Feature: Best (And Worst) in PC Download Services

Posted Nov 27th 2009 1:00PM by James Murff
Filed under: Biz, Features

We know that Black Friday is the most important shopping day of the year. Excellent discount prices on all sorts of merchandise intended as Christmas gifts is the tradition of the day. We also know that it can be a little intimidating for new or inexperienced PC users to decide between the different digital distribution (and community) platforms. We certainly were when we first heard about all the different services available. However, we've evaluated these services, from those that can barely be called such a thing to the juggernauts that dominate the industry, and all of our research has been compiled it all into this comprehensive, handy-dandy guide. You may not know what game to get your friend for Christmas, but you'll definitely know where to buy it!

Those looking for a quick guide to the services covered and what we thought of important features, check out our downloadable chart!

Gallery: Best (And Worst) in PC Download Services

Tags: black-friday, cdprojekt, d2d, digital-distribution, direct2drive, featured, gamersgate, games-for-windows-live, gametap, gfwl, gog, gog.com, greenhouse, hothead-games, impulse, joystiqfeatures, microsoft, paradox-interactive, stardock, steam, valve

6 Comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nice article, its good to know which services needs a client and which one doesn't. GfWL is still not in the same league though, as it only sells DLC and not whole games, and its community features are a slap in the face (go to xbox.com for your account!?).Posted at 1:54PM on Nov 27th 2009 by Unknown

where is the EA store and downloader?Posted at 3:06PM on Nov 27th 2009 by couchpotato

I second the question on the EA Store omission. Also, XFire now has a Metaboli-powered download service. It might deserve inclusion here.Posted at 3:29PM on Nov 27th 2009 by ChimpWithAHandgun

I agree with 2 and 3, EA Store and Xfire Store should be added to this list and rated.

Also, I don't really think Games for Windows LIVE should be in here, it's only for DLC and achievements, and doesn't even sell full games.Posted at 6:55PM on Nov 27th 2009 by Zedo Mann

Several comments on this chart here:
1) I wouldn't call the game selection that GamersGate has as 'Niche'; they have almost everything that Steam/Impulse has plus a bit more non hardcore titles. Also, GamersGate hasn't used a installed download client for about a year. You use their own custom exe to download/resume files (with your GamersGate login), but one that is done, you can burn that exe to a DVD without it involving/using a Gamersgate login at all.

2) Doesn't most games on Direct 2 Drive use SecureRom DRM wrapper for installation or am I mistaken?

3) It would probably be unfair to say that Steam as all the games out there. For example, Pi Eye Games exist only on Impulse, and many of Paradox Interactive titles have a larger selection on other services than Steam. (With that in mind though, many Steam games have custom/exclusive features just for Steam, however, it can take Steam a little longer to get some updates to games because a custom Steam exe may have to be created for these features.)

4) If the EA downloader is put on the list (as others have commented it to be added) there should be another column about unlimited downloading of the game, because the EA downloader you have to pay a fee to have unlimited download of games, usually they only let you download a title for 6 months (or that's what it was the last time I checked).

5) Frequency of sales would be a nice add to the list. And here is a list for that GOG: weekend & one title a week; Impulse: weekend sales; Steam: weekend, midweek, random, holiday GamersGate: weekend, daily deal; D2D: usually weekends, other random sales, holiday; not sure about the remaining services.

6) For the people who care, advanced downloading/preorder ability might be a good add to the chart.

I'll stop nitpicking now : )
Posted at 11:58PM on Nov 27th 2009 by litphoenix18

Thanks for the comments! I will respond to the last, since it is the easiest.

1.) The selection bit was more to comment on the main draw of the service, rather than on the pure availability. GamersGate's main draw is strategy games you can't get anywhere else, so I classified it under niche. I was debating doing the same for Impulse. I also know that it hasn't used a client in a while, and I said so in the description.

2.) Depends on the game. D2D does use SecureROM a lot, but from my experience, some games do not bother with it. I might be mistaken, though.

3.) No service has every game. Steam does seem to have the widest selection, with direct comparisons to Impulse and Direct2Drive being apt. The "all" attribute was to point out that it has a lot of games, not every game.

4.) Not adding the EA Store was an oversight on my part and will be corrected this weekend. That being said, unlimited downloading will not go into its own column, but rather DRM.

5 & 6.) Both of those are great suggestions! I will add them to the chart and feature alike when I update it with the EA store.

Thanks for the comments! GFWL was included because despite its lack of anything resembling good sales, it does sell DLC and has great community integration compared to the rest of these services. Only Steam approaches the excellence of the community features present in GFWL. It could also be retooled to sell full games, but Microsoft is either unable or unwilling to do so.Posted at 12:10AM on Nov 28th 2009 by James Murff