Aspyr Set to Launch Online Store for Mac Games

Digital River Inc announced that it signed an e-commerce agreement with Aspyr Media Inc to build, host and manage an online store - called Game Agent - to support the sale and digital delivery of select Macintosh and PC-based games. The deal is most likely a reincarnation of planned Gamerhood project.

In 2006, Aspyr first announced plans to produce the so called Gamerhood - a one-stop shop for Mac gamers who wanted new games.

The company envisioned Gamerhood as a way to tackle the ever-present problem of Mac game availability by enabling users to buy and download games from Aspyr’s online store.

Soon after, the company abandoned its plans for Gamerhood and focused on the increasing PC game market. Now, Gamerhood is back in a form of Aspyr’s  soon to be Game Agent online store.

“Aspyr has long been the dominant player in the Macintosh gaming space and we want to build on that leadership and create the best possible online solution for our customers. Digital River will deliver a secure and robust online store that will give gamers a satisfying experience when downloading great titles from Aspyr and its partners,” - said Ted Staloch, executive vice president of publishing for Aspyr Media.

“We are pleased to be working with Aspyr, a company that industry reporting experts have ranked among the top 15 largest game publishers in the United States. With our experience, we intend to deliver a solution for Aspyr that will make a measurable difference for the company and its customers,” - said Joel Ronning, Digital River’s CEO.

Aspyr Media’s Game Agent is currently used as a free Mac utility that allows users to easily match their computer hardware with the system requirements of Aspyr’s game titles.  Aspyr expects the online store, Game Agent, to launch during the summer of 2008.