Maxit Mag

Much has been said about this service - but what is it all about? Find out the ins and out about this awesome gaming service!
I have to admit, I was an emulator junky. I loved messing around with all the different classic games, but it wasn't perfect. I ran into random compatability issues, not being able to utilize certain aspects of the game, etc etc. Basically, a mess. So where does GameTap come into all this? In short, its a glorified, supported, emulator.
 
From their site: "GameTap is like having all the greatest game consoles ever wired right into your PC: it's an application built to play games across multiple platforms and systems. " They offer a ton of games from platform to platform, and it has been said that they have deals for thousands of games along the line. New games are released every Thursday, and they already boost over 500 in their current collection.

So how do you get access to all these games? By downloading their client software and signing up for an account (which is $10.00 a month currently), you can get into their game library, as well as other features which I will get into later.



Unlike emulators where you can get absolutely no support whatsoever, GameTap seems to really pay attention to what their consumers are looking for. While the service is relatively new, starting late last year, they have already added many features that people were asking about. Things such as customizable controls, resolution changes, and windowed mode all increased the desirability of the service.

Support for keyboard/mouse as well as joystick are built in, and thus far I haven't had any problems getting the software to recognize any of the set ups I have used. The client itself is very user friendly and intuitive, allowing you to quickly navigate through the games by genre, system, or by using your own search criteria.

Playing the games themselves are a breeze. You choose the game you'd like to download, and just let it go. A tone will inform you when your download is ready, and after you have downloaded a game once, you do not have to do so again (unless you choose to delete it from your library). There are instructions and control information given as you are downloading the game, in a information sheet given once you select your game of choice.

A bit of a downside to the service is how long it takes for some of the games to download. There is a huge selection of games, ranging from atari to dreamcast. Obviously later titles are going to take longer to download, but fourty five minutes to an hour on a good cable connection is somewhat undesirable. I don't personally have a problem with it, but some people will take issue, I'm sure.



The games play smooth, and I haven't had much of an issue. The only problems I have really run into are with later games, and I can attribute that to my craptastic machine. They played fine on my significant other's computer though, so that's just a hardware issue, and that's the last thing I can fault them on! For great games, a huge selection, and trouble free play, GameTap is already well worth the monthly fee. There are many publishers signed on, although there is one gaping hole - no Nintendo. This is considered to be because of plans for their Wii system.

As if they haven't already earned their $10, they also offer GameTap TV. This is a collection of short skits, programs, and music selections to watch in between game loads. With some of the longer loading times of the later games, you can definately take in a lot of the programs. Most of these are originals done especially for GameTap. My favorite is the Space Ghost Coast to Coast stuff they put in.

So, GameTap would be great for you if you like older games, or need a good emulator client for a myriad of gaming interests. It's easy to set up, easy to use, and well worth the fee.

For more information, head on over to the GameTap website.