Virgin's New Games Download Service, 'A World...

Virgin's New Games Download Service, 'A World of My Own'

Virgin has abandoned the "hardcore" (i.e. non-casual) gaming scene many years ago, and to see them back in the news this week is, for me at least, quite exciting. They aren't here to reveal any new games, however, but to announce a new games download service they say will revolutionize the way we download PC games. Unlike today's simplistic digital distribution services, such as Steam, Virgin Games and Game Domain International (GDI) will introduce a new 3D "virtual world" platform, called A World of My Own (AWOMO).

According to Virgin's charismatic boss Sir Richard Branson, not only does AWOMO promise to feature faster download speeds, but it could also replicate the kind of success enjoyed by iTunes:

"This is a really exciting development for us, as it gives us the opportunity to do for PC Games what iTunes has done for music. The GDI technology will revolutionise how the mass market will play games, and will give them more choice for less money."

The first tests of Virgin's and GDI's 3D PC games platform have already been completed, and several publishers recently attended a demonstration of this new technology in action. The Koch Media Group, Europe's largest PC games distributor, is the first to embrace AWOMO, and they're now in advanced negotiations for the platform's launch later this year. Roger Bennett, former director of ELSPA (the games industry association) was also mighty impressed with what he saw, saying:

"After twenty one years in the computer and video games industry, I can honestly say I have recently seen in operation the most unique technology that can bring the most potential value to the industry."

Virgin Games and GDI intend to launch their AWOMO platform later in 2007, with a large selection of games available in order to meet the huge international demand expected.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)