Direct2Drive
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| URL | direct2drive.com |
|---|---|
| Slogan | "Download today. Own forever." |
| Commercial? | Yes |
| Type of site | Desktop video gaming |
| Registration | To purchase |
| Owner | Gamefly |
| Launched | 2004 |
| Current status | Online |
Direct2Drive (commonly D2D) is an online game store offering PC videogames via direct download. On May 25, 2011, Gamefly acquired Direct2Drive from IGN Entertainment Group.[1]
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[edit] Competition with Steam
It is a major competitor to Valve's Steam digital storefront and has been described as "the other major purveyor of digital distribution".[2] A non-scientific survey run by gaming news site Kotaku in 2010 indicated that of around 30,000 respondents, 8% had purchased a game from Direct2Drive.[3] While Steam customers can browse the storefront via the downloadable client or the website, the D2D store is only available on the website. D2D does not offer a full fledged client, however, the service does have a free download manager. Additionally, many of the services features, including downloading, are available from former sister site Gamespy's software Comrade.
[edit] Business
Launched in 2004, IGN has claimed "exponential growth in sales" since that time. It offers over 3,000 titles through relationships with more than 300 game publishers.[4][5] Direct2Drive sponsors a $10,000 award at the Independent Games Festival called the D2D Vision Award, which "celebrates independent developers exemplifying innovation in design coupled with excellence in game-play".[6] In 2009, the site made headlines by refusing to sell Activision's Modern Warfare 2 due to that game's integration with Valve's Steamworks service. Users buying Modern Warfare 2 from a reseller such as Direct2Drive would be forced to also download and install the Steam client.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ GAMEFLY, INC. ACQUIRES DIRECT2DRIVE FROM IGN ENTERTAINMENT
- ^ PC Sales Charts (Now With Added Direct2Drive) - Kotaku
- ^ Kotaku Census 2010
- ^ GAMEFLY, INC. ACQUIRES DIRECT2DRIVE FROM IGN ENTERTAINMENT
- ^ Interview: Direct2Drive's Berger On The Evolving Digital Distro Space - Gamasutra
- ^ GDC: IGF, Direct2Drive Announce $10,000 D2D Vision Award Finalists - Gamasutra
- ^ Direct2Drive Tussles With Valve By Declining To Sell Steamworks-Powered MW2 - Gamasutra
[edit] External links
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