GameTap Expands Thanks to Strategy First

If you thought GameTap featured many video game franchises, prepare for some more. That's right, according to a press release I just happened to stumble upon, GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, announced today an expanded agreement with current partner, Strategy First, Inc., to debut their latest titles on the service.

And it's not ordinary titles we're talking here but games such as Disciples, Jagged Alliance, Space Empires as well as highly anticipated yet-to-be-released titles including Culpa Innata, Urban Empires, with some titles available for subscription play and online purchase day and date with retail release.

"Strategy First has some of the most played titles in our service," said Ricardo Sanchez, vice president of content and creative director for GameTap. "By extending our agreement to now include day and date releases for subscription play and online purchase, we are breaking the traditional windows of game distribution."

"Strategy First has had great success working with GameTap so we jumped at the chance to extend our partnership," said Emanuel Wall, business development manager, Strategy First. "By working with GameTap, we can extend the reach of how to promote our games beyond just retail shelves. Now we are able to get our titles in front of an all new audience who are just now finding them for the first time."

The agreement does have some terms though, but it's Stratey First and GameTap who have to worry about them, not gamers. According to the report, under the terms of the agreement, every game released by Strategy First through 2012 will be available for exclusive online play and for purchase in GameTap's new online digital retail storefront, beginning with new releases Call For Heroes, GODS: Land of Infinity Special Edition and Enemy Engaged 2.

That's that. Check with GameTap.com's official website for more info on what they do and stay close for possible updates.