (UTC)




 * This still reads entirelly like an Ad to me. Every citation is coming directly from Gametaps FAQ or their actual sale User:Ramenth:Ramenth 7:26, 1 December 2006


 * Perhaps if the article read "for a flat monthly fee" instead of " a flat monthly fee of $9.95" would make it seem like less of an advertisement Shadows604 00:58, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

"Pressure to stay subscribed"
Are there any sources for this happening to "customers" as opposed to "a customer"? It's possible that the guy who wrote that review was an exception. I don't think it's encyclopedic to say "customers" when the source which is cited provides only one example and gives no indication about whether this is the norm. If there are other sources which indicate that this is, indeed, the case (even forum threads), they should be included. Esn 10:03, 7 November 2006 (UTC)


 * I've canceled once, and they gave me a long spiel trying to encourage me to stay subscribed. I almost canceled twice, but the second time as part of their spiel they also tossed in a free month. I'm a sucker for free toys, what can I say.
 * At any rate, all the people I've seen discussing it (which, admittedly, is not a whole lot) have mentioned this.
 * I'll poke around and see if I can find something more reliable than forum posts... I don't believe they fit WP criteria as reputable sources.
 * --Phorteetoo 09:13, 11 November 2006 (UTC)


 * This still reads entirelly like an Ad to me. Every citation is coming directly from Gametaps FAQ or their actual sales pitch.


 * I still don't think one reviewer's experience is a fit for WP criteria as a systemic occurrence with cancellation.
 * Seg 19:46, 5 April 2007 (UTC)


 * Gametap's CS tried to keep me subscribed by offering me a discount. I think that could be considered pressuring, but I do agree that it might not be entirely relevant. We could use a bit more stronger cases and citations before placing it on the article.
 * Chronomaster 17:51, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

i have recently canceled my account and right after i said i wanted to cancel my account they offered to lower my fee and give me a free month and just try to tell me that i should stay on, for at least 10 minutes before they started to ask questions to cancel my account. They were really stubborn so they pressure you.
 * This was and is a standard business practice. They aren't "pressuring you" to stay on, they're attempting to offer you incentives to stay on. Even though they're offering you free access, they are also attempting to keep from losing a subscriber (you are, after all, more than 'just' a number to a subscription-based business, you're a fairly important number - the more subscribers, the easier it becomes to negotiate advertising, funding, and content contracts). 68.166.4.164 (talk) 04:27, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

This, and a lot of the information here, is several years out of date. Also, when I canceled they just said "Sorry to lose you, hope you come back some day." And that was it. 76.95.69.138 (talk) 23:18, 21 February 2012 (UTC)

Mac Version
Is anything more known about the Mac version other than it's "in the works"? Bradibus 14:55, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Reception
Shouldn't there be some mention of GameTap's reception by consumers or the effect it's had on the industry? 69.118.247.101 22:39, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

Much agreed. In fact, I don't know any of this information myself, and would love to see it added to this article so I can find out more. As one who loves both retro and budget games in addition to big budget and complex ones, I would hope this would have a positive effect on the industry. Even if not, I'd like to know just what exactly effect it had.

So please, anyone who can add this information, please do. --CGally81 03:25, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

Would a link to MAME be out of place? It's relevant to the topic of classic arcade games


 * The Category:Emulation software link is probably sufficient, since it covers all possible permutations of a MAME kind of link. --Interiot 00:57, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

Ive just asked using real-time chat about a Europe release, at the moment it seems plans are being made for a Europe/UK release but there is no set date as yet. (Is this important enough to be added to the article) jamesbuc

Should there be mention somewhere in this article as to the reasons why GameTap registration is restricted solely to US residents? I'm sure any reader of this article would be keen to know. --222.153.76.60 00:39, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

I think a link to Console Classix should be added since it offers a similar service, and offers Nintendo games (one primary difference being that Console Classix is not authorized while still being legal). -- 131.107.0.73 17:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Number of games
I changed the game count from 802 to 808, based on the count shown within the GameTap client. However, I see the GameTap website still displays 802 as the number. I assume the client is correct...not that this ever-changing number is particularly important. Perhaps at this point it should just say "over 800 games"? RonaldHayden 00:52, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Vista issues
For me the sound on every game crackles in Vista, all searches I have made online point to this being a known issue, yet its remained a problem since the launch of vista. This should really be mentioned on the article, or have vista removed from the requirements. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.232.78.182 (talk • contribs) 23:07, 24 March 2007


 * Vista also has been reported to disallow any use of non-Windows based games and games involving former SecuROM checks. Unsourced, I suppose but something to think about. ---Freyar 05:11, 30 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I don't believe there are software issues with it, maybe your drivers are messed up but I will report if I have any problems on my end... I'm installing now and am running Vista 32bit Home Kkotd (talk) 17:44, 14 February 2008 (UTC)
 * I've used Vista 32bit Home Premium with Gametap for about 6 months, and had no significant issues with the Gametap service, only with the actual games themselves (Which is beyond Gametaps onus, indeed some have 'not Vista' tags).--86.20.219.254 (talk) 19:40, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

GameTap Staff
So I am new to wikipedia, but love it. I am also a huge fan of GameTap (and am admitting it here so there's no ambiguity.) I have been following gametap for a while and added a mention about ricardo sanchez. I made an internal link but it goes to either a different rick sanchez (who also works at turner interestingly enough) or a ricardo sanchez, the war general. how do you add a person if someone else is already in wikipedia with that name? I saw him at DICE talking about episodic games and he gets written about fairly often and is the guy who is making their new tomb raider animated series. Anyway, i think it is worth adding him as a person to wikipedia, but have no idea how to do it. They seem to have some other notable staff, but am not sure where to go from here.Xero5xero 21:18, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

Similar services?
Where can one find a list of services that are similar to this one, such as having old/classic console or arcade system games? --24.190.35.74 11:34, 6 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Google would be one way, but we have no compiled list right now and as this is mainly noted for PC I do not think there are any other services that offer PC games for "rent" other than maybe the new Bit TorrentKkotd (talk) 17:46, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

now gamefly has the same type of service sothat should be reflected and it looks like they got all of the games game tap used to have --65.34.28.178 (talk) 20:53, 4 September 2012 (UTC)

US or Canada residency required?
Is the US or Canada residency required for the entire GameTap service, or just for the Gold service?

In the first case, that might be wrong. I live in Norway and I was able to download and play games from GameTap. 80.213.152.112 16:01, 16 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Living in the USA or Canada is required to register on the website. Without that, users can't play the M-rated games.--Nathan2000 (talk) 12:03, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Founding/Opening of Service
I don't see any information here on when the service first came available. I dont' have the slightest idea where to look. Anybody?

GameTap currently sucking
For any "citation" that's needed about GameTap sucking right now, just try to use the service normally. It doesn't work anymore. Glad I never subscribed, only used the free parts. I'll walk away now. Thanks for the two years of fun, right? Coffee4binky (talk) 10:26, 8 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Err, right... no. That would count as original research. Talk Islander 18:57, 8 April 2009 (UTC)


 * So what if it's original research? GameTap was sucking the last time I used it, though I can't remember when that was. I assume the above user had the problem the day the statement was made. Also, while I understand the "noble" cause of wanting to not have "original research" in an article, to me, and this is only my opinion, it's a poor excuse of practice and is an excellent example of [CENSORED, and I will not reveal my sentence.] Anyways, I don't think anybody cares about GameTap anymore. I suppose GameTap can save face and have a channel on the two major and one minor gaming consoles. (I'll let somebody else figure out which order I'm implying there, but it's not what the majority thinks.) Since GameTap didn't do that, their loss as a company. Now if people want to get citations for GameTap sucking, I suppose a user can just type "gametap sucks" into a search engine. LOL! Apple8800 (talk) 21:37, 20 November 2010 (UTC)

Beta Program
Hi, I'm a former beta-tester for GameTap, and I'm willing to comment on the former beta program and how it shut down, Contact info is on my user page, there CURRENTLY IS NO BETA PROGRAM. Oakpack4 (talk) 19:41, 28 July 2009 (UTC)

Pricing Setup
I'm wondering if it's a good idea for this article to contain information about pricing information. The pricing information is no longer completely accurate. The tier level information is no longer completely accurate. These kinds of things will change constantly, with promotions and other changes coming and going.

Neutrality
Whomever wrote this article or contributed to it... Some wrote it in a fashion that suggests they work at the corporation of GameTap Headquarters. Second, this article is way out of date and does not reflect the current events happening at Gametap. Finally, the events that are listed here are somewhat out of order, and the categories need to be rearranged as well JasonHockeyGuy (talk) 07:52, 30 June 2010 (UTC)


 * I don't see this at all. The article may be a little crufty in some areas and lacking in criticism, but these alone do not warrant charges of advertising or neutrality problems. It may be out of date but it is not GameTap's responsibility to keep their wiki article updated. It is a cleanup issue, that's all. Ham Pastrami (talk) 09:54, 10 July 2010 (UTC)


 * I've completed an overhaul of the article. While it could use more sources in some places, I think it is generally clean so I am removing the maintenance tags. Ham Pastrami (talk) 11:22, 10 July 2010 (UTC)

No more free games on the service
For about 1 year, Gametap discontinued the free subscription of their games its unknown when the games are coming back. In addition since Metaboli took over the service the current Gametap Service does not completely reflect the way it is today. We need some more experts on Wikipedia who knows about the current state of Gametap since this article does not represent the state of Gametap no more. JasonHockeyGuy (talk) 05:47, 6 July 2010 (UTC)

Needs Updated with Current Information
This article is really out of date. Plus, there doesn't seem to be any mention of the lack of many games playable on a mac. I tried finding recent articles so I could update it myself, but failed to find much of anything. So, just making a note here: This article needs updating eventually. 76.95.69.138 (talk) 23:42, 21 February 2012 (UTC)

External links modified
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No longer exists
GameTap's website has been down for months now. Did they go out of business? If so, can we find third party confirmation of this and update the article? I know the article says Gametap "was" not "is", but the rest of the article reads as if GameTap still exists. Crasheddata (talk) 21:14, 24 February 2016 (UTC)


 * Metaboli still operates GameTap, although it's now marketed under the Gamesplanet banner and has no connection to the original Turner service. https://us.gamesplanet.com/legal_terms Theclaw1 (talk) 06:25, 23 March 2020 (UTC)

External links modified
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20120707070755/http://www.gametap.com/forum/viewforum.php?threadID=21371 to http://www.gametap.com/forum/viewforum.php?threadID=21371

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