AOL ups gaming content
- Added:
- Oct 29, 2004
The channel will build on AOL’s existing gaming services, following recent content deals with Electronic Arts, Trymedia and Zylom.
It will feature new games and features, as well as further expansion of its retail platform, which offers ‘try before you buy’ games for immediate download.
Tony Cross, head of entertainment at AOL UK, said: “We’ve always had a very active user base for games, with a large following who enjoy ‘casual’ games such as Solitaire and Bingo, and a group of avid console gamers. These audiences are obviously quite different, so our challenge has been to provide both groups with content and editorial that’s really relevant to them, whatever type of games they’re playing.”
A core part of the new AOL games offering is an agreement with "GameSpot":http://www.gamespot.com, owned by CNET Networks , giving AOL members in the UK access to databases of reviews, previews, strategy guides, hints, tips and cheats.
In addition, AOL has signed an agreement with games and entertainment portal Kikizo.com, to provide users with daily news and updates UK gaming news.
Cross added: “Just as with online music, the growth in broadband is helping gaming come out of its niche position and into the mass market and we see it as a key part of the digital entertainment experience.”
AOL is also providing an automatic search function to compare prices of games from a range of online retail partners, as well as network gaming support for both PlayStation2 and Xbox Live.