14 DAY TRIAL // Gaming social network Raptr is announcing that it is entering open beta stage, with the aim of testing the service in view of an official launch in early 2009.
Raptr, which is now in private beta, should be compatible with thousands of games that have been released across platforms like the PC, the Mac, the Xbox 360, Facebook, Flash, the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation 3. The beta is now hosting 1,000 users.
The idea is that those who use the new service will be able to track stats regarding their own gameplay progress and that of their friends in real-time. They can also see and share gaming identities and some achievements that the service offers. As always, through the profile each user can put up very varied information regarding himself. There's even talk of the new network integrating well with Facebook, Twitter and FriendFeed.
The company that created Raptr is the brainchild of Dennis Fong, who was also a co-founder of Xfire, and, although it was founded last year, it has already attracted $12 million in development funds from Accel Partners and the Founders Fund.
Raptr managed to attract other executives from important gaming companies to lead the company through the period of expansion. Rannah Edelin, who was vice president at The Sims Internet Group, was brought in as vice president of marketing and business development while Dave Swenson, who was previously with eBay as senior director, is now vice president of engineering at the new company.
Raptr hopes to find a big audience amongst PC gamers who are interested in social connections and amongst casual gamers who want to keep in touch with their friends. There's little hope of the network attracting the interest of people who play on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, mainly because of the fact that the consoles integrate a social networking element within the Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.
So, if you're interested in sharing your gaming accomplishments with your friends you might want to check out Raptr.