Playism
 | |
| Industry | Language localization, Software Testing, Entertainment, Video Games, Media/Public Relations |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 2011 |
| Headquarters |
Osaka, Japan Tokyo, Japan |
| Website |
www |
Playism is a digital distribution platform for PC games operated by Active Gaming Media,[1] (Japanese: 株式会社 アクティブゲーミングメディア, abbreviated AGM) which was launched in May 2011. It focuses on attracting independent "indie" developers to its platform by offering services like localization, debugging and publishing for indie developers interested in releasing their games to foreign markets.
Structure
Rather than employing a separate client like Steam, users download purchased games directly from the Playism website. They have also started to distribute on a variety of platforms including Steam, Google Play and iOS. They have also announced that they are planning to bring some titles to PlayStation.[2]
The English Playism site currently accepts Paypal as its payment method, and allows pay what you want, paid, and free games.
History
In April 2013, Playism began a project with HAL College of Technology & Design in both Osaka and Nagoya. The project involves students creating games in four-person teams over a period of several months. The games would then be judged by Playism staff, Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya (Cave Story), Smoking Wolf (One Way Heroics), and members of Nigoro (La-Mulana). The highest-rated games was then localized by Playism, and released on the Playism store page for purchase. Playism was closely involved in the administration of the indie-based game event BitSummit in March 2013, helping both with translation and interpretation as well as with logistics. In September 2013, Playism collaborated with Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia on an event called Indie Stream. Originally planned by indie developers Nigoro and Nyamyam, Indie Stream was designed to bring indie developers from both Japan and abroad together to meet and share information.[3] It was announced at Indie Stream that Playism would be assisting indie developers in publishing their games on Playstation 4 and PlayStation Vita in Japan.[4]
Notable Titles
See also
- GOG.com is a similar service owned by CD Projekt RED which introduced an optional desktop client in 2014.[5]
- Steam is a digital distribution service which was estimated at 75% market share in October 2013.[6]
- Itch.io is a website for indie games which uses the pay what you want model.
- Desura is a digital distributor owned by Bad Juju Games, which went bankrupt in 2015.
References
- ↑ http://playism-games.com/page/3/uag (Article 1, clause 1) "The PLAYISM User Agreement (“the agreement” below) shall be the sole agreement applied between the company operating PLAYISM (“the service” below) known as Active Gaming Media Inc. (“AGM” below) and the user, to which the user agrees to comply in the event that the user uses the service." (directly stating both that Playism is operated by AGM and that the user is signing an agreement with AGM rather than "the service" PLAYISM.)
- ↑ "Playism to Release Batch of Japanese Indie Titles on Vita and PS4". Hardcore Gamer. Published 10 December 2014.
- ↑ http://www.vg247.com/2013/09/09/sony-japan-hosting-indie-stream-at-tgs-with-playism-with-exciting-announcements/
- ↑ http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/22/playism-confirms-the-japanese-games-its-bringing-to-ps4-ps-vita-this-year/
- ↑ http://www.pcgamer.com/alien-versus-predator-classic-is-free-on-gog-this-week/ GOG Galaxy's open multiplayer beta accompanied a giveaway of Alien Versus Predator Classic.
- ↑ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-04/valve-lines-up-console-partners-in-challenge-to-microsoft-sony.html