User:GreenReaper/TotalGaming.net

This is a temporary copy of the article previously at TotalGaming.net. It is here for reference purposes only and will be removed by the end of July.

TotalGaming.net is a personal computer game subscription service by Stardock. It was developed over 2000 and launched as The Drengin Network (or Drengin.net) in 2001 as a way to obtain all of for Stardock's games. It relaunched as TotalGaming.net on 20 July 2004 with the addition of externally-developed games, and again on 22 June, 2005 with a new token-based subscription model.

Unlike many subscription services, users buy games, rather than renting them - once a game has been purchased through TotalGaming.net it is permanently available for download and installation through Stardock Central, a combined content delivery and digital rights management system. While games can be purchased separately, they are cheaper to buy using the tokens that form part of the subscription.

Subscription model
Prior to mid-2005, the subscription model was similar to that of Stardock's other subscription services, Object Desktop and ThinkDesk. Users paid a set fee ($89) to subscribe for a period of time (initially two years, later 18 months). In return, they gained access to download all games (and updates) on the service until their subscription expired.

The above pricing model proved to have several problems:
 * As the number of games offered increased it became harder to maintain subscriptions at a price point which was already higher than many were willing to pay
 * Developers of popular games were not willing to risk having their games subsidize less-popular games
 * Users were used were worried about the expiry of their subscription before the release of critical updates

As a result, TotalGaming.net moved to a token-based system dubbed Phase II. Under the new model, subscribers received a 10 tokens to be used within 18 months of their purchase. Existing subscribers received the above benefits, as well as keeping all the games that had been released up until that point. Subscribers (past or present) are able to purchase token packs which extend both their token count and the time left to use them in. As of October 2005, TotalGaming.net has removed the expiration from the tokens.

As of June 2006, the initial subscription fee is US$69.95, which leads to a to an approximate exchange rate of $7 per token. If purchased separately, games usually cost around $10 per token, given that many games are available for $19.95 or two tokens.

Discrete downloading
With many TotalGaming.net games being over a gigabyte in size, there is a significant risk of players finding it less convenient to purchase games online than at a store due to the time required to download them. To counter this, most TotalGaming.net games are divided into discrete components, only one of which is required to play the game. For example, one game might be split into the core game, manual, music, and video cut-scenes. Another might consist of a core game engine and several episodes. Once purchased, users can download the core game, queue up the other components, and then start playing without having to wait for them to be downloaded. Component downloads are also resumable, in case of accidental disconnection or time limits.

Games
Initially, TotalGaming.net had a focus on turn-based and real-time strategy games, with a few role-playing games, mostly due to Stardock's history in strategic gaming and the licensing of several games from a former publisher, Strategy First. With the launch of Phase II, several arcade, action and puzzle titles have been added to round-out the portfolio, including several Flash-based games. These games tend to be either "best-of-breed" classics, like BreakQuest or Xeno Assault II, or original twists on a familiar concept, like Gish. One class of games not (yet?) represented in TotalGaming.net are first-person shooters.

Stardock have stated that they wish to TotalGaming.net to provide "a proven electronic distribution channel for publishers who want to leverage their classic game assets", as well as "an outlet to independent game developers to get their games out there."

Current games
Over fifty games were available on TotalGaming.net as of June 2006. Notable games include:
 * BreakQuest — a breakout clone with various ball and paddle bonuses; interesting effects provided by embedded physics engine
 * ''Chrome SpecForce' — a first-person shooter where the player is a member of an interstellar special forces team
 * The Corporate Machine — real-time strategy where players must successfully research, manufacture and produce a product, battling human or AI competitors for market share; optional online play
 * Disciples II: Ultimate Edition — a combination of the fantasy turn-based strategy game Disciples II: Dark Prophecy and two expansions, Rise of the Elves and Servants of the Dark
 * Earth 2150 — apocalyptic real-time strategy trilogy, incorporating Escape from the Blue Planet, The Moon Project and Lost Souls
 * Flatspace — a space trading and flight simulation game
 * Galactic Civilizations (and its Altarian Prophecy expansion) — a turn-based space strategy game similar to Civilization, originally released in 1995 for OS/2
 * Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords - sequel to the above, featuring a 3D environment, ship design and an improved AI
 * Gish — 2D platform game with a ball of tar as the hero
 * Jets'n'Guns — an arcade shoot-em-up
 * Knights and Merchants — medieval real-time strategy, includes both The Shattered Kingdom and The Peasants Rebellion expansion
 * O.R.B: Off-World Resource Base — a 3D, real-time strategy game where players compete over the resources of an asteroid belt
 * Pizza Frenzy — combined restaurant management and pizza-construction puzzle game
 * The Political Machine — players compete with the AI or online to become President of the United States
 * Reaktor — Flash-based puzzle game where players must deposit reactor blocks in matching colours or risk meltdown
 * Trash — multiplayer real-time strategy featuring post-apocalyptic resource-management and combat
 * Uplink: Hacker Elite — a game based around the concept of hacking computer systems
 * WordWars — a version of Scrabble with unusually violent tiles that harm your opponent
 * Xeno Assault II — an arcade space shoot-em-up inspired by Galaga

All games offered over TotalGaming.net are also available for sale separately. A PowerGamer 2006 package is also offered, composed of several of Stardock's own games - Galactic Civilizations and its Altarian Prophecy expansion, The Corporate Machine, The Political Machine and Lightweight Ninja. It is intended to capture TotalGaming's original market - those who wanted to "buy it all".

In development
These games are known to be in development, although others will probably be added first through distribution deals:


 * Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar — expansion pack to GalCiv II, due third quarter 2006
 * Political Machine 2008
 * Society — a massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game

Retired games
A few games were been withdrawn from the TotalGaming.net service when it was re-released:
 * B.U.G.S. (Bill's Unbelievably Ghastly Space Ships)
 * Stellar Frontier — a top-down space colonization and combat game