Amazon.com Launches PC Digital Download Service

February 3, 2009 8:36 AM

Online retailer Amazon.com today launched its Game Downloads service, officially expanding its offerings to include digital downloads of PC games.

The store offers a number of casual games priced between $9.99 and $6.99, with would-be buyers able to sample a trial version of a title for 30 minutes. Three games--Jewel Quest II, Build-a-lot, The Scruffs--are free "for a limited time."

Though the offerings don't presently include major PC games priced above $10, Amazon VP of video games and software Greg Hart suggested that those may eventually follow. "We always want to offer the widest selection possible, just like we've done with our boxed games over the past two years," he told Kotaku.

To receive a game, patrons must download and install the 3MB Amazon Games & Software Downloader. The move to digital distribution follows Amazon's acquisition of casual games developer and distributor Reflexive Entertainment last fall.

As with other digital distribution platforms, such as Valve's Steam, Amazon.com allows buyers to download a purchased game multiple times from a variety of computers.

Chris Faylor

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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DewFuel

 reply
February 3, 2009 8:55 AM

Check out these awesome FPS titles for sale:

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=vg_nav_dgames_shooter?ie=UTF8&node=229580%2C979455011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=browse&pf_rd_r=05S6WXTNKDMESZ9BWKW1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=469266451&pf_rd_i=979455011

Zombie Shooter!

On a serious note: Has anyone ever played any of these games?
- Link.
  
   reply
  February 3, 2009 9:05 AM
  
  With a name like Zombie Shooter, it must be a badass game.
  - vertdang
    
     reply
    February 3, 2009 10:07 AM
    
    pretty much any game titled "<blank> shooter" is going to be shovelware
    - radio_babylon
      
       reply
      February 3, 2009 11:41 AM
      
      actually, alien shooter, alien shooter 2 (or, alien shooter vengance depending on where you get it from), and zombie shooter all kicked ass. im looking forward to the imminent release of zombie shooter 2, which is supposed to have the improvements of alien shooter 2 as well as some new stuff. pretty much all of the "shooter" games from sigma team are good bloody fun. theyre kind of like crimsonland with a narrative and mission structure.
      
      and if you havent played crimsonland... well, you really ought to. www.crimsonland.com
      - DewFuel
        
         reply
        February 3, 2009 12:48 PM
        
        I also enjoy flash games on newgrounds.com
- Iwannaacura
  
   reply
  February 3, 2009 10:41 AM
  
  Popcap is making a zombie game