Kotaku: Stardock to Roll out Impulse Phase IV in September
Monday, August 24, 2009 by Frogboy | Discussion: PC Gaming
Kotaku has a preview of Stardock’s Impulse Phase IV.
Impulse is a new digital distribution platform in which PC users can purchase, download, install, and update any type of PC program – games, utilities, applications, etc. Launched about a year ago, Impulse has increased its user base at an exponential rate as it has gotten the support of major PC software and game publishers such as THQ, Ubisoft, 2K Games, Activision, Corel, Paradox, and many others.
The new version of Impulse comes with an update client that allows users to associate their purchases with a single account – a user who gets a new PC can then install Impulse, logon, and then download and install all their Impulse purchases easily. It also includes a new store designed to handle the vastly increased library of games, applications, and utilities that have been being added over the past few months and to prepare for this Fall when back catalogs from major publishers are being added.
Stardock will be demoing the new version of Impulse at PAX with it becoming generally available in September.
Screenshots:
Full Article:
Reply #2 Monday, August 24, 2009 10:19 PM
I am really hopeful that the chat client will be based on the Jabber protocol-- this would give interoperability with Gchat...
Reply #3 Monday, August 24, 2009 10:54 PM
Is the Demigod game listing just a pretty version of what we have now or something more?
Reply #4 Monday, August 24, 2009 11:57 PM
I'd write a response here telling you how impressed I am, but I have to change my underwear. BRB.
Reply #5 Tuesday, August 25, 2009 1:02 AM
Can't wait for this. I'll be stopping by Stardock's booth at PAX to see this in action.
Reply #6 Tuesday, August 25, 2009 1:25 AM
Looks freaking sweet! Man September can't come soon enough... 
Reply #7 Tuesday, August 25, 2009 2:49 AM
Let's hope it lets you authenticate pre-exisiting installations and doesn't break win7 archive compatibility for no reason? My ISP loves the current 'lol redownload' philosophy, and I'm pleased to have half a dozen Impulse games running and authenticated on my machine that Impulse totally ignores and won't update. 
The new store is going to be a big improvement, but the real problem with the current store is less UI and more the servers involved. Each game shouldn't really be pushing that much data (text, boxart, screenshot thumbs, etc) and yet the store is super laggy (just like the forums were in the past). Hopefully more distribution deals = more cash moneys = better servers.
Reply #8 Tuesday, August 25, 2009 4:14 AM
I see that the price has category like $9.99 or less. How does it works with other currency and regional pricing?
Reply #10 Tuesday, August 25, 2009 10:38 AM
Are we getting an IM system in phase IV? IRC is nice and all but can be a bit chaotic 
Reply #11 Tuesday, August 25, 2009 1:28 PM
I'd like to see folders within tabs for Impulse. Would really help with organizing MyColors without just hiding them all.
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Reply #1 Monday, August 24, 2009 9:30 PM
Oooh... new Impulse